The last piece of the puzzle starts to fall into place.

U.S., Iraqis in new operation to curb insurgency

As the Shiite majority prepared to take control of the country’s first freely elected government, tribal chiefs representing Sunni Arabs in six provinces issued a list of demands — including participation in the government and drafting a new constitution — after previously refusing to acknowledge the vote’s legitimacy.

“We made a big mistake when we didn’t vote,” said Sheik Hathal Younis Yahiya, 49, a representative from northern Nineveh. “Our votes were very important.”

He said threats from insurgents — not sectarian differences — kept most Sunnis from voting.

Sunnis make up 20 percent of Iraq’s population of 26 million; Shiite make up 60 percent.

The US considers this opportunity far too important to be missed. The Sunnis WILL be included, thus depriving the terrorists of their last possible claim to legitimacy.