The Afghan Surge: The U.S. Army in Afghanistan by John J. Mortimer

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JANUARY 2009–AUGUST 2011
“The war in Iraq had long overshadowed the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, receiving priority for resources and forcing the U.S. Army to make do with less for the latter mission. When the situation had worsened in Iraq in 2006, President George W. Bush opted for a dramatic and controversial change in course, committing additional troops and refocusing operations to protect the population centers. In December 2007, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael G. Mullen summed up that reality, telling members of the House Armed Services Committee, “In Afghanistan, we do what we can. In Iraq, we do what we must.” By the time this new strategy, known as the surge, reached its culmination in mid-2008, it had drastically reduced the level of violence and brought a measure of stability to Iraq.

“American commanders deemed it a triumph and viewed it as a recipe that also could turn around the situation in Afghanistan. In October 2008, Bush authorized sending six thousand additional personnel as a down payment to bolster the failing effort in that theater. In early 2009, his successor, President Barack H. Obama, gave precedence to the mission in Afghanistan and authorized more troops. Lacking the fanfare of the Iraqi reinforcement, the effort in Afghanistan became the “quiet surge,” but it remained to be seen whether it would achieve similar results.”

This is the story of the surge in Afghanistan. The reading level is 14.9. If the weaker readers in your classes find the vocabulary difficult, you might suggest that they use Text to Speech services in the book to read the story to them. On iPads they can use Speak, Screen. On Android tablets they can install an app such as Aquile Reader and can select the voice which would be reading the text to them.