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From the AP--Shia tribal leaders looking
to score the same deal as Sunni tribal leaders.
At some point the Shia had to figure
out that the Sunnis, by taking care of their Al Qaida problem would
put the Sunnis in the good graces of the coalition.
And after last week's testimony by General
Petraeus and Ambassador Cocker, everyone realizes this one is going
the distance--even Obama's most recent update of his plan to end
the war is not a complete withdrawal.
The old-school Sheik system in the river
valleys is about land holdings and money. The JAM affiliated gangs
may not be the same type of butchers as Al Qaida, but they are not good
for the old tribal business.
If Shia tribes are looking to join up
with the coalition that is the clearest sign that the Maliki regime
has failed to master the mothers milk of Mesopotamian politics--patronage.
Hasan al-Bakr, Iraq's leader in the late
60's and early 70's and the man who made Sadaam Huessain, was a master
of patronage even drawing--you guessed it--the Shia tribal leaders into
the network.
The young deputy sheiks of the 70's are
now the leaders of the tribes and the varying business interests of
the tribes.
The deals in 70's were indeed with a
devil and even if they think the U.S. is the great satan--we are still
good for business.
If enough of the sourthern and middle
valley Sheiks decide to get on with business and join with the coalition,
Iran will have two choices--get out or get it on.
On a final note--much is being made of
the ABC poll about the Sunnis of Anbar wanting the coalition to leave.
A novice would read that and say 'see, even the people who are working
with us want us out.'
But they fail to understand counter insurgency.
Winning hearts and minds is not the goal. Whether they like us
or not is irrelevant.
What counts is that they like us more
than Al Qaida.
Help JD get back to Iraq! Buy a DVD or Contribute below.
JD is currently editing the follow-up to his 2005-2006 documentary
Outside The Wire. He will return to Iraq to shoot another documentary
as soon as it is released.
We all know that freedom is not free--and neither is reporting from Iraq.
Each digital tape capturing the heroic efforts of Soldiers and Marines
costs $7. JD uses almost 100 tapes on each trip. One DVD buys one
tape that will permanently capture what the media refuses to cover.
As you know JD spends his time in Iraq with the Soldiers and Marines
doing the work Outside The Wire. That means hundred and thousands of
dollars of equipment and gear gets damaged. Three dollars buys a new
protective lens cover. Fifty dollars buys a pair of ballistic glasses.
Just to get there, the airfare costs $1,500.
It all helps and it is all needed to tell the story that is not being told.
If you have the desire and means to contribute more and be a co-producer please contact JD via email.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any support you can give.
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