Something has changed...

...in the air around here, and it's not just the stifling heat. It has been hot though. I hate to be an ever-full font of optimism, but I was just briefed on something yesterday while researching for a speech we're writing.

As you may or may not have read, the tribes are experiencing an awakening in Al Anbar Province. Al Qaeda in Iraq's own brutal, indiscriminate tactics have alienated them from the populace.

Within the coming weeks the whisper of news that makes it out into the mainstream press on this topic will, hopefully, become a roar. We are working on some products about this very thing, as a matter of fact.

If you look at the city of Fallujah on a map, in an approximately 270-degree arc around it in all directions, the countryside, towns and villages around Fallujah proper are now under the control of tribal sheiks who are turning their backs on AQI and other terrorist groups. Four out of the five tribes who hold the greatest influence in the areas around the city are now either working with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces or are considering it.

I am not sure how well it is conveyed in the American press, but Ramadi is fairly well under control. How did it happen? It happened because the tribal leaders in and around the Anbar provincial capital said, "Enough is enough," and decided to throw in their lot with Iraqi police, Army, and the Coalition Forces in the area. When the "insurgents" are kidnapping, murdering then dumping the body of anyone who so much as talks to an Iraqi policeman, wouldn't you get fed up too?

Why is this all happening? All indicators point to The Surge tipping the public opinion fight over to our side of the fence.

Like I say we will have more on this in the days and weeks to come, probably an official release.

Lastly, a vain attempt to apologize for no updates. But then, it's the internet, and a week is forever. I hope "I was busy" is a good enough reason.

More updates to come, likely in a flurry of posts over the next couple of days.