We Can Now Measure al-Qaeda’s Presence In Iraq
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We have seen months of declining violence in Iraq as al-Qaeda’s one time allies - and continuously victims - have turned against them. Now al-Qaeda has decided to go for broke in Iraq and increase their massacring of fellow Muslims. They must think this is the only way to avoid defeat, since their defeat in Iraq would cripple their credibility and support across the Middle East:
The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq, an al Qaeda-linked group forced on the defensive by its former tribal allies, ordered a renewed bombing campaign against Iraqi security forces in a Web message on Tuesday.
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Is al-Qaeda a force to be reckoned with or a spent movement heading into oblivion? We will know one way or the other through December and January. If al-Qaeda is able to muster a comeback it will sadly show up in the death toll figures for Iraqis and Americans. However, if they are a spent force then that too will show itself in the same figures as little to no change in the current trend showing regular reductions in the violence.
al-Qaeda has laid it all on the line. But they must know the Americans and Iraqis are prepared and ready for them. The final battle seems to be on.