Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wrote: “In September 2006, a fledgling movement among Iraqi tribal sheiks around Ramadi was starting to take shape, which became known as ‘the Awakening.’ By October 2005, we were briefing the President [Bush] on the Anbar tribal leaders leading the resistance. And by the end of 2006, this alliance, also called ‘the Sons of Iraq,’ was one hundred thousand strong. The Sons of Iraq took the lead in reclaiming Anbar province for the Iraqi people and in driving al-Qaida out.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Donald Rumsfeld, Known and Unknown, Page 701