Preparing for the mission (May-June 2004) -- Framing the mission -- Building a key relationship -- Consultations and direction -- Direct insights -- Confirmation -- Establishing the mission and preparing for the first elections (July 2004-January 2005) -- Organizing for success -- Military operations -- Election planning and preparation -- Looking beyond the elections -- The first elections: January 30, 2005 -- Completing the UN timeline and setting conditions for a new Iraq (January-December 2005) -- Adapting in transition -- Building a transition concept -- Changing our mindset -- Keeping Washington updated -- Completing the UN timeline -- Military operations -- Planning for the future -- Government transition and the rise of sectarian violence (January-June 2006) -- Government transition -- The Samarra bombing and its aftermath -- Assessing the impact -- Charting a way forward -- Building new partnerships -- Camp David discussions -- June consultations in Washington -- The toughest days (July 2006-February 2007) -- Adjusting the plan -- Canceling the "off-ramp" -- Looking ahead -- Civil-military relations -- Military operations in Baghdad -- Washington policy review -- Insights for leaders -- Developing vision and strategy -- Creating unity of effort -- Continuous assessment and adaption -- Influencing organizational culture -- Civil-military interaction -- Political-military integration -- Momentum and transitions -- Sustaining yourself -- Appendices -- Acronyms -- The coalition, July 2004 -- Leadership in Iraq, 2004-2007 -- Iraqi Security Forces progression, 2004-2007 -- Operation Iraqi Freedom chronology, 2004-2007.