Thursday, May 14, 2009

Shifting loyalties in Iraq.

Telling Shadid article in the Wash Post today about shifting loyalties and allegiances in Iraq. Every ME expert and their mama predicted this about the Sons of Iraq, or al Sahwa, the Awakening Movement. They might have served a purpose, temporarily defeating AQI (Al Qaeda Iraq), but then the US did not insure their integration into the system (somewhat a la Taliban and all the other mujahideen in 1988).

"Khalil's rivals have hailed his detention. His colleagues call it caprice. Either way, it underlines the free-for-all of elusive loyalties, stinging betrayals and unrequited vengeance as the U.S. military withdraws, its erstwhile allies splinter, the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki remains tentative and everyone vies for power ahead of national elections."

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