From CNN

From CNN on Iraq

The U.S. military on Wednesday also reported the deaths of two Sons of Iraq members who were trying to thwart a suicide attack on Tuesday in a town northwest of Baghdad. Watch more on Sons of Iraq »

A militant detonated a suicide vest outside a photo shop in Awad.

The pair died in the strike but "prevented the man from detonating the explosive vest filled with ball bearings in a crowd of local Iraqis. The selflessness of these men allowed time for surviving witnesses to recognize the threat and escape the blast," the military said.

The Sons of Iraq, Concerned Local Citizens and Awakening Councils are the names of anti-al Qaeda in Iraq citizen groups that have emerged across the country in recent months.

The U.S. military on Wednesday also reported a series of raids across Iraq over the last few days that led to the detentions of 20 suspected militants. The operations took place in the Baghdad area, in Mosul, and near Ramadi. Iraqi soldiers and Sons of Iraq members also found weapons caches.

This is a great bit of news. . . . It shows that the normal citizens of Iraq are starting to see that they must step up and take charge to make a difference. If more of them get involved like this we may actually be able to turn it around and they will actually be able to turn Iraq into a place you want to be. . . Good Luck to them, it will be a long fight but well worth it for them and their children. It is a huge step in reclaiming their country.