Per Dave Kilcullen in the Small Wars Journal, the AQI jihadis overplayed a brutal hand in al Anbar and it blew up their faces:
Several major tribes are now “up” against AQ, across all of Anbar, Diyala, Salah-ad-din, parts of Babil and Baghdad (both city and province). Some in Anbar and Diyala have formed “Salvation Councils”, looking to well-known leadership figures like Sheikh Sittar ar Rishawi, or to community leaders. In other provinces things tend to be quite informal, based on local elders. In Anbar the movement has acquired the name “the awakening”.
The uprising against AQI has dramatically improved security. In Ramadi, Hit, Tikrit, Fallujah and other centers the rate of civilian deaths has dropped precipitously, and overall attacks are down far below historic trends, to almost nothing in some places. For anyone familiar with these places from earlier in the war, it can be quite disorienting to watch Iraqis walking safely and openly in streets which, a year ago, would have required a major operation just to traverse. This change seems to have passed some observers by, but it is one of the truly significant developments in Iraq this year.
It’s a good read as well as a reminder: There really aren’t many forces more powerful than enlightened self-interest. Turns out that getting their leaders killed by Zarqawi’s thugs while their sons die battling coalition forces even as the walls came tumbling down around them wasn’t a compelling vision of the future for the western tribes.
Jeff Goldstein brings the article home, comparing the nuanced view of Iraqi tribal structure Kilcullen brings to the discourse with civil war narrative favored by our own national tribunes:
(If) the press doesn’t understand the dynamic on the ground, why are they so committed to pushing a particular version, one that happens to favor the propaganda efforts of al Qaeda? Is it mere credulity? An inveterate distrust of our own military and the administration’s foreign policy? Or do they find such an intergral narrative of a burgeoning civil war in Iraq useful to their larger narrative, the most prominent theme of which appears to be a kind of pervasive fatalism, often manifested in a return to the Vietnam paradigm and the specter of a quagmire?
You really do tend to miss some things, relying on the Cliff Notes.
The MSM are whores, and there is little money for them in the truth.
You’re right, Casca; it’s the age-old addage: “Follow the MONEY!”
The good news is that the “old” Big Three are losing market share and Hiliary is refunding the Hsu money-laundering operation. It would be enlightening to see a good analysis of how the MSM benefits, monetarily, by promoting the losing attitude of the left.
I for one am delighted with the improving security situation as I soon will be tranversing the highways and byways of all the mentioned provinces. Unarmed. If you don’t count a pocket knife.
Unkawill, you’re going unarmed? Is that by employer contract or personal reason?
I’ve always figured self-defense was as personal a right as can be had, so naturally being able to use any tool for that purpose would be implied.
Seems the Iraqui’s are seeing the logic of this position with respect to AQiI, so I can’t fault them for taking up arms and forming alliances against their common foe.
I understand the base-standard AK-47 is something like $200 over there. Pity we can’t start an import-export business. I know of a number of applications for a cheap, select-fire weapon. Chief among them are the mink that will shortly be marauding across the countryside.
– Max
My unarmed status is contractually stipulated as a condition of employment. Possesion of a weapon is grounds for termination.TBS I will be operating a fully armored vehical, escorted by Highly motivated, expert, Army, Air Force,and Marine security details.
If it was up to me, I would carry a sawed off automatic 12 gauge 00 buckshot just to repel boarders, or perhaps a M-3 45 cal “grease gun”
if I could get my hands on one.
The point is moot however, if I tangle with an EFP.
As far as the street price of a fully automatic AK/SKS 15-25 USD is the going rate in theatre.
So it’s a contract thing, the prices are cheap, and the good ol’ ATF is probably frowning on my import/export idea of the Weasel Defense Toolkit. Drat.
Michelle? Note how this sort of thing just stifles free trade?
Unkawill? Good luck, god speed, and remember F=MA so keep the R’s up and don’t stop until the mission is over.
– Max
Are any of us surprised that the MSM has little or no use for a nuanced approach to anything? We’re a society where music video networks can only show about 30 to 45 seconds of a video because the attention span of the average viewer is that short.
Unkawill, how much for one of them gold plated AKs?
You know Unk, that contractual stipulation was created by lawyers/government contracting turds/pogues of another stripe. In practice, the discreet possession of a practical means of self-preservation is probably understood. Better to be judged than carried, and all that. If you ever have to explain the employment of said weapon, a suitably fictionalized addendum ala, “I threw my phone at him, and grabbed it from his hands” should do. Don’t let truth destroy the beauty of the thing.
Casca, what with having to import said discreet item through customs, in any number of European and middle eastern countries, with attendant jail time being of the harsh variaty, and being searched upon arrival at our freight destinations, personal and the truck being scanned by one of those Gamma Ray thingies, I think I’ll play by the rules. Especially for 10-15k a month. TBS a machete betwixt my shoulder blades in a ready draw position is not out of the question, and has the added bonus of plausible deniability ie; seat belt removal tool.
No really, the troops on escort duty are on the ball,and I have full confidence in them. This isn’t my first tour, I know what I am getting into.
The ban on weapons is for civilian contractors, and IMO with good reason. Would you want to be part of a group of untrained, out of shape,Individualstic, Rambo wanna be truck drivers, with hand guns, rifles, shotguns, of dubious quality and various caliber’s? ( not that there is anything wrong with that )I forgot to say that our comm’s are motorola hand held’s.
Kinda hard to shoot, scoot and communicate all by yourself at the same time!
Jep, I don’t have a clue on the gold plated model.
Max, Sop is to not stop enroute between FOB’s
The lone exception is about half way to Kuwait, in the middle of the desert for a piss call and weapon’s functionality check. our escorts will some times let us crank off a few rounds from the turrent mounted MG’s
Hehe…good Rambo comments – Godspeed unkawill – have a good time such as it is.
Thanks for the good wishes everybody, I just got back from a meeting, where they informed me that I will be flying out on Wendsday. time for a little R&R back in San Antonio before I have to check in sunday afternoon.
Unka out.