While the US media are parading the two Brookings scholars (one of whom knows nothing about the Middle East) who are declaring the success of the surge (based on a Pentagon-supervised trip lasting a few days), I turn to somebody who knows Iraq: "It was supposed to mark a decisive new phase in America's military campaign, but six months after George Bush sent in 20,000 extra troops, Iraq is more chaotic and dangerous than ever. In a special despatch, Patrick Cockburn reports on the bloody failure of 'the surge'."