IRAQ: al-Zawraa vs al-Qaeda ~ Mishan al-Jabouri goes on al-Zawraa and attacks al-Qaeda....

While the Sunni insurgency is often seen as a united block, the reality is that under the surface, there are great tensions and disagreements between the 'domestic' insurgents and the 'foreigners.' Nibras Kazimi has reported that Mishan al-Jabouri, the owner of al-Zawraa, or Muj TV, has issued a scathing statement against al-Qaeda in Iraq, and its political front, the Islamic State in Iraq, which is run by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. The attack on al-Qaeda in Iraq was given by al-Jabouri himself and broadcast on al-Zawraa after several days of publishing items critical of al-Qaeda in its scroll. Al-Jabouri is aligned with the Islamic Army in Iraq, a Islamist insurgent group with close ties to al-Qaeda. Mr. Kazimi provides a translation of al-Jabouri's statement. Al-Jabouri provides a laundry list of complaints against al-Qaeda and its Islamic State, which I have summarized as follows:

• Al-Qaeda in Iraq has divided the Iraqi people, failed to protect the Sunnis and brought the Shia death squads down on the Sunnis by inciting sectarian violence through mass suicide attacks. Al-Qaeda has "broken the back of national unity in Iraq and they resulted in bringing great suffering upon Iraqis" by targeting Shia and giving the Shia "the excuse for it to retaliate and go to the Sunni neighborhoods to kill 4 or 5 or 10 times the number that was killed of the Shi'as."

• The Islamic State of Iraq in Iraq wants the Sunni groups to "pledge allegiance" to leaders, ministers and emirs whose identities are unknown, including Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

• Islamic State of Iraq has continued to conduct an extensive campaign of assassination against rival sheikhs, emirs and insurgent group leaders, and in many cases added insult to injury by failing to give the bodies back tot eh families. One of al-Jabouri's own messengers was executed.

• The Islamic State of Iraq has no system of law or justice. "Is this the State you want to establish? To kill people without an accusation, or investigation, without a judge or nothing."

• Weapons and ammunition are being confiscated from insurgent groups that do not support the Islamic State.

• Al-Qaeda in Iraq is intentionally targeting members of the Iraqi Army and police forces, who al-Jabouri and other insurgents believe are acting int eh best interest of Iraqis.

• The goal of the Islamic State of Iraq is to serve as a stepping stone to attack other nations, which endangers the Iraqi people. "We will not allow Iraq to turn into a dangerous place that threatens the countries of the region under any pretext, these Arabs that you have about you, let then go and fight in their own countries and not among us..."

• Because of al-Qaeda's actions the Sunni insurgents not aligned with the Islamic State are preparing to battle with al-Qaeda outside of Ramadi. "I warn you that in areas apart from Ramadi the situation is changing whereby all will cooperate to confront you."

More from the Blogosphere (CQ in this one):

February 21, 2007
Whither Sadr City?

********************AN EXCERPT *******************************

The US has a decision ahead of then with the new surge strategy that could either help drive out the Shi'ite insurgents or lose them the entire city of Baghdad. The joint Iraqi-American forces have cleared and held Shi'ite enclaves around Sadr City, but have not yet entered that power base of the Mahdi Army. They must determine whether and when to do so, and the credibility of the US forces and the Iraqi government depends on their next moves:

Let's get into that more....from Jules Crittend:

Heads Up
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:18 pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2007

****************************************

Stratfor’s news summary includes:

U.S./IRAQ: U.S. and Iraqi troops bombarded the office of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr in the al-Shula area west of Baghdad, the Kuwait News Agency reported, citing an unnamed security source. The source added that 14 military vehicles were surrounding the office and soldiers were confiscating documents.

Here’s KUNA. No further details:

BAGHDAD, Feb 20 (KUNA) — A joint force of the Iraqi Army and US troops Tuesday bombarded the office of Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr in Al-Shula area, west of Baghdad, a security source told KUNA.
The source said some 14 military vehicles are now surrounding the office and Iraqi and US soldiers could be seen confiscating material and documents.
Muqtada Al-Sadr himself is out of the country over fears for his safety.

Raw Story is attempting to verify. Still nothing on the wires.

Don’t suppose al-Sadr isn’t in Iran, and … naw, too much to hope for.

UPDATE: PJM Baghdad editor Mohammed Fadhil reports that al-Iraqia TV confirmed the news but offered no more details.

Raw Story says CentCom had nothing on it. Not clear whether al-Iraqia’s confirmation is a same-source regurgitation or independent. I’m guessing what it all means is that this is essentially nothing, or that it’s something really good.

Topics: Iraq, military, Stratfor

Thanks for the ping E. One of the best posts I have read in a long while. Rather thought provoking materials presented here by you and Val, amoung others.
The tide of change continues for the betterment of Iraq. Far to many Iraqi are signing up into one of their military branches as well as police enforcement at this point, to think that the are on the brink of success in putting down the insurgency in all it's evil forms.
To many Iraqi are on the side of the IG/military/police/coalition forces at this point to think they are not willing to conceed to the fact the coalition must stay in their country to help bring an end to the civil strive and foreign influences.
And now with the reborn Maliki coming out swinging... well things just may start to improve greatly by the end of this year.
With all the Sunni by ins to rid the country with al Anbar being a key factor, of foreign and local insurgents, it will only further help bring an end to this whole terrible mess.
The point may be approaching where the Saddamist may literally give up. And if the Mahdi army and Badr brigades amoung other militias are disbanded and replaced by federal/provincial army and police, then Iraq will simmer down quite a bit, by all indications.
Of course I write with the understanding that most of us may feel the same way on the points I make, with some modifications. At least the Iraqi are now showing they want to rebuild a better land built on justice under their constitutional law, and be lead by a secular democratically elected government. Things some have refused to want to believe was even remotely possible.

seventy-three sects in islam http://www.himalmag.com/2004/march_april/opinion_3.htm

A recent personal experience would be more illustrative. Some months ago this writer attended a massive Barelvi gathering in Bombay, where there were impassioned speeches delivered by numerous Barelvi ulema thundering against various other Muslim groups. The writer asked a Barelvi scholar present what he thought about the fiery diatribes of the ulema against other Muslim sects, coming especially at a time when Muslims in India were being hounded by Hindutva fanatics. Was it not important for the ulema to help promote Muslim unity instead? The alim (scholar) turned and answered without batting an eyelid, “The Prophet had predicted more than 1400 years ago that the Muslims would be divided into 73 sects, all but one of which would go to hell. Now, if we try and promote unity between the sects that would be going against the saying of the Prophet himself. And that would be a very grave crime indeed!”

they've got to kill each other or go to hell, get it?

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