In his book, "Linked: The New Science of Networks," Albert Laszlo Barabasi concluded, “We must help eliminate the need and desire of the nodes [the people] to form links to terrorist organizations by offering them a chance to belong to more constructive and meaningful webs. No matter how good we become at winning each net battle, if we are unable to inhibit the desire for links [for destructive purposes], the [terrorist] net war will never end.”
Reflect on this when reading about the systematic humiliation and torture of Iraqis in Abu Ghraib prison (this was systematic in that it was part of a larger effort to break down prisoners for interrogation). Humilation is driving the growth of terrorist networks in the Middle East by increasing the susceptibility of people to terrorist recruitment (see Atran, "The Genesis of Suicide Terrorism" PDF). This is an excellent example of why the occupation of Iraq is working at cross-purposes to the GWOT (global war on terrorism). It is also a good demonstration of what military thinkers mean when they advocate a policy of de-escalation in Iraq and the GWOT. De-escalation is the systematic reduction of factors that drive people to terrorism and not a sign of weakness.