ATTRITION: Terrorists Forced To Recruit Children

Strategy Page ^ | 2007 Dec 13

[Wiz]

December 13, 2007: As al Qaeda suffered greater and greater losses in Iraq, recruiting became a serious problem. In desperation, leaders were ordered to recruit whoever they could. This meant more women and more teenage males. Normally, al Qaeda does not like to employ adolescents. They are too inexperienced and unreliable. That combination gets everyone in trouble, and adult al Qaeda do not like to work with kids. But earlier this year, al Qaeda found that fewer and fewer adults were willing to join up. This was largely due to U.S. troops capturing several key al Qaeda leaders, and lots of membership records. Too many al Qaeda members were being arrested or killed, and recruiting became very difficult. So kids were hired for a lot of simple jobs, like placing roadside bombs, or guard duty. Turned out that these kids were more likely to run away, or just surrender, if confronted with Iraqi or American troops. As a result of that, nearly half the al Qaeda under arrest (950 of 2,000) are under 18.

[Darkwolf377]

Pelosi and Fragile-as-a-Reed will call for an end to US WOT because we’re “creating” child abuse.

[goldstategop]

Reminds me of the Children's Army of the later Crusades. If Al Qaeda has to scrape the bottom of the barrel for recruits, they are finished.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cindy]

Article snippet...”In desperation...”

No.

Jihad is cradle to grave to hell.

[goldstategop]

They've sustained manpower losses that can't be quickly replaced. Their senior cadres have seen their sanctuaries, bases, and ammo dumps destroyed. Skilled terrorists have been killed and captured. The leadership is on the run or in hiding. And to top it off, by their barbaric stupidity, they have alienated their natural allies. I have a feeling the corner has been turned in Iraq.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cindy]

“I have a feeling the corner has been turned in Iraq.”

Watching the press releases everyday, I know the corner has been turned in Iraq — for the better. The qualifier on this is if the Democrats interfere with the wot and/or the military budget.

[Jeff F]

In May we suffered 126 losses, in September it was down to 65, so far this month there have only been 8. This is the lowest rate of fatalities since the start of the war. Civilian deaths have fallen from 1,980 in May to 275 so far this month. A corner has most certainly been turned.

[tcrlaf]

I said two years ago that the killings in Iraq would only stop when the Iraqi’s got tired of killing...

[RoadTest]

“Terrorists Forced To Recruit Children”

That’s how the war ended for Adolph Hitler. They ran out of troops and brought in the kids.

[USS Alaska]

Even their hero was forced to turn to the youth.

[Cindy]

I understand what you are saying and I do know history.

I hope you understand what I meant about jihad — cradle to grave.

Thanks for your feedback USS Alaska.

[poobear]

Is it possible they could wipe themselves out in one or two generations?

[arthurus]

Recruit? As in ‘voluntary?’