Just blogging about Iraq

Remember the earlier message about a Colonel MacFarland, and Ramadi and Anbar Province ? Let's take it a step further.............

Apparently the Sunni in Diyala Province are coming together and forming a coalition of tribes, much the same as has taken place in Anbar Province, and for many of the same reasons.

Diyala Province is immediately east of Baghdad, as Anbar Province is west of Baghdad. Diyala is predominately Sunni, but with sizeable numbers of Shia and Kurd also. Diyala stretches from Baghdad to the Iranian Border, as Anbar stretches from Baghdad to the Saudi, Jordan and Syria Borders.

As the tribes in Anbar have grown strength in their opposition to the al Queda, and others, the al Queda are attempting to move their center of operations to Diyala. It seems the Diyala tribes, having watched Anbar, have no intention of allowing the al Queda, or other insurgent groups, to become intrenched.

The Sunni resentment to the Americans is understandable. With the toppling of Saddam, a dominoe effect took place with the Baathists and the Sunnis. They welcomed the al Queda, and other insurgents, into their areas providing these groups a base of operations against the Americans and the central Iraqi Government. When certain of the Sunnis objected to indiscriminate violence against civilian Iraqis, and spoke out against the al Queda, the al Queda attempted to impose a Taliban like control over the area, including the killing of several religious and tribal leaders.

To foster their opposition, the Sunnis formed the Anbar Salvation Council, which now includes 25 of the 31 Sunni tribes in the Province, and are physically confronting the al Queda, and other insurgents.

It seems a thoughtful US Army Colonel, whose initial job was to attempt to put down and control the insurgency originating from the Anbar, recognized an opportunity. Remember the clich