“American and Iraqi forces attempted to reestablish control of the capital [Baghdad] during the summer [of 2006] with ‘Operation Together Forward [launched on June 14, 2006].’ When it failed, ‘Operation Together Forward II’ was launched [on August 7, 2006]. Its results were also disheartening: violence in Baghdad had increased more than 40 percent by the fall of 2006. These two efforts were to be the last major operations premised on our initial strategy of training Iraqis and withdrawing American forces from the areas they had secured. Once American forces left the cities to return to their bases, the terrorists and militias simply came back.”
– Karl Rove, Courage and Consequence, Page 474