WHY THE SUNNIS TURNED

Via ThinkProgress, I finally get some references for the notion that the talk of withdrawal by liberals and Democrats helped pushed some of the Sunnis into a re-appraisal of their allegiance.

First,

G.I.’s Forge Sunni Tie in Bid to Squeeze Militants
By MICHAEL R. GORDON
Published: July 6, 2007

BAQUBA, Iraq, June 30 - ... Many Sunnis, for their part, are less inclined to see the soldiers as occupiers now that it is clear that American troop reductions are all but inevitable, and they are more concerned with strengthening their ability to fend off threats from Sunni jihadists and Shiite militias.

Second,

The August 2007 NIE report on Iraq concluded that "At the same time, fearing a Coalition withdrawal, some tribal elements and Sunni groups probably will continue to seek accommodation with the Coalition to strengthen themselves for a post-Coalition security environment."