Iraqi Elections Must Consolidate Security Gains of 'Sons of Iraq'
Upcoming Iraqi Elections Must Consolidate Security Gains of 'Sons of Iraq' by Dr. David Ucko, Small Wars Journal.
The editors would like to share the following article with the SWJ community. Published in World Politics Review on 20 May 2008, this piece examines the challenges and opportunities to arise from the Sons of Iraq phenomenon. It also seeks to debunk some of the myths to have been spun from this remarkable development. The article is also the forerunner of a longer piece on the political integration of irregular armed groups in Iraq since 2003 to the present day. Republished here with permission from the author; comments, criticism and feedback would be most appreciated.
The Challenge of Political Reintegration in Iraq
Conflict, Security & Development, Oct 08 (hat tip to the Insurgency Research Group):
Militias, tribes and insurgents: The challenge of political reintegration in Iraq
Quote:
This article examines the different approaches employed by the United States toward the political reintegration of irregular armed groups, from the policy vacuum of 2003 to the informal reintegration seen during the course of the so-called “surge” in 2007 and 2008. The case study has significant implications for the importance of getting political reintegration right—and the long-term costs of getting it badly wrong.....
Complete 33-page article at the link.