R.I.P., Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha

He may not have been the world's nicest guy, but there are a serious lack of them in Iraq right now. He was a pragmatic leader, and empowering him -- and other Sunni tribal leaders -- as a counter-balancing force to the Shiite militias is the best chance we've got for creating any sort of lasting peace and working government. Hopefully, Abdul-Sattar's murder will galvanize others to take his place, will elicit sympathy from those previously predisposed against him, and lead to a stronger push against terrorism and for political solutions.

I'm not necessarily hopeful that this will happen, but it's worth hoping for.