More Iraqis Joining Zarqawi's Cause

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON — Al Qaeda's top operative in Iraq is drawing growing numbers of Iraqi nationals to his organization, increasing the reach and threat of an insurgent group that has been behind many of the most devastating attacks in the country, U.S. officials and Iraqi government leaders say.

The group, headed by Jordanian-born radical Abu Musab Zarqawi, previously was composed almost exclusively of militants from other Arab nations, and has symbolized the foreign dimension of a stubborn insurgency fighting to oust U.S. forces.

But Zarqawi "is bringing more and more Iraqi fighters into his fold," a U.S. official said, adding that Iraqis accounted for "more than half his organization."

A significant Iraqi presence in the Zarqawi group carries ominous implications, both for the Bush administration and the fledgling, popularly elected government it supports in Baghdad. The Iraqis under Zarqawi's wing could provide him with better intelligence, and give legitimacy to a group viewed by many Iraqis as unwanted outsiders. In addition, Iraqi recruits are being exposed to the workings of a highly efficient Islamic extremist group.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-zarqawi16sep16,0,6289555.story?coll=la-home-headlines
-----------------------------------------------------------

Bush is a uniter not a divider.

[aquart]

1. Gosh. Who could have predicted that?

Aside from me, I mean.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. And Meanwhile Back At That Other Fuck Up nt

[fishnfla]

3. Will they then stop killing Iraqi civilians?

Have you heard this line after any of the car bombs at recruitment or employment centers: "Why are they targeting Iraqi civlians...?" I heard the MSM never reports the second sentance; " they should be killing the American occupiers...."

[ECH1969]

4. They aren't targeting Iraqi civilians

they are targeting Shia in order to get the civil war going from low intensity to high intensity.

[Yupster]

8. But once this Civil War really takes over

isn't it going to go very badly for the Sunnis?

[ECH1969]

9. Number wise yes

They have a very tall order going up against the Peshmerga, the Badr Bergades, the Madhi Army, the Iraqi National Front, and the ISF. But, it still will be very bloody.

[anotherdrew]

10. the only people who want a civil war in Iraq are US

How does Al-Quida benefit from a bloody civil war in Iraq? That has no place in their agenda, the US on the other hand.... Well, we have nothing legitimate to gain, but the bozo's in charge probably see these benefits:
1. US forces re-cast as 'saviors' trying to break-up/stop what the vast majority of Iraqi's will consider to be senseless civil war.
2. Unrealistic talk about scaling back force commitments, smaller rapid reaction forces only needed, etc.
3. a path to calling in UN "peacekeeping" forces possibly
4. Any remaining Iraqi government will also be trying to stop the "civil-war" which will also help make them look good to most Iraqi's who are sick of all this bloodshed.
5. If it doesn't go in the right direction, we can help it ramp up to ever worse levels (arms sales to both sides), pull out (except for the southern oil fields) and let them kill each other 'til the population of fighting age men is reduced dramatically.

We're already operating death-squads and training Iraqi's to 'execute' such tactics themselves, also in the field... our beloved contractors doing a reprise of past roles (some from south/central America). bush's policy here is one of nothing less than cold blooded murder. IT's time for us to pull out and let the pieces fall where they may, we can have NO positive impact in that country anymore, those opportunities have long since been squandered.

[BillZBubb]

11. No, the Sunni's have the military background.

Most of the Shiites were kept out of the officer corps of the Baathist military. The Sunni's have the military background and the fighting tradition. They also hold the most industrialized areas.

The Sunnis would do well against the Shia, unless a strong third party intervened.

The civil war, when it happens, and it will, will go badly for all Iraqis. That will be Bush's legacy to them.

[blue agave]

5. I smell a Tet in the not too distant future

Viet Vets know what I'm talking about.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. "popularly elected government it supports in Baghdad"

Say what?

[amber dog democrat]

7. The Soviets found themselves in a similar fix

for somewhat similar reasons. It took a change in leadership to realize what a mistake they made in invading Afghanistan. I just wonder how much more it is going to cost before we admit this thing is unwinnable.

[ninkasi]

12. Were any of their leaders

as stupid and stubborn as Chimp? The man simply lives in his own little world, and surrounds himself with people who tell him what he wants to hear. Of course, nobody but an idiot like him would have invaded Iraq, anyway.

[truthisfreedom]

13. ya think? gosh, i didn't see that coming.

whew! good thing it's in the hands of bushco! they can Katrina that zarqawi character lickety-split! just like they chased osama bin hussein into that spidey-hidey hole!