Iraqi citizens and security forces continue to take responsibility for restoring order to their nation. The United States divulged that it arrested a senior Zarqawi aide some time ago. He possesses joint American and Jordanian citizenship, yet another traitor. The US has undoubtedly used his knowledge if Zarqawi's network to exploit weaknesses and turn agents. The Counterterrorism Blog reports on recent successes by the Iraqi Security Forces, with the help of citizens:

This from the Iraqi Government Communications Directorate: "Acting on a tip from local Iraqi citizens, Security Forces in Iraq have detained Shakara Kheel, 38 years old, Pakistan nationality, in the community of Munirah. During extensive interviews with Kheel, Security Forces learned that he harbored terrorists and conducted weapons trafficking. Local citizens allege Shakara Kheel beheaded personnel who worked with the Iraqi government and Security Forces. In further operations, Security Forces captured in Mosul, on 20 February 2005 Alawi al Raliya, Afghan nationality, he is also known as Abu Zad. Alawi al Raliya was described to Security Forces as the commander and operational planner for a terrorist cell that specialized in improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi civilians and Security Forces."

Iraq security forces continue to show resolve when fighting the enemy. A soldier currently serving in Iraq reports of an attack on an Iraqi base and the response of the soldiers (many thanks to Greyhawk); "After the initial blast, instead of running away the Iraqi Army soldiers at the guard towers got up, returned to their posts and repelled the attack. When the AIF [Anti Iraq Forces] stormed the compound, they undoubtedly expected little resistance, and they were gunned down. In fact, the fighting was largely over by the time our guys got there."

Strategy Page reports a major Shia religious festival was conducted without a significant successful attack, and credits Iraqi Security Forces and a recent roundup of suspects (see April 1 article, hat tip to Instapundit):

Another reason the attacks were not successful was that, in the days before March 29th, police arrested hundreds of Sunni Arabs and foreigners suspected of being terrorists. Many were, and this is because an increasing number of Sunni Arab religious leaders have changed their minds about armed resistance to democracy, and coalition forces. This has made it easier for Sunni Arabs to pass on information to the police. The Sunni religious leaders have done the math and concluded that they were backing the losing side. Some have made deals with the government, to provide information, or pro-government sermons, in return for favorable treatment (money, access to jobs for their followers, reconstruction projects). But most have simply stopped preaching violence, or cut back on the intensity of their calls for violence against Kurds, Sunni Arabs and infidels (non-Moslems). Many Sunni Arab clerics have also noted that most of their followers are not in favor of terror attacks that kill Iraqis, no matter what their religion or ethnicity….The overall level of terrorist violence has fallen by about half in the last month. Terrorist attacks that target Iraqis has been very unpopular in Iraq, and caused even many Sunni Arabs to turn against al Qaeda and Sunni Arab terrorist organizations.

Lest Strategy Page be accused of an overabundance of neoconservative idealism, the New York Times reports Sunni clerics and scholars are beginning to encourage Sunnis to join in the Iraq security forces . This ain't your garden variety of Sunni clerics, but includes some members of the insurgency-friendly Muslim Scholars Association. Granted their motives may be suspect and likely includes a fear of a lack of Sunni representation in the military.

The position of the Sunnis is clear: they realize they must enter the political process or be left siding with an increasing unpopular insurgency, opposed by a very hostile supermajority of Shiite and Kurdish Iraqis still angry over the Sunni's support of Saddam and the current insurgency. The wiser and more political savvy Sunnis recognize it and are running for the exits from the insurgency. It seems their more radical friends are being jettisoned in the process, and increasingly al Qaeda is left to fight on its own.