It has been going on in the sense that while AMZ has negotiated his way into certain areas and bullied his way into others, there are certain areas where AQ doesn't operate. Some of the tribes are intensely xenophobic and barely acknowledged Saddam they are not about to acknowledge AMZ or us.
Now some of the tribes which have tolerated, or even aided, AMZ are obviously becoming actively hostile.
After Fallujah many of the tribal leaders came to see that AMZ and his ilk were thugs and also full of crap about standing and fighting against the Americans. They have seen the good that came about in Fallujah after the fight there. In Tal Afar, for example, the tribal leaders defied the terrorists to come to a meeting with coalition leaders to ask for a Fallujah style assault on their city to get rid of the terrorists.
In other words, the more anarchist elements are beginning to see the advantages a free spirited government style over an oppressive, exploitational one. Makes sense. =]
What would happen if we got tougher on border control there? Would those tribes suddenly change and go against us? And would that be the best way to go, regardless of how they react?
[TTYL. Try to check tomorrow.]
Happy Fourth of July!