Has anyone else read “The Gamble” by Ricks. Its about the successful implementation of counter insurgency tactics by General Petraus in Iraq. Its truly an Amazing and mostly untold story. Basically we shifted our main mission to protecting the Iraqi people. The new tactics include establishing forward operating bases among the population, getting out of humvees and doing foot patrols and protecting the civilian population from Al quieda and militias. Also, controversially, putting some former insurgents on the payroll, manning checkpoints to protect their neighborhoods. According to the book, such a drastic change in the way our troops operated achieved strategic surprise and changed the course of the war which in 2006 we were most likely loosing. Its an amazing story of intellectualism and ingenuity triumphing within the American military. Its really a fascinating book and would recommend to anyone seriously interested in knowing what a great job our troops and leaders are now doing in Iraq. I thought it might be relevant to see if similar tactics can work in Afghanistan.