The big contrast with Vietnam: lack of meddling incentives for outsiders

■"U.S. slowing flow of foreign fighters into Iraq: Weekend offensive with 3,500 troops aimed at halting supply line out of Syria," by Ricky Jervis, USA Today, 7 November 2005, p. 8A.

■"A New Sunni Party Raises Hopes Of More Political Participation: A group of sheiks say Sunni leaders have failed to represent the grass roots," by Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times, 7 November 2005, p. A8.

The key reason why we lost Vietnam was because the other side had some very serious backing from the Sovs and Chinese, plus a regional environment that was conducive to the dual strategy of civil war and insurgency from within.

The analogies to Vietnam now being employed work only to the extent that the regional environment is permissive, with some states obviously lending some support (Syria, Iran). The recent efforts to secure the border and the move to put Iraqis at the forefront of the counter-insurgency effort is the basic prescription package that many strategists argued would have worked in Vietnam.

Now we get a chance to test it.

Syria's definitely in a world of trouble, but Iran's hardliners are thriving in our feeble continuing attempts at isolation over WMD-pursuit.

You get Iran, you really got the ball rolling for the long-term solution set.

Meanwhile, the continued evolution of Sunnis in the direction of deeper political participation is certainly hopeful.

Some great quotes:

"We are very close to the community," said Hussein Jumaili, a professor of political science from Falluja. "We are trying to influence people, to satisfy them. We do not claim we're going to stop the terror tomorrow or the day after. This is just the beginning" ?

"When we achieve our progress, it will make Ramadi quiet," said Tariq al-Barwari, the group's leader, who is a Kurd.

"The people of Anbar are not represented by those conferences outside of Anbar," Mr. Shawka said, in reference to meeting held by other Sunni Arab parties. The Anbar residents, he added, "are not those who are living in five-star hotels or following the satellite channels."

Closeness, a desire for progress, a sense of local identity.

Nice.