This is a bit of a tribute in felt. I read the "How to Win in Al-Anbar" Power Point, and I thought it was one of the greatest, simplest explanations you'll ever see of anything that goes on in Iraq-- all of which is pitched and violent and complicated by centuries of tradition and politics.

Since it's a Power Point/pdf, I thought we might make it move a little bit, so Katie and I went to the craft store, and this is what we came up with. I hope you enjoy. It's dedicated, of course, to the memory of Army Capt. Travis Patriquin-- the man who wrote it in the first place, who was killed Dec. 6, 2006 in Iraq. He left behind three young children and a wife, and with this, a glimpse into the mission for which he lost his life: