The Myth of AQI

This is a very detailed (and long) article about how the idea of the threat from Al Qaeda in Iraq has evolved, far beyond the actual group itself.

Washington Monthly:

Fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq is the last big argument for keeping U.S. troops in the country. But the military's estimation of the threat is alarmingly wrong.

By Andrew Tilghman

Andrew Tilghman was an Iraq correspondent for the Stars and Stripes newspaper in 2005 and 2006.