When 21,500 additional troops deployed to Iraq in early 2007, President Bush vowed they would "change America's course" in the war. Months in, that promise is looking increasingly hollow. Has the surge failed? And if more troops go to Iraq, how long should they stay?http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 07 Oct 2008 6:53:20 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37994/return-to-iraq-a-fragile-peace-thats-jarring.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWhen Dexter Filkins left Baghdad in 2006, it was a city of shuttered buildings and fearful citizens, in a land that looked as though it would never recover from war. But, writes the war correspondent in the New York Times, “to return now is to be jarred in the oddest way possible: by the normal, by the pleasant, even by hope”—reopened, packed shops, people outside at night, women walking alone.http://www.newser.com/story/37994/return-to-iraq-a-fragile-peace-thats-jarring.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 21 Sep 2008 6:58:51 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37562/petraeus-successor-has-mixed-record.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGen. Ray Odierno, who today became the top US commander in Iraq, was instrumental in last year’s troop surge that helped stabilize the country. But though most notably known for mirroring predecessor David Petraeus' focus on protecting Iraqi citizens, some in the military have slammed his methods early in the war as overly aggressive, the Guardian reports in a profile of the Army's new top dog in the region.http://www.newser.com/story/37562/petraeus-successor-has-mixed-record.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 16 Sep 2008 7:10:51 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37526/petraeus-hands-over-command-of-iraq.html?refid=rss_all_defaultCiting a "long struggle" in Iraq despite his successes, Gen. David Petraeus handed over his command of the country, reports the BBC, amid a smattering of violence that served as a reminder of reversible gains. Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised security gains made on Petraeus' watch as authority was passed to Gen. Ray Odierno, whom Petraeus praised as "the perfect man for the job." Two bomb blasts in Baghdad and one in Diyala province killed 34 people during Gates' visit.http://www.newser.com/story/37526/petraeus-hands-over-command-of-iraq.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 15 Sep 2008 21:29:00 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36952/iraq-troop-levels-to-hold-steady-under-bush.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTroop levels in Iraq won't change until after George Bush leaves office, the president will announce in a speech today, leaving further withdrawals as an immediate matter for his successor—although Bush will oversee what amounts to a transfer of US troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. The announcement likely represents his last major decision in the pair of wars, the Washington Post reports.http://www.newser.com/story/36952/iraq-troop-levels-to-hold-steady-under-bush.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 09 Sep 2008 4:30:59 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36961/white-house-lambastes-woodward.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe White House has angrily rejected Bob Woodward's claim that the administration was riven by dissent ahead of the surge in Iraq, CNN reports. Woodward wrote in his new book that President Bush pushed troop levels past the Joint Chiefs, ignoring their worries about over-extending the military. The War Within went on sale yesterday.http://www.newser.com/story/36961/white-house-lambastes-woodward.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 09 Sep 2008 4:18:54 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36904/bush-pulled-rank-on-military-over-surge.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIn the months leading up to the Iraq surge, President Bush faced a revolt by frustrated Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Washington Post ’s Bob Woodward writes in a new book, The War Within . Bush dumped the military leaders’ advice as Iraq spun out of control in fall of 2006, pushing a five-brigade surge on the hesitant generals while pulling rank.http://www.newser.com/story/36904/bush-pulled-rank-on-military-over-surge.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 08 Sep 2008 14:13:21 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36867/petraeus-hands-off-iraq-reins-next-week.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGen. David Petraeus will step down as the top US commander in Iraq on Sept. 16, handing the reins to Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 commander there until recently, Reuters reports. Petraeus, who led the troop surge that ushered in a major decline in Iraq violence, will become head of Central Command, which oversees a region from Kenya to Kazakhstan.http://www.newser.com/story/36867/petraeus-hands-off-iraq-reins-next-week.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 08 Sep 2008 3:27:58 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36271/bush-ordered-troop-surge-over-internal-opposition.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPresident Bush’s 2007 addition of 20,000 troops in Iraq helped stabilize the country—but advisers didn’t support the idea until the situation there looked like “civil war,” in the CIA’s words. Instead, the Pentagon wanted to shift responsibilities to Iraqi troops; the State Department wanted to focus fighting elsewhere; and the US Iraq ambassador said a troop surge would hurt conditions there, the New York Times reports.http://www.newser.com/story/36271/bush-ordered-troop-surge-over-internal-opposition.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 31 Aug 2008 8:26:12 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35513/maturing-iraqi-army-enabled-us-troop-deal.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe US's preliminary agreement with Iraq to withdraw most combat troops by 2011 would have been unthinkable even a few months ago. Declining levels of violence, a ceasefire with the Mahdi Army, and the about-face of Sunni leaders have all helped, the Wall Street Journal reports, but for the administration, one factor trumps all others: the strengthening of the Iraqi army from ragtag force to legitimate operation.http://www.newser.com/story/35513/maturing-iraqi-army-enabled-us-troop-deal.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 22 Aug 2008 5:01:40 CDT