Success in Anbar

Pejman wonders why no one has really noticed or absorbed the broader lessons. They have, I think. Check this new NPR story out that Pejman links to. Yes: NPR. The dynamic of Sunni tribes deciding they cannot tolerate Jihadist foreigners is the only paradigm that will eventually work - just as Iraqi Shiites will have to turn on Persian extremism. The question is whether an indefinite occupation of the whole country helps or hurts that process. A smart withdrawal that exploits these fissures as they occur is the key, it seems to me. In fact, a smart withdrawal, if done with finesse, might conceivably undo some of the damage of the dumb occupation. But we also need to be cautious here. As soon as we get news of tribal alliances, we get news of tribal discord. This is Arab culture. They will support you one second and murder you in cold blood the next. And they will do exactly the same to one another.