Where Goes the Neighborhood?

I wondered early on whether the numbers we've allocated to Baghdad are enough to squelch the Shia and Sunni death squads and bombers. For a metropolitan area of 6 million, the totals didn't seem like enough (though they probably leave out facility protection people and contractors who should count, too). I speculated that if the violence was confined to specific regions, the numbers committed could work since we wouldn't need to flood safer areas--just the dangerous areas.

This article notes that we are focused on specific neighborhoods:

Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, of Multinational Force Iraq, said operations in and around Baghdad are designed to reduce murders, kidnappings, assassinations, terrorism and sectarian violence in the capital.

Operations are pinpointed at the Doura, Shula and Ameriyah neighborhoods -- all areas threatened by sectarian violence. All three areas have both Sunni and Shiite populations.

Iraqi soldiers and police are carrying out most operational missions, while coalition forces provide security cordons and quick-reaction forces.

Operations look beyond short-term security concerns, Caldwell said. The mantra is “clear, hold, rebuild.” Iraqi and coalition forces clear neighborhoods and hold them so terrorists cannot come back, and they invest in rebuilding essential services and stimulating economic growth.

We shall see if this works. If our concept of "clear and hold" doesn't work and the violence continues, the Iraqi government will try "kill and expel." One way or the other, the Sunni violence will be ended to protect Shias from Sunni terrorists.

The Sunnis of Iraq are courting disaster by continuing to kill with no hope of beating the Iraqi government forces. Don't the Sunnis see that?

I'm beginning to wonder if Sunni Iraqi leaders have any warm brain cells to rub together.

UPDATE: We're doing it smart. We are walling off neighborhoods to sift the population by controlling the entries. (Tip to Iraq the Model via Instapundit).