NYT Link
An interesting article discussing a myriad of problems- 1.) Shia-dominated provincial and national leaders reluctant to empower sunni communities, 2.) Corrupt Interior Ministry officials, 3.) AQI., 4.) An absence of Sunni tribal networks.
None of this stopped Cpt. Ben Richards, CDR B Troop, 1-14 CAV, who's slowly integrating the small village of Buhritz (sounds German to me) into his defense network. Why and how?
The town sits astride one of AQI primary LOCs into Baquba from rural staging areas. So extensive are the arms caches, munitions, and other supplies as well as AQI troops that our forces are calling the rural areas surrounding Baquba as Al Qaeda FOB.
Richards has managed to foster some tenuous but growing ties with local sunni community leaders and former (current?) members of the Sunni 1920s Revolutionary Brigades.
Swift Sword should enjoy the irony of our working with former sunni insurgents, no doubt all also on the Saudi payroll as proxies.
A very good read by Michael Gordon.