A setback, absolutely, however I don't think that the locals are going to take this lying down. Sure, it's very intimidating, but they have a tendency to remember things and when you murder someone who's trying to make his city better, you're making him into a martyr in their eyes.
Abu Reesha, 39, was head of the Anbar Salvation Council -- also known as the Anbar Awakening -- a coalition of tribes that has been working with the U.S. military to counter al Qaeda in Sunni-dominated Anbar province.
Al-Maliki blamed al Qaeda in Iraq for the killing, but said it would backfire against the insurgent group by further isolating it across the country.
Al-Maliki is right. They are seeing Al-Qaeda try to muscle their way back in and everyone remembers the brutality that they showed and they don't want to have any of it. They were forced from their homes, forced to grow beards, had fingers cut off for smoking, even children were murdered for their parents cooperation with the US.
Tragically when one of them stood up to them, he lost his life along with two of his bodyguards. However, it's only going to strengthen the resolve of the local folks in Anbar province.
However, there is one thing that must be remembered:
It is unclear if the bomb was remotely detonated or triggered by the convoy. Al-Hayyes said he suspects al Qaeda may be behind the attack, but could not rule out a rival political group.
So it's entirely possible that the bomb was set there for US soldiers way back when and either forgotten about or what have you and then the bomb was triggered by this man's convoy accidentally. Just a thought.
Travis
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