Saddam's Tikrit tribesmen are glad he's gone: they've been nudged toward self-actualization, and nation-building. And there's quite a bit less money going to terrorist insurgents now that he's caught, according to the provincial governor. From the (London) Telegraph's article today:

...since Saddam was captured last December in a hole in the ground not far from the town, the attacks have faded away and the population is getting on with the dour business of trying to make a living in the new Iraq.

According to Falah al-Nakib, the governor of Salahadin province, it was Saddam's money that was funding most of the trouble.

"His capture has definitely reduced the finances that were supporting many of these gangsters," Mr al-Nakib said. "There were also some who thought that one day he might come back."

The violence had the tacit support of some local religious leaders, he added. There was also strong animosity towards the coalition from former Tikriti military officers who were heavily represented in Saddam's forces.

"We had a problem with Islamic leaders who were supporting these kind of operations," Mr al-Nakib said.

"We have discussed it with them and now they have come to accept that these actions were not good for Iraq. Now the majority of religious and tribal leaders and former officers have agreed to work together to rebuild our country."

This, from within the "Sunni Triangle." Hmmn.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at March 10, 2004 07:52 AM

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