Iraqi tribesmen kill 22 Al-Qaeda terrorists

Kuna reports that Iraqi Tribesmen (read CLCs) have killed 22 Al Qaeda terrorists in Diyala.

A police source told KUNA Al-Qaeda militants launched an attack against the Nai and Safit villages in Diyala, northeast of Baghdad, but the tribesmen confronted them and killed 22 of them.

Seventeen CLCs were also killed according to KUNA.

One may ask, what is the significance of this action?

1. Diyala is a mix region of both Sunni and Shias. Many CLCs in this region are mixed CLCs, that is they have both Sunnis and Shias in them.

2. With Arab Jabar (southeast of Baghdad) and Ramadi (west of Baghdad), Diyala (northeast of Baghdad), it is one of the most important ratlines for weapons smuggling into Baghdad. The recent rout of Al Qaeda and Iranian Special Groups from all of these areas is obviously being contested, this time by Al Qaeda.

3. It is important to understand that CLCs held fast in what appears to have been a major battle resulting in almost 40 casualties on both sides. This fact alone leads to the conclusion that this battle was intense, severe, and prolonged, yet the CLCs held their ground with Al Qaeda personnel finally retreating from the field of battle.

4. Any insurgency needs support (at least tacit) from the populous. It would seem that the residents of Diyala, once called the headquarters of the Caliphate in Iraq, have completely turned their back on Al Qaeda, especially given the apparent intensity of this fight.

It is being questioned by both military leaders and the Iraqi Government whether on not these CLCs are just biding their time for Surge forces to subside so they can then battle against the ISF after the US redeploys many of its forces or is the Awakening a real turning against Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Battles such as the one described above lead more credence to the argument that the Awakening is a real force gaining momentum in Iraq.

Only time will definitely tell, but intense, prolonged battles like this one in Diyala are encouraging that the insurgency in Iraq sponsored by Al Qaeda and to some extent Special Groups sponsored by Iran, are no longer actively or tacitly supported by the population.

The beacon of democracy in the Middle East, that is Iraq, is shining brighter and brighter daily. Now is definitely the wrong time to accept defeat in Iraq as many liberal members of Congress has espoused we should.

It was a bold move by President Bush to attempt to resolve at least one crisis in the Middle East. It has been a long, hard road for the U.S. Military. However, it all seems to be coming to fruition now.

With Iraq wanting U.S. Forces to stay in Iraq for another decade to ensure their county's growth in democracy, I believe major warfare in Iraq has crested and the country can now start to rebuild and shine for all of their neighbors.