Will this stop the "success" in aNBAR?




Beirut, Lebanon; and Baghdad - Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha who, in his own words, led a "revolution" against Al Qaeda in Iraq's western Anbar Province was killed in a bombing Thursday. His death has tarnished one of America's rare success stories in the war.

Sheikh Abu Risha's death, which was the result of a roadside bomb explosion near his home in the provincial capital Ramadi, comes at a crucial time. The Sunni tribal forces he led were moving closer to creating a formidable block with sufficient weight to provide representation for the embittered community in the government and counter those Sunnis who still believe in using violence to achieve their aims. .

"This is a tragic loss," said Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, in a statement released in Washington by his spokesman. "It's a terrible loss for Anbar Province and all of Iraq. ... He was an organizing force who did help organize alliances and did help keep the various tribes together."


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Revenge is the word oif the day--but will they take it out on everyone or just thoise responsible?


RAMADI, Iraq -- Sunni Arab tribes in the western Iraqi province of Anbar vowed Friday to avenge the death of their leader Abdel Sattar Abu Reesha, a key US ally who was killed in a bomb attack near his home.

"We blame Al Qaeda, and we are going to continue our fight and avenge his death," said Sheikh Ahmed Abu Reesha, brother of the slain tribal chief.

Abu Reesha was killed in a bomb attack near his home outside the provinvial capital Ramadi Thursday.
He was killed one day short of a year after he launched the Anbar Awakening Conference, a coalition of 42 Sunni tribes that joined forces with US troops to fight Al Qaeda in the province.

Hours later, his brother was elected new leader of the coalition.


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He was an organizing force who did help organize alliances and did help keep the various tribes together."

It sounds like it won't take much for the whole U.S. plan to backfire if they put all their faith into a handful of leaders.

This was never meant to be a long term plan, IMO, it was just something that fell into their laps and they ran with it to help the whole "success" line.

AQ might have made a stupid move by killing this sheik. If the Sunni all band together over this they will take the fight to AQ for us.

I would say that would be a goiod idea and then the US could start winding down its presence.