In April, Sunni Arabs with tribal and religious ties rallied across western and central Iraq in support of the town, running guns through an American blockade and ambushing supply columns.

ECONOMIST: Iraq

Compounding our relations with Turkey, our old Cold War NATO ally that refused to let our forces transit its territory into Northern Iraq in 2003, was Turkey's sponsorship of the Gaza-blockade-running ship.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: American weakness on display