Has the Surge Worked?

If by “working” you mean creating a secure situation and tamping down the sectarian violence of the raging civil war enough for the country's leaders to edge towards a political solution then, no.

If by “working” you mean creating enough of a delay to continue to drag out the decision point on this misbegotten war until well after it matters. If you mean creating political cover for any number of politicians who can point to the merest glimmers of progress or call on calmer heads to wait just a few months more until the results are in. Then, yes, it's worked all too well.