Brain Fertilizer

First Samarra, now this.

Iraqi insurgents from Fallujah are in intense negotiations with the country's interim government to hand over control of the city to Iraqi troops, according to representatives of both sides, in hopes of averting a bloody military battle for the city of 300,000 that has become a haven for foreign guerrillas and a symbol of the limits of Baghdad's authority.

...

The talks apparently gained momentum Wednesday after the mujaheddin shura -- or council of holy warriors -- that now governs Fallujah voted overwhelmingly to accept the broad terms demanded by Iraq's government. By a vote of 10 to 2, the council agreed to eject foreign fighters, turn over all heavy weapons, dismantle checkpoints and allow the Iraqi National Guard to enter the city.

Simultaneously, another troublesome insurgency movement is taking steps towards allowing peace.

Keep in mind, however, that al-Sadr has broken more treaties than the US Govt did with Native Americans in the 1800s, and he has more positions and empty promises than John Kerry. So it doesn't mean much, but if we are hurting him enough to make him squeal and try to gain some breathing room, it tells us we are doing the right things and hitting him where it hurts.

Unfortunately, it may be a while before we see the benefit from these forward strides. Ramadan is just around the corner...