Peace in Anbar
This was what the spinmeisters were telling us for the last 4 - 6 weeks. Anbar was where it was at. The Sunni took up arms against Al Qaeda. They began working with us (appears that we were actually paying them to work with us). Cut, Roll credits. Well, wait. The violence hasn’t been quite as squashed as President Bush and others have told us. A key Sunni trial leader has been killed by a bomb planted near his home. We were charged with keeping this man safe.
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From AP News:
The most prominent figure in a U.S.-backed revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Iraq was killed Thursday by a bomb planted near his home in Anbar province, 10 days after he met with President Bush, police and tribal leaders said.
Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha was leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening — an alliance of clans backing the Iraqi government and U.S. forces.
The death of the charismatic young sheik dealt a blow to American efforts to recruit tribal leaders to fight the terror network. (more…)
