New Commander Brings New Tactics

Former commander of the 1st Cavalry Div General Peter Chiarelli is now head of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, and is bringing a new change in strategy. From Fox:

The goal, he said, is to "deprive insurgents and terrorists of their support base" among disaffected Iraqis — part of a strategy that parallels U.S. political overtures to the Sunni Arabs.

Counterinsurgency experts in Washington and allies in Britain have long urged the Pentagon to pursue a more nuanced style in Iraq, saying the U.S. preference for "search and destroy" offensives squandered precious time and helped send new recruits to the guerrillas.

This is great, I think. You can't kill all the terrorists, but maybe you can change their minds.