Posted on 02/08/2008 10:19:17 AM PST by CreativePerspective
The Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq is telling its followers to soften their tactics in order to regain popular support in the western province of Anbar, where Sunni tribes have turned against the organization and begun working with U.S. forces, according to group leaders and American intelligence officials.
From internal documents and interviews with members of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a picture emerges of an organization in disarray but increasingly aware that its harsh policies -- such as punishing women who don't cover their heads -- have eroded its popular support. Over the past year, the group has been driven out of many of its strongholds.
The U.S. military says it destroyed much of the leadership of al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2007, killing 2,400 suspected members and capturing 8,800, while pushing the group almost completely out of Baghdad and Anbar province. Although U.S. officials and their Sunni allies caution that al-Qaeda in Iraq remains dangerous and could find ways to regenerate, they assert that the group now is largely a spent force.
Ogaidi said the total number of al-Qaeda in Iraq members across the country has plummeted from about 12,000 in June 2007 to about 3,500 today.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq's change in tactics comes in response to the turmoil and self-doubt that arose among its members as they lost the support of Sunni tribesmen, a process vividly described in a letter by an unnamed al-Qaeda in Iraq emir that the U.S. military said it seized last November.
"This created weakness and psychological defeat," the emir wrote. "This also created panic, fear and the unwillingness to fight. The morale of the fighters went down."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Now that I’ve thrown my temper tantrum about McCain and spent all my bile, I think I will have to hold my nose and vote for him in November.
I could not bear to see the Donkey morons turn Iraq into an al Quaeda playground again after investing so much blood and treasure.
Truly, the Donkeys are the party of TREASON !
I’ll take whatever kicks in the teeth McCain gives me as a conservative, if for no other reason than to give our fighting men and women the support they will need.
I know McCain is soft on amnesty, I know he’s soft on captured terrorists. I know he’ll raise my taxes in collusion with the Donkey socialists.
But he is aggressive about the pursuit of this war, and our servicemen are not soft on the enemy.
If it weren’t for the war, I could write-in a third party protest vote.
But I don’t have that luxury this election cycle.
We just ain’t killin’ enough of these terrorist bastards. Sure, progress has been made, but if we allow them this respite, this period to rebuild, we will only be fueling the fires of unnecessary future battles.
They are on the run. Don’t let ‘em stop. Make ‘em drop.
Lock and Load.
Good for you. Election of the Clintons or Barack Hussein Obama poses clear and present danger to all Americans. For us - GOP - to let that happen for political reasons or even personal enmity would be a betrayal of our children, our grandchildren, and theirs.
To let either of the democrat socialists into the Oval Office by not voting would be a massive dereliction of duty - treasonous - to the country that very likely would not be rectifiable. It would telegraph to all grieving mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children, grandparents, and other family members who lost somebody in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere in this global war against islamic jihadis that their sacrifice was meaningless, sold out for votes and political power by the democrat party. Just like it did in 1975 in SEA, effectively throwing away the lives of nearly 60,000 young Americans who - voluntarily or not - went to do their duty on behalf of the USA.
The democrat party would destroy us all in its haste to surrender to the islamic jihadis, not understanding that a large proportion of them (women, gays, minorities, apostates eg, Obama) would be the first to be beheaded or placed in dhimmitude.
I implore all here to listen to what Mitt Romney said, clear your minds, and resolve to preserve our nation by uniting behind John McCain. If not for you personally, then for your family and theirs to come.
I don't care if they soften their tactics to the point that they are a Camel Lodge having an occasional sheep fry for a fundraiser. Hunt them down and kill them.
“The Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq is telling its followers to soften their tactics in order to regain popular support in the western province of Anbar...”
How do they expect to win if they don’t live up to their principles?
Painful but true post.
I think this is the reality that must at some point dawn on all citizens.
The dangers to our soldiers and ultimately our homeland under a Democratic party Commander in Chief would be a civic mutiny on our part.
The amnesty bill demonstrated that conservatives have the power to check domestic failures in the political arena. We have little to check a spineless traitor as commander in chief. The elevation of enemies to friends in our foreign policy will jeopardize security in unimaginable ways.
The conduct of the democratic party during wartime has more than disqualified them for the office of the Presidency. They must be stopped.
Where are those 8800 captured?
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