With the rise of Iraq’s Shiites as the country’s dominant political force, the Sunnis have found themselves weakened politically. With this marginalisation in mind, Sunni clerics are now encouraging enlistment in the security forces:
Since the elections, the Sunnis appear to regret their boycott, which has only increased their political isolation. Indeed, the Sunnis are showing an increasing interest in rejoining the political process and in taking an active part in the drafting of a new constitution.
A dramatic manifestation of this shift in the Sunni position was the fatwa issued by 64 Sunni clerics legitimizing enlistment in the country’s growing security forces.
The fatwa called on Iraqis to join the ranks of the Iraqi military and police “if sincere intent is observed” and if the soldier/policeman “adheres to serving his religion, his country, and his nation, and does not support the occupier of his country.” […]
To date, one of the insurgents’ primary targets has been security personnel, most of whom are Shiites. The Sunni clerics’ encouragement of Sunnis to enlist will necessitate a change in the insurgents’ tactics, if not strategy.
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