Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Senior Fellow Ramzy Mardini is quoted by the Associated Press on sectarian tension in Iraq:
“Unfortunately for al-Maliki, the scope and depth of cooperation he will receive from Sunni tribal leaders will be limited because Sunni threat perceptions are caught between al-Qaida and his Shiite-dominated government,” said Ramzy Mardini, a Mideast expert at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank.
That mistrust is perhaps most acute in Fallujah, where support for extremists and sentiments against the government and security forces run high. Tribal loyalties there are split. Some tribal leaders are backing the fight to oust the insurgents and others are either on the fence or joining the rebellion.