Iraqi President Says Sunni Insurgents See Iran as Threat

Washington Post ^ | May 3 2006 | Nelson Hernandez and Saad al-Izzi

[jmc1969]

Iraq's president appealed for national unity and the renunciation of sectarian violence ahead of a parliament meeting set for Wednesday, saying he had met with Sunni Arab insurgent leaders and observed a "great change" in their war aims.

The insurgents "do not think that the Americans are the main enemy," President Jalal Talabani said in an interview on al-Hurra television Tuesday night. "They feel threatened by what they call the 'Iranian threat.' " He referred to the insurgents' fear of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, which many Sunnis believe is dominated by the neighboring Shiite theocracy in Iran.

Despite their worries about Iran, Talabani said, he found them "reasonable and ready for the peaceful political process," and he appealed to Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to participate together in a government.

"If the current government is formed as a national unity government which represents the entire spectrum of the Iraqi people, then I think we will be able to solve the problem of terrorism within a year," Talabani said.

[bnelson44]

Which factions did he meet with?

[airborne]

Bad news for the Dems if Iraq settles down.

Look for George Soros to send extra cash to fund al-Queda.

[Zechariah11]

Interesting!

[jmc1969]

Baathists and Nationalists mostly. Many of the hard core Saddamists have already joined Zarqawi and his allies.

I would bet al-Qaeda in Iraq is now over 90% Iraqis. They were about 85% a couple months back according to General Lynch.

[bnelson44]

Interesting related article here:
Why Zarqawi Is All Alone

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/articles/20060502.aspx

[Marine_Uncle]

"Look for George Soros to send extra cash to fund al-Queda."
He just may find the checks go uncashed. I really believe al Qaeda Iraq is drying up. Can't get them into the country, and those that get hunted down and not killed or captured, have to run to remote areas to attempt escape. Problem now is when they run and say attempt shelter in some bedeune village or small town, some Shiek just might get on his cell phone and call the hot number.
Al Anbar, other then the it's capital which still has some sunni protecting al Qaeda, is pretty much under control by all indications. Ala babba just has fewer places to hide, let alone find weapon/ordnance caches to use in IED and car bombs. We continue to see less large attacks. I think their bomb factories and bomb builders have mostly been taken out at this point.
And as more Sunni switch sides or simply stay neutral, who is going to support al Qaeda and the Saddamist.

[FDNYRHEROES]

Time for the Sunni Insurgents to destabilize Iran...

[Colorado Doug]

Interesting. My enemies enemy is my friend. . . Well, let's not get carried away.