Iraqi Insurgents

Two interesting notes have come up regarding hopes for finding a diplomatic resolution for the Iraqi insurgency. U.S. officials have held initial meetings with Iraqi insurgents, though of course nothing firm has come out of this yet. At the same time, tribesmen in the restive Anbar province may be working to hunt down Zarqawi and his associates. The author of the linked report notes that this comes as many in the guerrilla movement seek to involve themselves in the political process, perhaps creating a situation similar to what happened in Ireland with the IRA and the Sinn Fein. While that's hardly ideal, if mainstream insurgents have decided that al-Qaeda is a liability and should be driven out, then that's still good for what I see as our main interest in the conflict, denying a refuge to international terrorist organizations.