Ramadi’s Rocky Road
WaPo reports on rifts in Anbar’s Salvation Council and raises questions of whether buying loyalty in Anbar is a good idea. Includes the following Cordesman observation:
Although backing the tribal coalition looks like “the least bad option” under the current circumstances, he said, “The key is, what can the Iraqi government offer them over time, and is it enough for them to stay with the bargain?”
It’s been reported from the beginning that money, development and services are key, and there is nothing new about the notion of buying the loyalty of Arab tribes. There are no sure things in Iraq, and few good options. Nothing new about that, either. But failing to pursue the best options you have only ensures failure. Ideology is great, but failing to back it up with tangible economic and infrastructure improvements doesn’t make any sense. This is what the war critics have been saying all along. Failing to work with the tribal structure also doesn’t make any sense, and the notion that that might be a rollercoaster ride is not particularly surprising.
Meanwhile, NYT reports on risky strategy of arming Sunni tribes against al-Qaeda, the environment in which this kind of step is being taken, and measures the Americans are taking to control the use of arms. The biggest mistake here, again, would be not giving Sunnis political, economic and security reasons to stay with you.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:14 am on Monday, June 11, 2007
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