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Al-Hakim was killed on August 29, 2003 in Iraq, when a massive car bomb exploded.  According to this on-the-ground in Iraq, first-hand, expert account the “car-bomb war” could have been stopped in September or October 2003. Only in February 2007, did the senior US Army leadership begin aggressively using 'Bremmer', 'Jersey', Hesco', and 'Texas' barriers everywhere possible in Iraq to win the “car-bomb war”.  Why was a car bomb war even allowed to get started in Iraq?  Why were the American generals allowed so much time and latitude in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and into 2007 before being replaced with generals who knew how to fight a car bomb war?  The Defense Intelligence Agency estimates that 17,000 Iraqis and 903 Americans were killed by “effective car bombs” in the “car-bomb war” phase of the Iraq war.  But we need to remember, car bombs were nothing new.  American generals had studied car bomb wars for thirty years.  American generals had carefully studied Israel's car bomb war for twenty years.  Israel suffered for years and only in 2006 did the senior Israeli leadership begin aggressively building reasonable barriers everywhere possible along the West Bank to win their “car-bomb war”.  Why were key military leaders not replaced sooner?