WSJ: Sunni sheiks complain their real enemy now isn't al Qaeda, but a Shiite-dominated government

[sabra]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118653546614491198.html

How Courting Sheiks Slowed Violence in Iraq --- Marines Try Payments, Alliances in Anbar

RAMADI, Iraq -- To understand how the U.S. managed to bring relative calm to Iraq's unruly Anbar province, it helps to pay a visit to Sheik Hamid Heiss's private compound.

On a recent morning, a 25-year-old Marine Corps lieutenant from Ohio stacked $97,259 in cash in neat piles on Sheik Heiss's gilded tea table. The money paid for food for the sheik's tribe and for two school renovation projects on which the sheik himself is the lead contractor. Even the marble-floored meeting hall where the cash was handed over reflects recent U.S. largesse: The Marines paid Sheik Heiss and his family $127,175 to build it on his private compound.

...

But as remarkable as the turnaround here has been, it isn't clear how broad or lasting the gains will be. With the threat of al Qaeda now gone from their area, many of the Anbari sheiks have begun to jockey with each other for power and influence. More ominously, some tribal leaders, including Sheik Heiss, complain that their real enemy now isn't al Qaeda, but a Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad -- the government the U.S. is trying to build up.

...

Today, the sheiks' biggest fear is that the Americans will leave them to the devices of a failing, sectarian government in Baghdad. Recently, the U.S. military flew a small group of national security experts to Anbar province to have dinner with Fallujah sheiks at the Marines' base. The think-tankers, who hailed from the Brookings Institution, listened as the sheiks, who came from the Jumaily and Issa tribes, described their frustrations. "We have gotten rid of al Qaeda but we have other organizations that are worse," said Sheik Mishan, referring to the Iraqi government.

One of the Fallujah sheiks then reached out a hand and placed it on Gen. Allen's knee. "This is my government," he said proudly.

Gen. Allen sighed. "Unfortunately, that is the problem," he said.

[Tempest]

1. Here's the best part

The U.S. is giving the Sunnis weapons to fight al-Qaeda that will be used against the Shiites in the future.

[bigtree]

2. The Sunnis who joined with the U.S. in attacking 'al-Qaeda'

always said they would continue their resistance to the U.S. occupation and their puppets

[merh]

3. So the Brookings Institute fellows got a "real look"

at a manufactured stability. Pay off the warlords of the provinces, then let them put on a happy face, while the government the US is supporting is failing and offers no peace or support of those that put on the show.

what a f*cked up mess we have made. :mad:

[BOSSHOG]

4. But bill krystol says sunnis and shias get along just fine

Could it be that the right wing lunatic machine doesn't know a fuck about what has been going on and what is going on in Iraq? One things for damned sure, they don't have an ounce of skin in the game.