Posted on 03/02/2007 7:39:30 PM PST by jmc1969
Some Arab tribes in the central and western parts of the country seem to have been fed up with the violence Al-Qaeda operatives are causing in Iraq.
At least one chieftain of the powerful Dulaimi tribe in northern Baghdad has decided to wage an open battle against al-Qaeda.
Mahmoud al-Fahdawi, head of Dulaimis in Tarmiya, Dhaloiya, Balad and Taji, some of the most violent areas in Iraq, is reported to have ordered his tribesmen to wage war on Qaeda.
Fahdawi’s men have captured three Saudi Nationals who reached the area a month ago and started setting up Islamic courts.
“The Saudi nationals sentenced innocent people to death on the pretext of cooperating with U.S. and Iraqi troops,” Fahdawi said.
He said he surrendered the three Saudis to U.S. troops when it became clear that they were Qaeda members.
The Dulaimi tribe is present in central and western parts of the country. It is one the largest and most powerful tribes in Iraq and its members are said to have been leading the fight against U.S. troops in the Anbar Province, their main stronghold and where most of U.S. casualties are incurred.
“The tribes in the areas north and west of Baghdad launched attacks on several strongholds of gunmen and managed to kill and capture scores of them,” Fahdawi said.
He said the tribes were emboldened by a new council the government has set up to rid the Province of Anbar of gunmen.
(Excerpt) Read more at azzaman.com ...
I like it.
...nice they finally figured out who their true enemy is..
Tribals, eh? Do they scrupulously respect all international conventions? What will the Soros-funded "Human Rights Watch" say?
Tribals, eh? Do they scrupulously respect all international conventions? What will the Soros-funded "Human Rights Watch" say?
Pong
bookmark
Tribes. Chieftains.
They stone each other to death.
I keep thinking I'm reading about some aborigines somewhere.
Well maybe I am.
Betcha those innocent people were close relatives of the chief.
That and justice was more than likely the providence of the chief in this area.
He no doubt feels he has the strength to oppose these people and he is not about to surrender his power willingly to Saudis who come to his area and do not show him respect.
Strategypage.com
Don't Piss Off the Locals
October 30, 2006:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20061030.aspx
A key element in dealing with irregular (or guerilla) warfare, is to make sure that most of the local people are on your side. Those who neglect this rule, whether insurgents or counter-insurgents, will lose. This rule can be found in any handbook on how to fight guerrilla wars, such as the Marine Corps's famed Small Wars Manual. But it is most often honored in the breach. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, US and Coalition forces have certainly committed a number of serious blunders that have alienated some locals. But so too have our opponents.
In Iraq, al Qaeda's heavy-handed efforts to get the Sunni tribes of Anbar province to submit to its leadership in the struggle against the government has backfired. The tribes were perfectly willing to resist the government, but resent outside interference, especially when it comes with a lot of strings attached. Among these was a much stricter version of Islam than the already conservative tribes were used to. So al Qaeda decided to force cooperation, by fighting tribal militias, and even bumping off tribal leaders. The primary result of this was that the tribes have more or less made peace with the government and formed a pro-government coalition among the largely Sunni tribes in Anbar.
One of the most important leaders of this movement is 41-year old Abd al Sattar Ftekhan, a leader of the Rishawi tribe. Although himself connected to smuggling and criminal activity, he has become the principal advisor to the Government and Coalition security forces in the province. Abd al Sattar's father was killed by agents of al Qaeda.
A similar situation is developing in Afghanistan. The Taliban's Spring/Summer offensive was largely defeated in the field, with heavy casualties. But it did permit the Taliban to take control of some areas, particularly those inhabited by sympathetic Pushtun tribes. Taliban efforts to strengthen its control over the tribes, however, backfired. In addition to torching schools, especially schools for girls, some Taliban commanders began killing local leaders who weren't totally enthusiastic about the new order. This led to fighting between Taliban and tribesmen. It has also led to orders from very senior Taliban leaders, including perhaps Mullah Omar, to "respect" the Afghan people. In one case a prominent regional Taliban commander has been flatly told to stop beheading people, or face serious consequences. At least one Taliban leader was "disciplined" to death. Over the Winter, it's expected there will be many heated discussions among Taliban leaders in Pakistan, over how rough to play in 2007.
At least they know how to treat activist judges.
These tribesman should understand that the faster that we can clean up the place the faster we go home.
In your previous post, it was "Twenty-five of about 31 tribes in Anbar..." Now it's only some?
These are Nothern Iraq tribes they are talking about.
Those were Anbar tribes.
Those were Anbar tribes.
??? From your link: "He said the tribes were emboldened by a new council the government has set up to rid the Province of Anbar of gunmen.
Its saying the Sunni Northern Iraqi tribes have been emboldened by the actions of the Anbar tribes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.