Iraq - Terrorist co-operating with US

Is this the beginning of the end for Zarqawi?

U.S. intelligence officials have had back-door channels to insurgent groups for many months. The Dec. 15 elections brought many Sunnis to the polls and widened the split between Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi's foreign jihadists and indigenous Sunni insurgents. This marks the first time either Americans or insurgents have admitted that "senior leaders" have met at the negotiating table for planning purposes. "Those who are coming to work with [the U.S.] or come to an understanding with [the U.S.], even if they worked with Al Qaeda in a tactical sense in the past—and I don't know that—they are willing to fight Al Qaeda now," says a Western diplomat in Baghdad who has close knowledge of the discussions. An assortment of some of Iraq's most prominent insurgent groups also recently formed a "council" whose purpose, in addition to publishing religious edicts and coordinating military actions, is to serve as a point of contact for the United States in the future. "The reason they want to unite is to have a public contact with the U.S. if they disagree," says the senior insurgent figure. "If negotiations between armed groups and Americans are not done, then no solutions will be found," says Issa al-Addai al-Mehamdi, a sheik from the prominent Duleimi tribe in Fallujah. "All I can say is that we support the idea of Americans talking with resistance groups."

Remember, Zarqawi is opposed to any such talks and calls for the death of those who do.

This comes on top of what I posted yesterday.

This comes amidst growing protest against Zarqawi and al Qaeda across Iraq and increasing tip offs from ordinary Iraqis on al Qaeda.

If all of that wasn't bad enough for Zarqawi, Zawahiri has condemned his tactics and local terrorists have singed a pledge against him.

All of which, along with 3 successful national elections and a Constitution, helps explain why the Iraqis are so optimistic.

In Iraq, 65% believe their personal life is getting better, and 56% are upbeat about the country's economy.

Some quagmire, eh? Can anyone tell me how this looks even remotely like Vietnam?

No one has yet answered that question. They can't.

Bear in mind, that whatever is bad news for Zarqawi is bad news for the left. Funny that.
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