If not for the Shia death squad violence that began a year ago on a large scale (aided by the Iranians and Syrians), I think the majority of Sunnis would have abandoned the terrorists and Baathist remnants.
So our success in quieting the Shia militia death squad elements is very important.
And it must be having an impact because the Sunni terrorists are finding that the fear of Shias isn't enough to hold the Sunni Arabs. The Sunni Arab terrorists find it necessary to terrorize Sunni Arabs, too, killing 6 Sunnis for meeting with Shias:
The attack near Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of the Iraqi capital, was apparently connected to rising sectarian violence that has included the claimed abduction and execution Friday of at least 14 members of the Shiite-led security forces. But in this case, Iraqi authorities said they believed Sunni gunmen had killed fellow Sunnis — revealing a rift between those who support reconciliation with Shiites and those who will kill to stop it.
This follows a mosque bombing by Sunni terrorists.
The willingness of Sunni Arabs in Anbar and elsewhere to take on the terrorists is key to ending the insurgency short of expelling the Sunni Arabs from Iraq. And the fact that the Sunni Arab terrorists feel the need to strike at Sunni Arabs is a sign that the Sunni Arab community is resuming movement toward effectively surrendering. A movement that was halted one year ago. [Clarification: This movement was halted in the Badghdad region and areas north. In Anbar, the Sunnis have switched sides to fight the jihadis.]
Have patience. We are winning this war.
