Al Qaeda's losing hand

Washington Times ^ | Oct. 14, 2005 | Austin Bay

[FairOpinion]

The United States has two strategic goals that have taken years to mesh in terms of political, economic and military operations:

Goal 1: Battle al Qaeda in militarily and politically to destroy its claim to "divine sanction" and to "speak on behalf of Islam."

Goal 2: Seed development of modern, democratic states in the politically dysfunctional Arab Muslim Middle East.

Achieving both goals defeats al Qaeda. Goal No. 2 is a multidecade project. Reaching it requires sustained, courageous effort, but Iraq's January election and its constitutional process are signs of progress.

Sensational carnage and "expert pessimism" dominated the international media's January election coverage. Despite the dour predictions, Iraqi voters responded, waving ink-stained fingers -- a terror-defying demonstration of political change. Al Jazeera didn't miss it.

Military defeat in Afghanistan dealt al Qaeda's claim of "divine sanction" a hard blow.

In February 2004, Zarqawi acknowledged a democratic Iraq would mean al Qaeda's defeat there. To defeat democracy, he has pursued a relentless, nihilistic bloodbath. It's a brutal irony of war: Doing so, he is losing the war for the hearts and minds.

[Marine_Uncle]

" In February 2004, Zarqawi acknowledged a democratic Iraq would mean al Qaeda's defeat there."
Well we shall see soon enough if this POS will realize the game is up. Somehow I doubt it. As he moves his operations to mainland Europe, he may keep dopes stupid enough to stay in Iraq to cause mischief. Slime such as him that have no purpose in life, have little else to do. After all, the concept of working for a living is beyond his reach. He is just a high school drop out with a criminal mind full of hate and trainded by muslims clerics to be a tool of radical islam. That is his only purpose in life.

[adamsjas]

Well we shall see soon enough if this POS will realize the game is up. Somehow I doubt it. As he moves his operations to mainland Europe, he may keep dopes stupid enough to stay in Iraq to cause mischief.

Bear in mind that as he loses his grip on Iraq, he has fewer places to hide. He has to stay out of view, because dimes are dropping all over Iraq these days. His cave is getting smaller and smaller.

I suspect he is now in Syria for this very reason.

He will feel safer there, thinking Basher-Boy will protect him. But even Assad is coming to see his options are numbered and will probably expel him or leak his position and turn a blind eye. After all you don't keep a rabid dog in your back yard if you don't have to.

[hsalaw]

"But even Assad is coming to see his options are numbered"

Very true. And high time.

[Marine_Uncle]

" He will feel safer there, thinking Basher-Boy will protect him."
The dentist may be approaching a final if he is not carefull. His cards are played. However, I sense if Zark is operating out of Syria, the young lion may not even be aware of it. I admit, it it strang if Zark is still brave enough to operate out of one of the "riverton towns", or say in the triangle of death areas below and to the immediate west of Baggy Dad. For all we know he could be in Iran, that I continue to doubt it. We must remember he is a proponent of the Sunni Wahabist, so is basically an enemy of of the dominant Shia based Iranian operata. At any rate, his days are numbered if he is so foolish to stay in Iraq, INMOP.

[adamsjas]

At any rate, his days are numbered if he is so foolish to stay in Iraq, INMOP.

Hiding in plain sight is my bet. Probably some suburb of Baghdad, protected by Al Sadar's thugs who bring him his dinner and carry his water.

[Tom Bombadil]

I suspect he is now in Syria for this very reason.

Good observation. Being chased, and then escaping by the skin of his teeth from under an overpass probably changed his view of what a real safe-house looks like. All of the safe houses in Iraq are in danger of exploding without warning.

[airborne]

I bet Zarqawi has a Swiss bank account with millions and millions in it, just like Saddam and Arafat, and he's planning on settling down somewhere in France.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Hiding in plain sight is my bet. Probably some suburb of Baghdad, protected by Al Sadar's thugs who bring him his dinner and carry his water."

You could be right. But lets remember last month Sadr made a public statement that he will rip Z-man into tiny pieces if he is found. So perhaps Sadr would not be a amicable host.

[beebuster2000]

outstanding post. many thanks