War in Iraq looks like last stand for al Qaeda (Saddam loyalists move to the sidelines)

Wahington Times ^

[jmc1969]

The war in Iraq is increasingly looking more like a showdown with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda followers than a battle primarily against Saddam Hussein loyalists.

The shift is making the fight a focal point of the U.S. global war against Islamic terrorists and one that might dictate whether the U.S. wins or loses, said a senior official and an outside expert.

"If they fail in Iraq, Osama and his whole crew are finished," said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney, a military author and analyst.

"In the Muslim world and extremist world, this fight for Iraq is their key battle," said Gen. McInerney. "If they lose it, they lose the war. And so the imams are inciting young people, not particular well-educated, to head to Iraq. Most are going through Syria via Damascus.

"This is why Iraq is such a fundamental part of the global war on terrorism. When we finally defeat Muslim extremists, it will be the battle in Iraq that defeats them."

The war's changing nature is also illustrated by the list of the high-ranking enemy announced as captured by the new Baghdad government. Virtually all of those caught since December have been identified as lieutenants of the Jordanian-born Zarqawi, not operatives for Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein.

[jmc1969]

This is a really good article and says what I have believed for several months. The Sunni insurgency has moved from the active fight to the sidelines after the January 30th elections and are getting ready for the next elections where they hope to use to get back in power.

However, the Jihadists have had to pick up the slack to show the insurgency is still powerful, so they have more then doubled the number of suicide bombs in recient weeks.

[ConservativeLawyer]

"This is why Iraq is such a fundamental part of the global war on terrorism. When we finally defeat Muslim extremists, it will be the battle in Iraq that defeats them."

Bump to that!

[Stonedog]

This is why Iraq is such a fundamental part of the global war on terrorism.

Any chance the libs get this yet?

Didn't think so :(

[vbmoneyspender]

Bin Laden can't put the Caliphate back together if the capital of the Caliphate becomes instead the capital of a western-style democracy.

[Mike Darancette]

"In the Muslim world and extremist world, this fight for Iraq is their key battle,"

The Islamists came to us on 9/11 and we were not ready.

Bush knew that the only way to defeat the Alarmists was to have them come to us when we were ready. Bush has made the bad guys come to us on ground of our choosing.

[Kenny Bunkport]

"If they fail in Iraq, Osama and his whole crew are finished,"

Probably why the left is still agitating for our immediate pull-out from Iraq.

[Reagan79]

Pray for my brother he is part of the 4th Amphibious Assault / 4th Division right on the border of Iraq. He was part of the big offesnive, and he said the fighting was door to door in Qaim. His name is Chris and I am so proud of him.

[DTogo]

I wouldn't put all my eggs in defeating all the Islamofascist Bastards in Iraq. If there are that many not-so-educated young men to send into Iraq to die, there's likely an equal number to send into the soft, unprotected "belly of the beast" to reek real havoc and demoralize a complacent populace, or at least encourage the overthrow of it's leader for failing to protect the homeland.

[Wiseghy]

Well, to say "finished" might be a going a bit far. Al Qaida is an idea and financial organization at a basic level. Nonetheless, it will be a major defeat.

However, exactly HOW we win will be carefully observed by our enemies. Gulf Storm One was seen as a victory for terrorism, since we left Saddam in power and pulled out as quickly as possible. The terrorists standing and fighting is seen as a victory in some circles, who see defiance against impossible odds as inspirational.

The sad truth of this war is that we must totally, ruthlessly and completely crush the enemy. The Eur-o's will vilify us, but the Islamists will see strength and determination in our follow through.

[1066AD]

In a troubling sign, U.S. officers said Zarqawi's terrorists seemed well-trained and well-equipped. By whom, I wonder ... Syria, Saudi Arabia and perhaps experience in Chechnya, possibly Afghanistan for the older ones ?

[strategofr]

Well, depends which side you think the "libs" are on. It seems like ever since 911 they've been shifting further into the terrorists camp, or closer to it.

I am much less optimistic than most Conservatives about Iraq. I feel that in 11/08---unless we have pulled our troops out of direct confrontation in Baghdad, Tikrit, and all other Iraqi cities---we will lose the Presidency to Hillary. I am certain she will then simply pull all US troops completely out of Iraq by 6/2009.

At which point, the "libs" will be happy because Bush was proved "wrong" to go into Iraq.

[veryconernedamerican]

it is all the same enemy, you forgot the streets of israel

[jmc1969]

If the Sunnis vote in the next election the insurgency will be crushed like an fig. Overnight, support for the insurgency would be cut to pieces. That is what we are waiting for and what we all hope will happen. But, the Iraqis will have to be a hell of alot quicker then what we have seen in the past from them at getting a Constitution written and voted on.

[strategofr]

That's the problem isn't it? The whole structure has been made too difficult---they are bound to fail.

The Sunnis have the power to block the Constitution completely (all ethnic groups do, I think, at any rate, the Sunnis definately do.)

If the Constitution is blocked, the Iraqi government will have no "legitimacy". Failure, really, is built-in.

Possibly set up by Negroponte (the former Iraqi ambassador)---who is currently screwing up our Intelligence apparatus.

[Spktyr]

The Iraq-as-roach-motel theory in action. They're over there and dying as opposed to over here and killing us.

[jmc1969]

I believe it was set up by Bremer some time ago.

But, it does present a problem, though I happen to think that the Sunnis who care about the new government are going to be the ones most likely to vote for the Constitution to that should help it some. Though, I suspect there will be polls and all that sort of junk on the Constitution far before hand so they know what would and wouldn't pass and I don't think they will put anything to a vote that they know won't pass.

[Eagles6]

Prayers for your brothers and all of our people in the WOT. We are proud of him too.

[Americanexpat]

I agree with your assessment. The Coalition and Iraqi security forces are thwarting these thugs at every turn.

I don't want to take anything away from the great job our troops are doing in Iraq, But there was a report a few weeks ago that the Saudis were clamping down on about 1500 would be volunteers for Iraq. Throw in Syrians, Egyptians, Jordanians, Iranians and Pakistanis and this thing could go indefinitely. Because of the way terrorist operate it only takes a few to tie down large numbers of troops.As long as we can kill these fanatics in Iraq it will keep them out of the US. I don't think these people hate us because they hate freedom, they could care less about something they have never had. They hate us because we are Americans and a Judea Christian society. Now I need to go get that first cup of coffee.

[NutCrackerBoy]

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