The good news coming out of Iraq is the Sunni’s are ready to get back to the constitution, due out in less than a month.

Sunni Arabs signaled readiness Saturday to end their boycott of the commission drafting Iraq’s constitution while the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad began his new job calling for broad participation in the process as a key deadline loomed.
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On Saturday, however, Sunni committee member Saleh al-Mutlaq said he and his colleagues had nearly reached agreement on most of the demands set by the influential minority _ including an international investigation into the killings, better security and a greater role in deliberations.

But a second story is imbedded in this news article which I think is of equal, if not greater import. AQ has been attacking all efforts in Iraq for self rule. And recently, as the story points out, started attacking Sunni’s who are wisely hedging their bets with the new government since AQ is failing to slow progress. They can kill and maim, but they have never been able to impact the Iraqi march to democratic freedom.

But beyond that, AQ is making a serious strategic blunder right now. Here are some of the signs of this blunder

On Saturday, however, Sunni committee member Saleh al-Mutlaq said he and his colleagues had nearly reached agreement on most of the demands set by the influential minority _ including an international investigation into the killings, better security and a greater role in deliberations.
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The claim of responsibility for Thursday’s abduction of Algeria’s top envoy to Iraq, Ali Belaroussi, and fellow diplomat Azzedine Belkadi was made in an Internet statement. Its authenticity could not be verified.

The two diplomats were seized gunpoint in the upscale Mansour district of western Baghdad as part of an apparent campaign to undermine support for the Iraqi government among Arab and Muslim nations.

The terror group had also claimed responsibility for attacks on three other diplomats from Islamic countries, including Egyptian envoy Ihab al-Sherif, who was seized July 2.

Three days after al-Sherif was kidnapped, gunmen also attacked envoys from Pakistan and Bahrain. The Pakistani escaped unharmed while the Bahraini envoy was slightly wounded.

Al-Qaida in Iraq later claimed al-Sherif had been killed but offered no evidence and his body has not been found. It warned Muslim nations against deepening its ties to Baghdad.

AQ has attacked the Muslim-Arab Iraq (not just the US led coalition), Bahrain (via their envoy), Pakistan, Egpyt , Saudia Arabia, Algeria and Turkey. It has attacked the UK, Britain, Spain and Holland. In doing so it has created a strong and broad alliance against itself.

AQ was naive to think the US would whimper away when faced with 9-11, that we have no resolve or will to fight. OK, that could be rationalized due to our wealth, past actions, etc. Same could be said the European targets – a little flabby and unwilling to shed blood.

But are they also naive about Persians and Arabs? These people are not weak kneed or easily cowed. They have a warrior’s creed and pride, one which demands retribution at any cost. Is AQ underestimating the response of the men who lead the middle east? In their holy fanaticism have they fallen prey to their egos to the point where they see no challenger? Do they envision a future where they kill a few people and the masses crumple at their feet begging for their mercy and extolting their infinite, god-given powers??

Have they begun to believe all their own propoganda? Why else create a bond between the US, the strongest European nations, and a large number of ‘moderate’ middle eastern countries. Remember the term ‘moderate’ does not imply weak or easily swayed. It means they have some mutual respect of the West and are not afraid to co-exist with it.

I think AQ has decided to take on the world. So far it can count as its enemies America, Great Britain, Spain, Holland, Turky, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan Algeria and Afghanistan. These countries have been directly attacked by AQ and have vowed to crush it, and at a glance, it looks like they could do so.

AQ may have become so drunk with success, they have done what many power hungry, bloody people have done in the past. They have taken on too many, too fast because they truly believe they have superhuman powers.

Ed Morrissey has a great post on the blunder with Egypt, and how Egpytians will fight back against radical Islam without hesitation.

Michelle Malkin has a good roundup, including a link to Austin Bay who wonders when the leftward fringes will realize AQ is at war with the middle east as well as the West.

To see the extent of the attacks which create enemies to AQ keep tabs on the Counter Terrorism Blog (here is their post on the Egyptian attacks).