Actual good news in Iraq.

[grysar]

I'm not reversing my pro-withdrawal sentiments, but when good news occurs, I think it's worth reporting. Good news is kinda the man bites dog story of the Iraq war.

From Iraqi blogger Iraq the Model

Eyewitnesses in some volatile areas said that large numbers of militants have fled to Syria to avoid being trapped in the incoming security operations.

From the London Times Online:

DEATH SQUAD leaders have fled Baghdad to evade capture or killing by American and Iraqi forces before the start of the troop “surge” and security crackdown in the capital. A Former senior Iraqi minister said most of the leaders loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical anti-American cleric, had gone into hiding in Iraq.

From a quick skimming, it seems that militias are taking this a lot more seriously than the 2006 security crackdown in Baghdad. I consider this a good sign. Yes, they won't be arrested or killed in the sweep and still could be captured later. But if we could even get some temporary security in the capital, I think that would be an improvement over the current situation. We'll see how this plays out.

Both articles from Sullivan if memory serves.

Comments

[korgmeister.livejournal.com]

Wow, so you mean the war goes well when we actually let the soldiers fight the groups of armed nutcases causing all the problems?

INCONCEIVABLE!

[grysar.livejournal.com]

Well, the tricky part was getting the Iraqi government's backing to go after its allies. This isn't the post-invasion period where we were the only authority.

This isn't to say that the Shia milita aren't bad guys, regardless of whether the government admits it or not. But if they aren't supporting us, who exactly are we fighting for? By that I mean literally who in the country is backing us? In beating Shia militias we help the Sunnis, but that doesn't automatically translate into them throwing us political support.

[korgmeister.livejournal.com]

The trouble with the Sunnis is it's as if they're trying to get their asses kicked. They keep provoking the Shi'ites, who have both the will and the means to wipe them out, as well as being hostile to the coalition forces who are trying vainly to keep them in check.

[grysar.livejournal.com]

(Obviously generalizing, by Sunnis here I'm meaning sectarian fighters that aren't in the Al Qaeda camp). Well don't forget that if it comes to an all out assault on the Sunnis, the Saudis have explicitly said they'll step up if the US isn't doing enough to protect them. So, with that in mind, it comes down to the Sunnis thinking they've got more staying power than the Shia think they do. As a result, even if they just want a negotiated settlement over the oil, they think they have something to gain from a test of arms. That and they were in charge and controlled the army for some time, so they have reason to think that they're better fighters even if in the minority.