The "Anbar Awakening" Spreads

We here alot in the news about the success of Anbar Province, where Iraqi citizens have turned on their Al Qaeda tormentors and booted them out. Yet, Al Anbar is just the model, who's lessons General Petraeus has taken to heart in during the Surge this summer. Kathy Kagan in the Wall Street Journal reveals how the success is spreading:

• The first major combat operation of the surge, Operation Phantom Thunder, began on June 15 and accomplished its primary objectives. American troops and Iraqi Security Forces eliminated all of al Qaeda's sanctuaries in the Baghdad belts, including its urban stronghold in Baqubah. U.S. forces cleared Dora, al Qaeda's stronghold in western Baghdad. They established an extensive net of outposts in former enemy safe havens, degraded the capabilities of Shiite militias, and dramatically reduced sectarian violence and spectacular attacks in and around the capital.



• Gens. David Petraeus and Raymond Odierno followed up Phantom Thunder with Phantom Strike. The new campaign, launched on Aug. 13, aims to prevent terrorists and militias from reconstituting their forces in Baghdad, its belts or elsewhere. U.S. and Iraqi forces are moving along the river valleys to destroy the remnants of enemy groups and eliminate any new safe havens they try to establish. Their operations are also preventing Shiite militias from taking over territory al Qaeda once controlled.



• Meanwhile, Phantom Strike has dismantled a vehicle-bomb network in central Baghdad. And to the south of the city U.S. forces are destroying remnants of al Qaeda in Arab Jabour and Salman Pak--both al Qaeda safe havens just months ago.

And finally a key quote from this article "The tribal movement begun in Anbar has spread throughout central Iraq, as thousands of Sunnis have either volunteered to join the Iraqi Security Forces or formed local defense groups under Iraqi government and coalition auspices."

All this is necessary, bringing security to the populace, if for any kind of reconciliation to happen. Once the people have confidence in their federal government for protection, there become more inclined to work together. Just ask Washington and Jefferson.