Turning the Shia Shieks too

This is from an interview by Hugh Hewitt with retired General Jack Keane:

...

HH: Is it possible that that organization can be turned in the way that the Sunni sheiks have been turned?

JK: Yeah, absolutely. And there is some indication, we’re encouraged by the fact that Sunni sheiks are being…there’s some indication that Shiia sheiks are moving not necessarily in the numbers of the Sunni sheiks, but some Shiia sheiks are starting to be turned. And I think the Sadrist issue, and his political arm is OMS, I think the appropriate lever there is a political one versus a military one, and obviously to exploit Sadr’s lack of leadership. He’s back in Iran again, frustrated with what’s taken place, and the more time he spends out of Iraq, obviously, the more influence he also loses.

...

Some of the Shia Sheiks are already turning. In Diyala province, which is a mix of Sunni and Shia, there has already been significant reconciliation and joining together to fight al Qaeda. It is likely that bringing the Sheiks into the process will continue in the other provinces and eventually will peculate up to the national government level. It is going to be a grass roots reconciliation in Iraq not a top down one as envisioned by the Democrats.