Maybe al-Sadr’s people can do all of Iraq a favor: they can take in Abu Ayyub’s people, and promptly turn them over to the IA!
If Al-Qaeda can manage to survive until the first week in November, they are going to declare victory and a renewed recruiting effort, even if the Republican nominee wins the US presidential election. Perhaps that is part of the reason why sheik Ali Suleiman said “we’re not going to let them walk out of our land alive.”
Iraqis of good will from all the parties should get together and utilize all the resources at their disposal now to secure their country for themselves. They should allow those Iraqis who would break away from Al-Qaeda to do so; they should graciously allow the Madhi Army and other militias to stand down to the extent that they are willing to do so, and they should apply the Iraqi Army to good effect against all rogue militia elements, with the full support of the Coalition. Yes, that will mean headlines about the “increase in violence” in the US media, but that is going to happen, anyway. The Democratic Party needs to see an increase in violence, and it will see such a thing under any circumstances, so there is nothing to be gained by deferring the conflict. Now is a good time to fight, and to lay the foundation for peace. If they can get to the peace without fighting first, I will be very happy about it: I just do not think that will happen.
God bless all those who defend their homes.
