How the surge can work

In dilbertblog today, Scott Adams asks how the surge can work:

How the surge can work:

1. Various leaders of Al Qaeda and insurgent groups are captured or killed. This has already happened in at least one situation, in the case of Ahmed Farhan Hassan, who was captured last week.
2. Allowing diplomacy an opportunity to work. Having a peaceful Baghdad and Anbar allow the Iraqi government and U.S. diplomats to work with local leaders to sway their support from insurgents and Al Qaeda to the Iraqi government. This has already happened in Anbar province, where many local tribal leaders have repudiated Al Qaeda and have persuaded many of their people to join the Iraqi military or police forces.
3. Imposing a cease-fire between the Sunni and Shiia militias which have been engaging in revenge killings with each other. There's a hope that an imposed cease-fire will allow the individuals and opportunity to honorably allow the Iraqi government and U.S. forces to protect their populations which they felt were threatened by the other side.
4. Give the local economy a chance to rebuild. As people see that having the Iraqi government and U.S. forces a peace that allows them to go to work, open their shops, and try to find a normal way of life in a freer Iraq they will see a strong difference between what the Iraqis and U.S. are trying to impose - safe, normal life - and what Al Qaeda and the militias are trying to impose - violence and lawlessness. This will sap local support from the militias and Al Qaeda.
5. Give the Iraqis a chance to build up. The entire U.S. strategy to this point has been "Stand down as the Iraqis stand up." This has been difficult, to say the least, as untrained, green Iraqis and recruits are killed by insurgents an Al Qaeda. giving the Iraqis time to fully train and equip their military and police forces without having their recruits and raw forces killed by terrorist attacks will put them in position to maintain the peace.