U.S. Troops, Sunni Tribes Form Alliance

Former Enemies Join Forces To Fight Al Qaeda Insurgents

(CBS)  An American helicopter had to bring the Iraqi Prime Minister in for his first visit to Anbar Province, the heart of the Sunni insurgency and home to hard-line Saddam loyalists, CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports.

He came to reinforce a new and unlikely American alliance — a deal between the U.S. military and Sunni tribes who only weeks ago were their enemy — to take on the deadly insurgents called al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.

The Euphrates River valley that runs through Anbar is the route used by foreign fighters who helped make an area the size of Utah the bloodiest battleground in Iraq for U.S. forces, accounting for one-third of American casualties. The killing and mayhem turned Anbar into a failed state and convinced tribal leaders they had to re-think their allegiances.

The chanting at a recent rally was "no, no to terrorism." A few months ago U.S. troops were their sworn enemy. Not any more.

"They have seen al Qaeda kill too many of its sheiks, of their sons and brothers, their family members," says Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq.

Sheikh Abdel Sattar is the man the U.S. military and the Iraqi government is banking on. He's been given guns and money by the Americans to set up auxiliary police units to fight al Qaeda ... and even become a star of an anti-insurgent TV commercial.

Petraeus knows this is tactical gamble is a just that — a gamble.

"There's inherent risks in anything you do in a place like Iraq," he says.

Both the tribal sheikhs and the Americans are willing to risk this new alliance based on a simple, shared goal: The sooner al Qaeda is defeated, the sooner U.S. troops can leave this land and go home.

[drinuk]

Interesting how they hung the Sunni leader before doing a deal with his followers. Obviously they knew it would have been a complete U Turn and totally unacceptable had they given him the keys back, so they simply "Topped" him before sucking up to the only people who can keep Iran out of Iraq.

Over three thousand young Americans and Brits are dead, thousands have been mentally and physically marked for life, not to mention almost two hundred thousand innocent Iraq's killed or injured and for what ?? The administration have now given the green light to re-establish the Status Quo in Iraq after almost four years of unbelievable genocide. Now they will ride off into the sunset with saddle bags full of gold and a healthy portfolio of Haliburton and other stocks whilst we the taxpayers pick up the bill. Those responsible MUST be made to pay for this horror, Bush, Blair and all the individuals involved MUST face prosecution and punishment, if simply as an example to those greedy power crazed nutcases who may be tempted to do it again without just cause.

[notblue]

There is no such thing as good news when it comes to Iraq for the hate America, lose at all costs croud, here at leftwing central.

[cathaleen]

This is all in good faith for our troops - but can the Sunni's be trusted? Do they really want peace, and how long will this last before alqueda returns? Those are the questions.

[karlimhof]

Petraeus knows this is tactical gamble is a just that %u2014 a gamble.


America now arming Saddam's Sunnis - and what a gamble.

Hard to imagine how we going to play both sides of this sectorial fence - will all Shias be happy about this? Especially those whose loved ones were killed by Sunnis ?

If I were a Sunni, I'd gladly accept American arms and would even kill a few Al-Qaeda to boot.

But after the Al-Qaeda are gone, I might turn my sights to those Shias who killed the cousin of my cousins great-uncle's daughter-in-law -

And who say that then, perhaps, these american arms will be equally turned against Americans?

A dangerous game - playing both sides of the fence

[iceman_1960]

"Hey everyone look, another person who hasnt been to Iraq giving us their crappy opinion they got from listening to Jon Stewart. Your so smart and sassy."
Posted by seamusjohnso

That was a snotty little comment.

I've haven't been to the moon either, and I know it isn't made of green cheese.

What do you think about h*e*l*l ? Is it a bad place ?

Why don't you go to h*e*l*l and check it out.

[iceman_1960]

Bush will be gone pretty soon, gone back to Texas on his cra-ppy little ranch.

Then you can get on with the business of hating the Democrat who succeeds him in office.

It never fails to amaze me when I hear these right wing haters complain about "Bush hating."

They hate just as virulently as anyone else. And they season the stew with hypocrisy.

[tbweb]

It's time to focus on the Iraqi kids who suffer in silence and have not been in school in 4 years! No more adult issues, its time for the Iraqi kids! Get the Iraqi kids back in school, Iraq will pay for this 4 year absence from school for its kids!!

[seamusjohnso]

Because he murdered hundreds of thousand of innocent men women and children.


Hey everyone look, another person who hasnt been to Iraq giving us their crappy opinion they got from listening to Jon Stewart.

Your so smart and sassy.

[kstrisha]

U.S. Troops, Sunni Tribes Form Alliance
Former Enemies Join Forces To Fight Al Qaeda Insurgents

-----

Wow, now we are on Sadam Hussein's side? Why did we have him tried and executed then?

[pamcoyle]

This is good progress. I hope it continues in this direction. Senseless hating is stupid. With all the knowledge and technology in the world, we could have such a nice planet. Can't we all just get along?

[aa36042]

darkmeat4

great comment but dont worry...there wont be too many people clikcing on this article anyway since it doesnt have anything to do with Bush hating.