That may well be the case, but it can also be argued the good soldier has been handed a Mission Impossible. Tactically, he has managed the Surge very well, supressing hostile activity and forging effective, if tenuous, alliances amongst local factions. But strategically, this has not led to the declared reason for the surge, to give the Iraqi government time to build up its security forces and restore infrastructure. The strategic political goals have not followed up on the
tactical military ones, but I don't think he can be blamed for this, that's why we have a a diplomatic and political presence there. In my opinion, the army is doing its job, but the administration is just trying to run out the clock until the election.