A Review of 2007 and the War on Terrorism

Before the year began, few could have predicted the gains made in Iraq in 2007. Just 10 days into the year, President Bush had replaced his commander in Iraq, announced a “surge” of U.S. forces, and admitted mistakes in prosecuting the war. Toward the end of the year, violence had fallen markedly and U.S. troop deaths — and other indicators — were at two-year lows.

Meanwhile, the war in Afghanistan picked up steam. U.S. and NATO troops repeatedly clashed with a resurgent Taliban. By year’s end, the last sizeable Afghan town held by the Taliban had been retaken by NATO and U.S. troops. The Stars & Stripes takes a look back at 2007 and the prograss in Iraq and Afghanistan.