Comments on: Al-Qaeda in Iraq: Determined but Desperate

By: Jules Crittenden » Smoke = Fire?

Jules Crittenden » Smoke = Fire? — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:21:05 +0000

[...] Omar of Iraq the Model at Pajamas explores the question: Are al-Sadr and al Qaeda teaming up in Iraq? Also, Omar’s thoughts last week re AQ woes in Iraq. [...]

By: jules

jules — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:57:23 +0000

re: abu al-fin, Apr 21, 2008 – 10:47 am

“After the Iraqis are finished hanging the terrorists of al-qaida and Iran (quds), they may wish to look at some contributors to their misery who still walk the halls of the US Congress.”

Amen to that!

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:28:28 +0000

Things in Iraq go well.
Even though it has taken much longer than it should have.
We have been very lucky.
Sistani has been one of the keys, preaching civil government and avoiding control by the extremist Iranian religious leadership.
Head of the civilian Iraqi government, Maliki and his military have also suddenly come into their own, pushing a showdown with the Sadr and Iranian controlled militias and sparking a move towards a unified moderate political center.
Of course the courage and steadfastness of our military has tended to make its own luck. Al Qaeda has shown its true nature and is now unwelcome in Iraq just as it is unwelcome in Afghanistan.
Iran has tried the same tactics that worked for it in Lebanon and now with Hamas in Gaza. However, in Basra these Sadrists and Iranian Special Groups are being flushed out and rolled up.
This is what winning looks like.
Our military has been magnificent.
Iraqis are cleansing their country of these terrorists and thugs.
The future suddenly looks much brighter.
Things go well, we have been very “lucky”.

By: Pros and Cons » A little lift of language in a very serious piece

Pros and Cons » A little lift of language in a very serious piece — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:26:58 +0000

[...] System – really, that’s the name - is a bit more alarmed. Iraq the Model points out (more at Pajamas Media) that none of this would be possible if Al Qaeda were not getting so very badly [...]

By: Brian H

Brian H — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:09:25 +0000

It is important to remember that there are many layers to Iran’s involvement in Iraq. Here is a partial list off the top:
-Sadr and JAM
-Hakim and BADR/SIIC
-Qods activity against the CG and MNF
-economic ties in the north and south
-arming anyone who wants to cause trouble (including but not limited to AQI) via the “ratlines”
-cat’s paw politicians in the Basra area and in Baghdad (see Sadr and SIIC above, amongst others)
-intimidation of neighbors so that they hold back from constructive involvement in Iraq
-backing Syrian interference
-using Hezbollah and Hamas to train subversives and fighters

More, anyone?

By: M.E.

M.E. — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:13:50 +0000

It is natural and logic that “Al-Qaeda has made the Iraqi front its physical centre of gravity” and “it’s exactly the place where we must fight”. The presence of the American troops in Afghanistan and especially in Iraq has broken a system of Islamist terrorism, headed by Al-Qaeda. I read only some extracts from al-Zawahiri’s audio message (AFP and http://jihadwatch.org/). The most significant is this part: “The monitoring service said he called on Muslims to make Iraq a “fortress of Islam” and, underscoring the Sunni Muslim orientation of Al-Qaeda, he referred to a plot against Iraq by the United States together with Shiite Iran, which he said would lead to the Mideast region exploding”. It is possible to see here a rivalry between two terrorist organisations: Sunni Al-Qaeda and Shiite Mahdi Army controlled by Iranians. After losing its main base in Afghanistan, Iraq became for Al-Qaeda the “fortress of Islam”, i.e. a “strategic” place absolutely necessary for its “political survival”. An eloquence of al-Zawahiri confirms a complete defeat of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (it’s clear that this defeat was possible only with a support of local population). The latest “heroic” action of Al-Qaeda (carnage between the simple civilians in a funeral) had only goal to create an appearance to be present on the scene. What about Shiite terrorists? See excellent articles by Michael Ledeen about the Mahdi Army and its “charismatic” Führer Moqtada al Sadr.
To Steamboat Jack: thank you for additional information.

By: Neo-andertal

Neo-andertal — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:59:23 +0000

I think that Al Qaeda in Iraq’s message is tailored more toward the western media than really aimed at the Iraqi population. They won’t make any real headway against the Awakening groups, but if they get their message out and can back it up with a few mass casualty attacks than their cause lives on in the Western Press.

Al Qaeda is biding it’s time and waiting for a political opening to get back into the real game. A premature US withdrawal from Iraq leaving the country vulnerable to infiltration from hostile neighboring countries would provide the needed opening for Al Qaeda in Iraq deal itself back into the game.

By: Steve-o

Steve-o — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:14:51 +0000

Surely Sod-n-Ash will be along to explain all this, and how AQ will be victorious. Remember them?

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:53:19 +0000

This fight is akin to killing weeds. At first, some of them will grow back. But keep at it, eventually they all will be gone.

Weed killer plus fertilizer. Works everytime.

In this case, al-Qaeda is strangling itself. Safer on the environment.

Thanks Omar.

By: John Samford

John Samford — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:28:07 +0000

shef Rogers, Only if you play by the rules. I have found that a pinch of plastique dropped down one of the holes pretty much takes care of all the moles in one fell swoop. Dynamite will do if you lack the knowledge to make your own plastic explosives.