New tactics in Iraq?

Juan Cole wonders if it's too late, considering how out of control the situation is, with people dancing in the streets over the killings of contractors. I saw a TV report last night from a New York Times reporter who said there seemed to be a recent trend for the Coalition troops and Iraqi police to stand back and let the crowds get out of control. He seemed to be suggesting it was part of the transition, but I can't imagine that would be a good plan. I think it's more likely that the troops are figuring there's too much risk (in several ways), and the Iraqi police have neither the equipment nor the desire to handle riotous crowds of their fellow countrymen.

Veteran diplomat and superb Arabist Christopher Ross, who is in the Coalition Provisional Authority's Outreach Department, has indicated a desire to meet with radical Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr for talks about the fate of the Mahdi Army militia. Previously the CPA had refused to deal with Muqtada directly, accusing him of having had rival cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei killed in April of 2003.

Ross's request for a meeting may well be a sign that a more pragmatic set of officials from the State Department is beginning to take charge of such policies from the Neocon establishment that had dominated the Coalition Provisional Authority (and which had generally screwed up Iraq royally).

  Juan Cole post

Yeah, well, Neocons don't negotiate with terrorists.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.