Sunni Fighters Growing Tired of US Neglect

The mostly Sunni volunteer forces that have drastically improved Iraq’s security are losing patience with US handlers, the Washington Post reports. Desertions are under way in key provinces over lack of resources, political disagreements, and disputed accounts of US troops killing members of the so-called Sunni Awakening. “Now, there is no cooperation with Americans,” one commander said. “We have stopped fighting al-Qaeda.”

Yesterday, Awakening leaders in Diyala, one of the country's most volatile regions, threatened to disband entirely unless the province’s Shiite police chief is replaced. Others are fed up with Shiite government distrust; some say they haven’t been paid in months. “We’ll be patient for another two months,” said one commander. “Then we’ll go back to fighting Americans.” (More Iraq stories.)