On the Offensive in Iraq

I don't have much to add about Operation Matador that has nailed a lot of jihadis in the Qaim area near the Syrian border. In part, I am heartened that this is considered a major offensive and it is being conducted by only a reinforced battalion and not the multi-battalion force that Fallujah required back in November.

Mostly it is interesting that we are focusing more on the jihadis--both foreign and domestic--rather than the Baathists:

Previously, U.S. authorities have depicted the insurgency as being dominated largely by what the Pentagon has dubbed "former regime elements" -- a combination of onetime Baath Party loyalists and Iraqi military and security service officers intent on restoring Sunni rule. But since the Jan. 30 elections, this segment of the insurgency has appeared to pull back from the fight, at least for a while, reassessing strategies and exploring a possible political deal with the new government, senior U.S. officers here say.

This is good and the beginning of a national resistance that can unite the Shias and Kurds with newly cooperative Sunnis enlisting in the security forces rather than helping the insurgency.

The jihadis are killing lots of Iraqis lately. But this is not the path to victory for our enemies.