I thought the insurgents were like the mafia, operating with the full knowledge of everyone in the hood, who were afraid to take sides.
But after reading
Michael Yon's stories while embedded is Stryker brigades, along with some of his associates blogs, apparently they are more like old west outlaw gangs. They don't fraternize with the locals, have hideouts and move in the shadows.
Even though the locals don't for the most part know the insurgents the do have to observe their movements and hear rumors. But these people are scared...they've been scared for a long time. Their loyalties are mostly to their families and don't want to back anyone for fear it will come back to haunt them. They have good reason to dislike and/or mistrust every faction in this mess.
I think it's going to take a lot of convincing to have them support the new government and even if they do there's going to be red states and blue states......and green states......and yellow states.....and
