Sheiks continue to rally to US and Government side in Iraq

AP:

American commanders in southern Iraq say Shiite sheiks are showing interest in joining forces with the U.S. military against extremists, in much the same way that Sunni clansmen in the western part of the country have worked with American forces against al-Qaida.

Sheik Majid Tahir al-Magsousi, the leader of the Migasees tribe here in Wasit province, acknowledged tribal leaders have discussed creating a brigade of young men trained by the Americans to bolster local security as well as help patrol the border with Iran.

He also said last week's assassination of Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, who spearheaded the Sunni uprising against al-Qaida in Anbar province, only made the Shiite tribal leaders more resolute.

"The death of Sheik Abu Risha will not thwart us," he said. "What matters to us is Iraq and its safety."

The movement by Shiite clan leaders offers the potential to give U.S. and Iraqi forces another tactical advantage in curbing lawlessness in Shiite areas. It also would give the Americans another resource as they beef up their presence on the border with Iran, which the military accuses of arming and training Shiite extremists.

Similar alliances with Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province helped break the grip of groups such as al-Qaida in Iraq and were widely cited in the Washington hearings as a major military success this year.

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Besides the military advantages of having the Sheiks rallying to our side and providing police and fighters, it also broadens the base of the grass roots reconciliation process and gives it a better chance to become a nationwide movement. It is in effect a general uprising against al Qaeda and Sadr's militia. It is achieving one of the primary goals of a counterinsurgency operation and most of the media is oblivious. It is also bad news for Iran, since it is truly a nationalistic movement. The Sunni Sheiks speaking at the funeral and the Shia Sheiks both indicated they were doing this for Iraq.