Meet Abu Abed: the US's new ally against al-Qaida.

Guardian ^ | Saturday November 10, 2007 | Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

[Gdzine]

On a recent Friday morning in west Baghdad, 20 of Hajji Abu Abed's men were shifting their feet nervously in the dusty yard outside his house as they waited for their leader to emerge. The men, young and well armed with Kalashnikovs, pistols and hand grenades, were wearing the favoured dress for militiamen in Iraq these days: green camouflage commando uniforms decorated with bits of US army kit - a pouch on one man, webbing on another, a cap here, sunglasses there, a few flak jackets between them. Some bore the insignia of Iraqi army officers.

Around noon, a fighter came running from the large house across the street and shouted: "The Hajji is coming!"

A pick-up truck came speeding into the yard, followed by several saloon cars packed with fighters. In the back of the pick-up, a man with a bandanna swung a big machine gun on its mounting. The great iron gate opened and Hajji Abu Abed emerged - a squat, chubby fellow with close-cropped hair and a thin goatee and moustache. Half his face was covered with large wraparound sunglasses, a pistol was tucked into his belt and a short machine gun dangled in his hand. Three guards ran in front of him and jumped into a new Toyota saloon. With sirens wailing and men brandishing their guns in the air, the convoy drove the 50 metres from Hajji Abu Abed's house to his headquarters.

[Gdzine]

This reads very much like fiction to me. (After reading the whole article) Why would Abu Abed tell this reporter his future plans when he knows that the U.S. would not approve of them. Abu Abed just isnt acting like a man who is being observed by the media. Maybe this is supposed to be fiction?

[359Henrie]

A Hajji named Hajji?...fiction.

[TexGuy]

See Johnny, Hajji can do it, He's our man ...

[Cicero]

How reliable is a Muslim writer, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, likely to be if he is working as a stringer for the Communist Guardian? Not very. These guys have a habit of making up whatever lies are convenient to make their point.

[stylin19a]

The Americans pay him $400 (£200) a month for each fighter he provides, he said, and he had 600 registered.

speechless....

[Romneyfor President2008]

This is sounding like Afghanistan, where we have to make friendly with warlords, knowing we may have to fight them one day when they turn on us. Wish there was a Massoud in Iraq we can work with. This Abu dude doesn’t sound all that reliable.

[rineaux]

I read the article below a few months back. I was speechless too. Who knows?!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080302322.html

[Gdzine]

Ive been reading alot of fiction in some of my college classes. The way this character is described and the unfolding of events just seems a little too perfect and juicy for a left leaning journalist. In order to really know what I am talking about you have to read the whole story, the excerpt doesn’t cover the stuff that started throwing up red flags in my mind.

The author of this article Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, recently got an award partly for his ‘obsession’ to obtain accuracy. He is an ‘independent’ journalist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghaith_Abdul-Ahad

The way that Abu Abed is described seems too hollywood esque.

[359Henrie]

Agreed, this is no Lion.

[Old Sarge]

These guys have a habit of making up whatever lies are convenient to make their point.

The Holy Koran of the Prophet Moo-hammed (piss be upon him), teaches them that it's okay to lie to the infidel.

Why should we believe anything they say, at any time?

[Humble Servant]

” How reliable is a Muslim writer, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, likely to be if he is working as a stringer for the Communist Guardian? Not very. These guys have a habit of making up whatever lies are convenient to make their point. “

Change the word “habit” to “job”.