Iraq Sunni tribal leaders pledge support for Shi'ite PM

[ECH1969]

Sunni tribal leaders who have vowed to drive al-Qaeda out of Iraq's most restive province met the Shi'ite premier on Wednesday, marking what Washington hopes will be a breakthrough alliance against militants.

al-Buzayi, a Sunni sheikh from Anbar province who has emerged in recent weeks as a leader of a tribal alliance against Osama bin Laden's followers, said he and about 15 other sheikhs had offered their cooperation to Prime Minister al-Maliki. It was the first time Maliki had met the sheikhs since they pledged to fight al-Qaeda in a meeting at Buzayi's compound in Ramadi, the provincial capital, two weeks ago.

Buzayi confirmed that U.S. and Iraqi forces had killed a senior al-Qaeda figure in Anbar on Tuesday. Khalid Mahal has been described as Qaeda's "emir" in the province although the organisation's precise leadership structure is murky. "He was a very important figure for al-Qaeda and getting rid of him was for the best," Buzayi told Reuters.

Iraqi journalists for Reuters in Ramadi say another figure named Zuhair, seen as a key Qaeda militant and known locally as "The Butcher of Anbar", was killed by tribal gunmen in a car as he walked in one of Ramadi's main commercial streets on Monday. The United States says its 30,000 troops in Anbar -- by far the deadliest province for U.S. forces in Iraq -- cannot defeat the insurgency on their own. Senior commanders say they have been delighted by recent developments in Ramadi.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700736.html

[enigma000]

1. This is what - like acquiring a light industry division?

I bet the tribal leaders could field 10,000 fighters plus. It's going to get messy in Anbar.

[ECH1969]

2. Actually the tribes have fielded a 30,000 man force

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.

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.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20060922.aspx

The problem comes in with what happens to the 30,000 man strong tribal militia after al-Qaeda is gone. If the Madhi Army doesn't disband it won't disband and that could cause big problems for Iraq down the road.

[enigma000]

4. As you say, the problem is what happens after al-Qaeda is gone

This tribal army will be the dominant force in the province. Still, what would they do? Seceding from Iraq is unlikely since there is no oil there & it would rely on transfers of revenue from other provinces. The Madhi Army doesn't have any reason to interfere there, its not a Shia region.

Plus the Sunni leadership there beginning to accept the central government in Baghdad.

[ECH1969]

They really have no choice to accept the central government

If they want part of the oil money. And, that is what it comes down to money.

[ECH1969]

5. dupe

[Teaser]

3. Todays Good News from Iraq Thread!

Sattar al-Buzayi, a Sunni sheikh from Anbar province who has emerged in recent weeks as a leader of a tribal alliance against Osama bin Laden's followers, said he and about 15 other sheikhs had offered their cooperation to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

"We agreed to cooperate," Buzayi told Reuters. "We haven't agreed to anything specific, but we agreed to cooperate."

yes, this will work out well.