THE IRAQI AWAKENING HAS BEGUN

LOWRY/NRO:

A friend e-mails:

On the political front, Sadr now finds himself completely isolated. Key leaders of his own movement are now urging him to accept the Maliki government’s demands to disband the militia entirely.

Saturday, Iraq’s president and two vice-presidents, along with every other major political group in Iraq (except the Sadrists) joined in the condemnation of Sadr’s militia, and endorsed Prime Minister Maliki’s demand that the militia disarm.

Sadr’s militia is now virtually the only militia left in Iraq that still maintains an outlaw posture, the only one that still challenges the authority of the Iraqi Security Forces or the Coalition.

(Other major militias have disbanded, transforming into political organizations and joining — or becoming — legitimate security forces, which explains why you never hear about any other militia in the news.)

The joint statement is dramatic and sweeping. ... Not only does it enshrine major concessions among the various factions in order to secure a united front against Sadr, but the insistence upon the rule of law and respect for central authority shine through in the clearest terms.

... Saturday, Iraq’s president and two vice-presidents, along with every other major political group in Iraq (except the Sadrists) joined in the condemnation of Sadr’s militia, and endorsed Prime Minister Maliki’s demand that the militia disarm. Sadr’s militia is now virtually the only militia left in Iraq that still maintains an outlaw posture, the only one that still challenges the authority of the Iraqi Security Forces or the Coalition. (Other major militias have disbanded, transforming into political organizations and joining — or becoming — legitimate security forces, which explains why you never hear about any other militia in the news.)The joint statement is dramatic and sweeping

... After the joint statement was made, a Sunni lawmaker had this to say:

“I think the government is now enjoying the support of most political groups because it has adopted a correct approach to the militia problem,” said Hussein al-Falluji, a lawmaker from parliament’s largest Sunni Arab bloc, the three-party Iraqi Accordance Front. Al- Hashemi heads one of the three, the Iraqi Islamic Party.

The Accordance Front pulled out of al-Maliki’s Cabinet in August to protest his policies. The newfound support over militias could help al-Maliki persuade the five Sunni ministers who quit their posts to return.

If he succeeds, that would constitute a big step toward national reconciliation, something the U.S. has long demanded.

WE ARE STILL WINNING...

• THE DEMOCRATS, AL QAEDA, AND IRAN MUST ALL BE UPSET.
• THE DEMOCRATS, AL QAEDA AND IRAN ARE EVIL - SO DON'T COUNT THEM OUT YET; THEY MAY YET TRY TO MAKE THESE GAINS UNRAVEL.

4/8/-8 UPDATE: PREDICTABLY: THE NYTIMES SEES IT NEGATIVELY.