I'm working in Fallujah as the Tribal/Leadership Engagement Officer for my unit. The Anbar tribes initiative has spread out into neighboring provinces and is starting to resonate in the Shia communities as well. Shia tribal leaders are absolutely hungry for engagement and feel quite strongly that tribal identity can trump sectarian divisions. In Taji, for example, a joint Sunni and Shia tribal confederation has been established whereby both groups will jointly fight AQI and JAM. The more religiously based parties in Iraq do not have the deepest roots in large parts of the country and rightfully fear any kind of tribal political awakening in the country. In many respects, I feel the tribes of Iraq, both Sunni and Shia, are the future for creating stability in the country and, with national elections, are the key to political rejuvenation in Baghdad.