#1. Surging in Iraq

January: U.S. reinforcements begin arriving in Baghdad as part of the "surge" strategy to restore some semblance of security and order to the Iraqi capital, in the hope that this would lay the groundwork for Iraq's politicians to resolve their differences. By mid-June, some 30,000 new U.S. troops are deployed in Iraq, and with violence levels cut in half by November and a number of Iraqis returning to Baghdad, the U.S. begins reducing its troop numbers. Despite the improved security, Iraq's political leaders have made little progress towards national reconciliation.