How long since you've been over there. In the past few weeks, the Iraqi Sunni tribes have turned on AQ and the Desert Protectors (tribesmen) have been doing a pretty effective job in stopping the flow.
Here is a news article about it. Not sure how effective they are though. I just don't have the visibility.
http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=155476