The surge was meant to reduce violence so that there was breathing space for reconciliation. Well, as most will admit now, the surge has reduced violence. Whether that is a short-term, or a long-term shift, remains to be seen. Many people have pointed out that if all we (supporters) are talking about is a reduction in deaths, then the surge isn’t really working to accomplish the political/reconciliation goals.
Well, we’re talking about reconciliation, and it’s not just in Anbad anymore. Yesterday I featured an article about reconciliation in the Diyala province. Today, it’s the Taji area. If progress continues at this pace, 2-3 provinces per month, we could see some solid changes in 4-6 months on the political/reconciliation front. Given where we were 6-12 months ago, I think this is remarkable progress. Qualifiers: there are many elements that can destabilize progress.
The reconciliation of Sunnis and Shi’ites across Iraq in a national movement to reject al-Qaeda is an example of this and was made possible by the troop surge. The reconciliation movement is evident in an area north of Baghdad called Taji. Tom Burke, the team leader for the Taji Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, or EPRT, calls this reconciliation the “Taji Awakening.”
“(The Taji Awakening) involves all the sheiks (in Taji), both Sunni and Shi’a. Over the period of four weeks now, it has gathered momentum,” Burke said. “The movement here has become dynamic.”
He said that the largest gathering of Sunni and Shi’a sheiks in Iraq occurred on Aug. 20 in the Taji area and that the terrorist forces in the area are now “on the run” because of the sectarian reconciliation. As a result, the overall quality of life in rural North Baghdad Province has improved, with marketplaces “flourishing” and critical infrastructure needs being met, according to Burke.
Col. Mike Bridges, who heads up the governance section of the EPRT, concurs with Burke that progress has been made, but specifies that the reconciliation starts at the local level. “It really did start with our brigade commander’s philosophy in engaging the senior tribal sheiks,” said Bridges. He added that the brigade commander tired of his soldiers getting hurt and of good local people being terrorized when they tried to make changes in their community. The changes in Taji began with a simple outreach program using fliers to promote the idea of Iraqi national unity against terrorism with the support of Americans.
(H/T Instapundit)