According to the New York Times, Sunni Leaders in Iraq are asking that US Troops stay to protect them from Shia reprisals. Is this for real? That would be a complete reversal of position. Has someone slipped something into my Kool Aid?
The New York Times reported Monday that senior Sunni officials have reversed their position on the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Where the Sunnis previously had demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Americans, they now have asked that U.S. troops stay in Iraq. The reason is to protect them from Shia: Shiite militias have been conducting extensive attacks against Sunnis since the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Rather than reining in activities in response to his death, they have continued and even increased the tempo of operations against the Sunnis.