By the end of 2006, the war in Iraq was failing, with sectarian violence escalating after a mosque bombing in Samarra that February, resulting in an average of 53 Iraqi civilians killed per day in Baghdad alone. The US strategy at the time, which involved transitioning security responsibilities to Iraqi forces and reducing the US presence, had been invalidated by the escalating violence. General David Petraeus, who would later lead allied forces in Iraq, has written about the situation, describing it as a "downward spiral" that posed significant challenges for both the military and politicians. The article presents Petraeus's account of this pivotal moment in the War on Terror as an example of political courage.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On October 8, 2024, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed, an event that has become a significant marker for young conservatives in America, akin to September 11, 2001 and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The day of his death is now referred to by some as 9/10, symbolizing its impact on political activism among students. Meanwhile, the small Canadian town of Gander played a pivotal role during the September 11 attacks when U.S. airspace was closed, leading to 38 international flights landing there, doubling the population overnight and necessitating an impromptu humanitarian effort by locals to aid around 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members for several days. This act of kindness inspired the Broadway musical "Come From Away," which highlights Gander's generosity and humanity in times of crisis.
Written for “9/11 Anniversary Reflections” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 167 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.55 for article 7905 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-11
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush launched what he called the War on Terror.
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he → launch → Terror
It began with the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, which quickly toppled the Taliban and expelled al-Qaeda from its most crucial sanctuary.
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which → begin → sanctuary
Then, in early 2003, American forces—with the support of foreign allies like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland—attacked Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime and installing an occupation force in hopes of quickly transforming the country into a free and democratic state.
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forces → attack → state
Instead, the post-regime coalition authority made significant missteps, and a devastating insurgency erupted.
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insurgency → make → missteps
And despite President Bush’s 2004 reelection, the war quickly lost popular support among the American public.
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war → lose → public
In early 2007, Bush appointed General David Petraeus, who had already served in Iraq as a two- and three-star general, to lead allied forces in Iraq, which heralded a sea change in American strategy known as “the surge.”
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which → appoint → surge
As part of our coverage looking back on 9/11 and the world it created, General Petraeus tells the inside story of one of the most consequential moments in the War on Terror.
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Petraeus → look → Terror
It demands reflection as we take stock of the last 25 years.
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we → demand → years
By the end of 2006, the war in Iraq was failing.
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war → fail → Iraq
The bombing of the al-Askari mosque in Samarra by terrorists that February had accelerated sectarian violence and pulled Iraq into an increasingly vicious Sunni-Shia civil war.
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bombing → accelerate → war
Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Sunni insurgent groups controlled substantial areas, Shi’ite militias operated with growing impunity in other parts of the country, and the Iraqi security forces were no longer capable of arresting the downward spiral.
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forces → control → spiral
The strategy of transitioning security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, consolidating American troops on large bases, and progressively reducing the U.S. presence had clearly been invalidated by the escalating violence.
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strategy → transition → violence
The numbers conveyed the horror imperfectly but unmistakably.
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numbers → convey → horror
In December 2006, an average of 53 Iraqi civilians were killed by violence every 24 hours in Baghdad alone.
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average → kill → Baghdad
Washington, meanwhile, was approaching its own breaking point.
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Washington → approach → point
Public support for the war had fallen dramatically, President George W. Bush’s Republican Party had just lost control of both houses of Congress, and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group—of which future defense secretary Robert Gates was a member—had recommended a course that anticipated a substantially reduced American combat role.
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that → fall → role
Many senior military leaders were deeply skeptical of sending substantial additional forces, advocating instead for an accelerated transition to Iraqi forces, the deployment of additional trainers and advisers, or other more modest measures with an eye to withdrawing U.S. forces.
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leaders → send → forces
Virtually every political incentive pointed toward reducing America’s commitment.
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incentive → point → commitment
President Bush chose instead to increase it, a decision that remains, in my view, one of the most courageous presidential decisions of the 21st century.
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that → choose → century
