Posted on 09/22/2006 8:36:32 AM PDT by jmc1969
Coalition forces in Iraq have suddenly received the manpower equivalent of three light infantry divisions. They did not suffer any repercussions in domestic politics as a result, and now have a huge edge over al-Qaeda in al-Anbar province. How did this happen? Tribal leaders in the largely Sunni province on the Syrian border got together and signed an agreement to raise a tribal force of 30,000 fighters to take on foreign fighters and terrorists.
These leaders have thrown in with the central government in Baghdad. This is a decisive blow to al Qaeda, which has been desperately trying to fight off an Iraqi government that is getting stronger by the week. Not only are the 30,000 fighters going to provide more manpower, but these tribal fighters know the province much better than American troops – or the foreign fighters fighting for al Qaeda. Also, this represents just over 80 percent of the tribes in al-Anbar province now backing the government.
The biggest gain for the coalition is that they will now have forces on their side that know the terrain in al Anbar province. This is a very big deal in a campaign against the terrorists. When a force knows the terrain, it can make life miserable for its enemies. Just ask any Army unit that has gone through the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. The OPFOR (Opposing Force) has fought there for so long that they know all the good ambush sites. Units coming there for a training session don't have that knowledge – and they pay the price in the exercises held there.
This is just one sign that the tide is turning in favor of the coalition in Iraq. Many of the Sunni leaders have decided that the Shia-dominated Iraqi government is not going away any time soon, nor is the democratic process. As such, the tribal leaders have now decided that it is better to be on their good side rather than to be seen as uncooperative. Constant Arab casualties in al Qaeda attacks – and al Qaeda's desire for a caliphate – have not helped matters any, either.
On the other hand, by signing up with the government, these tribal leaders will hasten the construction of government services, and gain something else just as valuable – the government's gratitude. In essence, the tribal leaders have slowly been won over by a combination of coalition perseverance and al Qaeda strategic ineptness.
This agreement, if it holds, is a win for the United States, which is looking for measurable progress. It is a win for the Shia-dominated Iraqi government, which will now have an easier time in that province. It is a win for the tribal leaders, who will get a few markers they can call in down the road from the government for their assistance. For al Qaeda, now facing the equivalent of three additional light infantry divisions composed of people who will have knowledge of al Anbar province, it is a huge loss.
Look for this to be Page D-19 news on the NY Times.
Yeah, if there are 16 pages in the D section.
We rejoice over this good news. Let the MSM die completely now.
good news . wonder what it means for central authority though. having a local 30,000 man militia isnt exactly a step toward a unified iraq, if i understood the article
In other words, "Stay the course," the president's mantra, has actually worked. Go figure, DUmmies.
The demoncrats say we should be in Afghanistan looking for Bin Laden. They say this Iraq thing will just turn the Arabs against the US.
In 6 - 10 months when the MSN picks up on this they'll have to come up with some more excuses but hey Hillary will say she was always for the war anyway.
There is no central government authority in Western Iraq.
If you want to stabilize the country without the creation of local militias you would have had to send in a large number of US troops in 2003 or keep the Iraqi Army in tact.
Since we did neither we really don't have any choice. The stalemate we have had with al-Qaeda in Anbar has been maddening. This could finally break that stalemate.
And, if the US and the tribes break al-Qaeda we may be left with a militia, but this one unlike al-Qaeda won't be focused on causing a civil war or killing Americans.
Can't be true Harry Reid just yesterday explained there is an all out civil war.
Whoa, somebody must be wrong. This IS NOT what the democrats, and John Murtha are saying. They say we are losing this war and Iraqis are in a Civil War.
It must suck (for them, not us) to have such consistently bad timing all the time.
And we would not be seeing this good news if KerryMurtha had their cowardly way...
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Wow! Thanks for posting!
bttt
....When a force knows the terrain, it can make life miserable for its enemies. ......
I would carry that one step further..... when a force knows each and every house the enemy has no place to hide.
So, it seems that al Qaeda, the Democrats and the liberal news media are the last holdouts trying to destroy democracy in Iraq.
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