Posted on 11/24/2006 4:30:07 PM PST by Valin
November 24, 2006: Earlier this year, al Qaeda declared western Iraq (Anbar province) to be their new base of operations. Shortly thereafter, a coalition of Sunni Arab tribes agreed to work with the government to destroy al Qaeda forces in the area. This brought to a head two years of violence in western Iraq. While many of the tribal chiefs out here had been allies of Saddam Hussein, and his Baath Party, this was mainly because Saddam was generous with the tribes, and pointed out that, in the wake of the 1991 Shia Arab revolt (which the Sunni tribes helped put down), if the Sunni Arabs did not stick together, the more numerous Shia would destroy them. The Kurds, who already had a sanctuary (protected by American and British warplanes) in the north, would join in slaughtering the Sunni Arabs, if given a chance. Then, after Saddam was overthrown, and al Qaeda offered to help the Sunni Arabs eject the Americans, and regain control of the country, the Sunni tribes kept fighting. But the alliance with al Qaeda soon unraveled. By 2004, Sunni Arab tribesmen were fighting with al Qaeda. The problem was that al Qaeda did not believe the tribes were aggressive enough, or religious enough. First threats, then the murder of Sunni Arab tribal chiefs, brought al Qaeda into open warfare with the tribes. At first, the anti-al Qaeda tribes were not the majority, and they were outgunned by the Baath Party terrorist organizations and pro-Saddam tribes. But month-by-month, more tribes turned against al Qaeda and Baath. For the last year, as more American and Iraqi troops moved into western Iraq, the fighting became more intense.
Over a dozen tribes are now pro-government, with tribemen joining the police force, and serving in their own neighborhoods. Recruiting was slow at first, even with the approval of the chiefs. Only 30 stepped forward last June, but now there are 1,300 tribesmen in the police force. During that same period, some 750 al Qaeda and Baath terrorists have been killed in Ramadi, the center of al Qaeda power in Anbar. There are only a few hundred of them left, and the government controls two-thirds of the city. During that same period, the number of terrorist attacks, including roadside bombs, has also fallen by two-thirds.
This has brought about a civil war in western Iraq, with Sunni tribes fighting each other. Even with al Qaeda and the Baath Party terrorists, the anti-government tribes are on the defensive. Ramadi, which was to be the capital of the new al Qaeda sanctuary, is in ruins, and the scene of daily fighting, and defeats for the terrorists.
Al Qaeda no longer boasts of a base in western Iraq. To do so would have to address the fact that most al Qaeda losses in the area have been at the hands of angry Sunni Arab tribesmen. The tribes are fighting for their homes, and western Iraq is the only part of the Iraq that is almost wholly Sunni Arab. Angry Kurds and Shia Arabs are driving Sunni Arabs out of other parts of Iraq, and the only alternative to foreign exile, is moving to western Iraq. The only way to hang on to western Iraq is to eliminate the al Qaeda and Baath Party groups that refuse to halt their terrorist operations. Al Qaeda knows it's losing its battle for western Iraq, which is one reason why they have shifted so many resources, especially cash and leadership, to Afghanistan. The al Qaeda defeat in western Iraq has not gotten much attention in the media, but it's there, it's real and it will soon be over.
Interesting
I heard about this a year ago. Al Qaeda was told to leave or get killed in various places. They were running for the Afghan hills for a while.
With God's help it WILL be al-Qaedas defeat in Anbar.
I really can't imagine the madness behind gross Death for Power.
But then again, I'm just an infidel American too stupid to understand. /s
"it will soon be over" Not if pelosi and obama get their way.
And now to North Africa.
***Al Qaeda knows it's losing its battle for western Iraq.***
Don't worry. the Democrats in the US will protect you!
The Iraqi 'police force' is an inneffective, collaborator-infested farce. This is why thousands of police have been murdered in brutal fashion over the past several years. Their 'brothers' in uniform rat them out and mass executions occur almost daily. The same goes for their army troops, infested with spies and collaborators from the insurgency, and probably al Quaida itself. They have let thousands of terrorists escape capture, and/or helped them escape, and/or escort them out of prison after the Iraqi 'government' releases them en masse in various release programs aimed at appeasing the opposition.
Iraq lacks any kind of order whatsoever, and its barbaric tribal people aren't interested in democracy, they are interested only in power. For example, what rightfully thinking Commander in Cheif would let one of his most powerful and dangerous enemies, al Sardr's brigades, remain in power, completely free to roam the streets?
Iraq is but a reflection of how our leaders in Washington think, (shallow, lack of foresight, lack of preperation, and an ignorance of history); and that's not a very pretty picture.
Wouldn't it be interesting to see the Al-Qaeda flow chart for their operations?
I bet it's out there somewhere.
I remember reading something here(?) sort of about this. but I don't remember wherre it was
I hope that this is the beginning of the end of them.
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/manualpart1_1.pdf
Can someone tell me how to post a link?
Darned if I've forgotten. Honest!
MaxMax.
1. Oust Saddam's regime, bring him to justice. Check.
2. Defeat and destroy al-Qaeda in Iraq. Almost a "check".
3. Pacify Iraq and install a democratically-elected government. Significant progress toward a "check".
4. Establish secure bases from which to intimidate Syria and Iran. More progress.
Nobody said it would be easy. Nobody said it would be over quickly. Were it not for the left and the MSM, significantly more progress would have been made -- #2 and #3 would probably already be complete, or at least #3 would be in its last stages.
I just Cut and Paste
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:aH--7xrH2c4J:www.usdoj.gov/ag/manualpart1_1.pdf+http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/manualpart1_1.pdf&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&ie=UTF-8
one of these days I'll take the time to learn how to (really) post a link.
That is a good link to keep.
Thanks for the post of the Al Qaeda manual.
Maybe Katie will metion this next time she's standing around with time on her hands.
Until the dems cut off the funds for the war
Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.