1.  a) How are American military leaders using the fact that Iraqi tribal leaders are withdrawing their acceptance of al Qaeda?
b) What has inspired the military leaders to take this latest approach?

2.  Al Qaeda is a Sunni organization.  Is that why most Sunni tribes in Iraq have until recently turned a blind eye to al Qaeda's activities? Explain your answer.

3.  a) Who is Lt. Col. Richard Welch? 
b) What is the Multi-National Force? (Visit the official website of the Multi-National Force in Iraq at mnf-iraq.com or go to wikipedia.org for an article on the MNF in Iraq, including a map that shows the division of Iraq.)
c) Who is Sheikh Hussein al-Tamimi? 
d) How does Sheikh Hussein explain tribal leaders' recent change of position regarding Al Qaeda?

4.  a) Who is Lt. Col. Kurt Pinkerton?
b) What is significant about the Zobai tribe asking Col. Pinkerton for assistance?
c) What turned the Zobai tribe against Al Qaeda?

5.  Do you think that Eli Lake gives the reader a realistic view of progress in Iraq as the surge progresses?

6.  As he reports from Iraq, what feeling has Eli Lake conveyed to you in his article about the following:
--the job our military is doing there
--the time needed to succeed in Iraq
--relationships between Iraqis and the U.S. military