Posted on 01/15/2005 9:24:30 PM PST by jb6
About 300 Chechen gunmen have penetrated into Iraqi territory to fight against the Western coalition forces, a source in the Italian intelligence services was quoted by news site ANSA.it as saying.
The Italian military contingent deployed in the area of Al-Nasiriyah may be one of the main targets of the Chechen gunmen, Itar-Tass, citing the Italian news agency, reported.
According to the Italian intelligence source, the Chechens have been in touch with the local extremists fighting near the residential area of Suk al-Shuyuk.
The head of the Italian Army’s General Staff, General Giulio Fraticelli, who heads the Italian Army’s General Staff in Al-Nasiriyah, was quoted as saying Sunday that the information on the Chechen gunmen had been confirmed.
An inquiry into the possible dispersal of the enemy in the territory is underway, the general said.
ping
It doesn't take a whole lot of military acumen or experience to know that is the only rational military option (as in "we die or they die"). No third option exists.
cross linking related story: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1321706/posts
OK Putin, come get your citizens.
Because they use women, efficiently. ALERT.
We should sell the bodies to him after we off them.
Here we go again. Trying to persuade us gullible types that the "insurgency" is something other than disgruntled Iraqis. Not this time buddy!
Who posed that fake picture?
Oooooo, capitalism in action. I like it.
Blond haired, and blue eyed.
Bounty for Chechen scalps? I doubt Putin will raise a fuss.
The Chechens aren't flocking to Iraq in any big number - too much to do closer to home, though our Russian friends would like us to think otherwise.
Thanks for the ping!
Bump
The article said that the Chechens were about *300* men in number. It's possible, IMHO, that those Chechens who are affiliated with AQ may send *some* men to Iraq to fulfill their obligations to AQ. After all, AQ probably made them a deal which goes that AQ will support their struggle against the Russians, and in return the Chechens will send some of their men to help out AQ when and if AQ should want them. Besides, those Chechens probably see that as getting combat experience to take back with them to Russia.
putins prefers to have them in iraq than russia
Does anyone know where Al-Nasiriyah is? Is it in central or southern Iraq? Does the US have a significant military prescence there?
Just like we prefer to have AQ in Iraq than the United States.
As to sending troops to fight in Iraq, while I don't doubt that some have made it there, the Chechens have been fighting for over a decade, and don't really need to go to a foreign country to gain combat experience.
You're probably right about the Chechens not needing combat experience. In fact, I think that the fact that they have had over 10 years of experience in irregular, guerilla, and terrorist warfare would probably make them a useful asset to AQ. Anyway, at least some of the Chechen rebels are indeed connected to AQ, and they may have a deal like the one I mentioned.
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