Now that the general in command of our occupation forces in Iraq has exhibited his many glinting medals under the camera lights and towed the party line, I want to draw your attention to the real, important development there. The regime and it's corporate media handmaidens have repeatedly touted that Anbar Province is more pacified. Of course they fail to mention that the gains in that largely Sunni region is offset by the planned withdrawal of British forces from Basra Province, a largely Shia region, leaving it dominated by waring militias. Basra has has most of the county's oil reserves.
The limited tactical improvement in Anbar is due to directly to the decision of sheiks to oppose the foreign jihadists making up Al Qaeda in Iraq, not the 'surge' in US troop levels. Their decision was facilitated by the US offering them guns and money. One of the leading sheiks who decided to oppose the jihadists was assassinated on Thursday of last week in a roadside bomb explosion. Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha had escaped a previous assassination attempt in February. The young sheik organised 25 clans in Anbar to oppose Al Qaeda with American assistance. The attack was probably carried out by Al Qaeda which has killed four of the sheik's brothers and six other relatives working for the US. Although the alliance has achieved some success in stabilizing Anbar, a survey conducted during August for the BBC and ABC News says 76 % of Anbar residents want the US to leave now. Every poll respondent said attacks on US forces were acceptable and only 23% expressed confidence in local leaders. Must be tough love.