Iraqi Prime Minister Says Iraqi Government Has Defeated Terrorism

I don't know...it's good to see the Iraqi government confident but there are times that I wish Maliki would just keep his mouth shut. I've been the first to note how the U.S. and Iraqi forces have really taken it to al Qaeda in Iraq and have basically rendered the Sadr army defenseless, but we have also seen Maliki get on this podium of bragging before, only to see some dramatic attacks come from al Qaeda in Iraq.

Here's what Prime Minister Maliki said today, from Yahoo:

"They were intending to besiege Baghdad and control it," al-Maliki said. "But, thanks to the will of the tribes, security forces, army and all Iraqis, we defeated them."

"Under the national unity government, the Iraqis have achieved national feats...that are now lighting the course of our march," said al-Maliki.

Now, I don't disagree with Maliki pumping up the idea of national unity and a unified front against al Qaeda and the militias but at the same time, to claim total victory is premature. It's my gut feeling that al Qaeda in Iraq will be around for at least another five years. Sure, they will be limited to small pockets and primarily only suicide bombings but they will be there. Or, if America puts B. Hussein Obama in the White House, al Qaeda in Iraq will be there for 50 years and quite frankly, if U.S. troops are pulled out prematurely, there will be another flood of foreign fighters back in Iraq.

The other aspect that disturbs me is the Sunni tribes that have unified to fight al Qaeda. As al Qaeda in Iraq fades away and the need for the Awakenings subsides, will those Awakening Councils see their role differently? Will they see their organization as a way to militarily seek what they feel they need to exist in a Shia controlled Iraq?

Iraqi prime minister says that the government has defeated terrorism

BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister says the government has defeated terrorism in the country, a sign of growing confidence after recent crackdowns against Sunni extremists and Shiite militias.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki launched the crackdowns to extend the authority of the government over areas in Baghdad and elsewhere that have largely been under the control of armed groups since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
"They were intending to besiege Baghdad and control it," al-Maliki said. "But, thanks to the will of the tribes, security forces, army and all Iraqis, we defeated them."
He was speaking at ceremonies marking the fifth anniversary of the 2003 assassination of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, a leading opponent of Saddam Hussein.
He was killed in a truck bombing in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf after returning from exile in Iran.
Such attacks plagued Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion, but violence in the country has now fallen to its lowest level in four years.
The change has been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni tribal revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq and al-Maliki's crackdowns, among other factors.
"Under the national unity government, the Iraqis have achieved national feats...that are now lighting the course of our march," said al-Maliki.
Bolstered by this confidence, the prime minister plans to visit the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and also Italy and Germany later in the month - apparently hoping improved security at home will pay dividends in greater international support.
Iraq is also enjoying a surge in oil revenue driven by record crude prices and the highest production levels since Saddam's ouster.