The Iraqi Army tags in for U.S. forces, paying tribal groups for assistance

The World

Key to the success of the troop surge in Iraq was a change that took place between U.S. forces and former insurgent tribal groups that came to be called “The Awakening.” These groups, impatient with militants like al-Qaida in Iraq and Shiite insurgents, began to work with U.S. forces. They used to work with al-Qaida. Now they fight against them, with the help of the Americans. They were paid for their allegiance, but starting today U.S. forces are going to stop paying these groups. The Iraqi army will hand out their pay packets instead. Will the alliance hold?
Guest: Hugh Sykes, BBC Correspondent in Baghdad

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