You're babbling. Everything "evolves" over time.

Which is not to say that you (or Grandpa) accurately recite the history when you say the Awakening followed the surge. The contrary is true.

Up is not down, and before is not after.

Except on the Limbaugh show.

FCS_Shwan:

Here I'll rephrase.

When did a bunch of Sunni's with guns that wanted AQI and Shiites out of their neighborhoods, turn into an organization that was given legitimacy, weapons and a paycheck to do what it did?

It evolved.

First it was Shiite and Sunni death squads roaming around towns chasing out eachother and everyone of the opposite faction out of their homes.

Then when the Sunni were more worried about Shiites than they were of the US, AQI started getting pissed and attacking them too.

Then when the Sunni found they were outnumbered and outgunned in the Sunni-Triangle (ironic), having thousands being displaced, THATS when the Sunni Shieks started talking to US, to use the "lesser" of two Evils.

So the US looked at places they could actually turn the tide (Rashid District, Anbar, Etc.) and THATS where the extra troops went, all the meanwhile we started making plans and deals to turn these militias filled with men who were firing RPGs at us just a year ago into "Concerned Citizens" and Then we started paying these guys, giving them badges, and calling them "Sons of Iraq" and have them protecting their neighborhoods.

Saying Sunnis were getting pissed for being on the wrong end of "Population re-distribution at the point of a gun" doesn't equate to saying "Oh they were 'Awakining' WELL before the surge"