Posted on 11/12/2004 11:37:02 AM PST by dukeman
KARACHI (Pakistan) - When major combat operations ended in Iraq last year after the fall of Saddam Hussein, subsequent sporadic attacks on US troops were largely dubbed as typical post-war insurgency. However, the sustained strengthening of the insurgency has seen it grow into a widespread, organized resistance.
Sources in the Afghan resistance movement informed Asia Times Online in written material sent through ordinary mail that the mujahideen decided before the US invasion of Iraq to make that country a hub of their activities. An organization called the Jaishul al-Qiba al-Jihadi al-Siri al-Alami had already been formed to send groups of jihadis to Iraq from time to time. These included Afghans and Arab-Afghans.
Well before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends this weekend, the resistance held a meeting in southern Baghdad. It was attended by representatives of many different Iraqi groups, which decided to launch "Operation Ramadan" all over Iraq. Therefore, by the time the US finally began its all-out offensive on Fallujah earlier this week, the resistance was prepared to hit back throughout Iraq - as has happened, with some of the bloodiest few days the country has seen in many months.
This poses a difficult problem for the US, which needs to crush all resistance before the scheduled elections in Iraq in January.
For an insight into the dynamics of the resistance, Asia Times Online spoke to Pakistan's retired former director general of Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant General Hamid Gul. He was one of the masterminds of the International Muslim Brigade, a force raised in Afghanistan to fuel the independence movements of Muslim-occupied territories. This later evolved into Osama bin Laden's International Islamic Front. Gul spoke to Asia Times Online by telephone from Rawalpindi.
ATol: It is inevitable that US-led forces will ultimately prevail in Fallujah. What will the resistance do next?
Gul: Yes you are right, the present resistance in Fallujah obviously cannot last long in front of US military might. At present, the resistance is [only] up to a [certain] level thanks to [Shi'ite leader] Ayatollah [Ali al-]Sistani, who has kept Shi'ites away from the resistance as Shi'ites are interested in participating in the elections. Had Shi'ites been a part of the resistance movement at this stage, the US would have had a difficult time in keeping its presence in Iraq.
However, this situation apart, the way resistance groups have driven the US nuts in Iraq could set a new dynamic in the world and give new life to liberation movements. The death of Yasser Arafat has also left no leader who can convince Muslim youths that politicking is a solution. Now nobody will be ready to listen to Muslim intellectuals who believe in negotiations rather than military struggle.
Muslim youths will see their success in military struggles and I see an emergence of a "Muslim International" in which Iraq will be the center. I think 7,000 to 8,000 foreign fighters have already joined hands with the resistance. They are not alien to Iraqi culture. They are youths who share the same culture, speak the same language and wear the same dress. In the coming days, I believe thousands more will join. This is a trend which cannot be suppressed by the state apparatus issuing verdicts that suicide attacks are prohibited in Islam. Arab youths can flock through Iraq's largely unguarded borders to reinforce the resistance movement.
In the coming phase, in my opinion, the resistance will make Baghdad the center of the resistance, where all resources will be pooled to blow away US interests.
ATol: Can the resistance survive without external help?
Gul: Support comes with the passage of time when a movement proves its credibility. For one-and-a-half years there was no support for the Afghan resistance movement [against the Soviets in the early 1980s]. Whatever Pakistan support there was was less than a peanut. However, when the resistance proved its credibility, support came from the West. After [President George W] Bush's re-election, there is visible annoyance in countries like Russia and China, even in Europe, against US policies, and it will be a matter of time before they trust the guts [bravery] of the resistance movement and extend their support.
ATol: You mentioned a "Muslim International". Do you see a role for al-Qaeda in Iraq?
Gul: Yes. This is true. Most of the al-Qaeda figures have already left Afghanistan. They cannot live in Pakistan as there is the threat of their arrest. They all went to Iran. Iran has not arrested any al-Qaeda figures. Then where do they go? Obviously, Iraq is the next destination. Now the entire focus is on Iraq, where all [resistance] groups are investing their resources to make the resistance a success.
ATol: I was in Iraq after the war and I asked a US commander in northern Iraq who was behind the attacks on US forces. His immediate reply was Iraqi military and para-military troops. My question is, how can a conventional army become a successful guerrilla force?
Gul: If they have support in villages and among tribes these soldiers can unleash a guerrilla fight. Saddam had a force called Fidayeen-i-Saddam, which was trained specifically for guerrilla operations. It numbered about 35,000. Suppose today this is even 25% of its original strength, it is a big number when local support is available. At the same time, there is no dearth of new recruits. I think a flood of fighters will be coming to Iraq.
ATol: How big could the resistance be?
Gul: About 40,000 to 50,000, including former Ba'ath Party members, Fidayeens, other military and para-military forces, and foreign fighters. In addition, the number of foreign fighters will grow immensely and Iraq will be the hub of an anti-US movement. You know, there is a new phenomena emerging in which a man is himself a weapon. No military can withstand this.
You have to keep in mind the nature of Arab fighters. They do not surrender or retreat easily. Afghanistan is a case in this regard. At Qila Changi and other places the Taliban decided to retreat, but Arab fighters refused to do so and they fought till their last. So, I think, the resistance movement will increase multifold in the coming weeks.
"Most of the al-Qaeda figures have already left Afghanistan. They cannot live in Pakistan as there is the threat of their arrest. They all went to Iran."
Can you say...NEXT!!
HE sound like a nut job to me. No one will be flocking to iraq after this mop up, of which Fallujah is just the beginning.
Yeah, I believe he may be putting too much faith into the notion that Arab fighters want to die "gloriously."
I wouldn't put it past these retarted jihadis. However, as Bush said, it is better to fight them in Iraq than on American soil. These idiots are just plain mentally handicapped. Keep 'em comin.
Excellent insights into the enemy mind!
>At present, the resistance is [only] up to a
>[certain] level thanks to [Shi'ite leader]
>Ayatollah [Ali al-]Sistani, who has kept Shi'ites
>away from the resistance as Shi'ites are
>interested in participating in the elections.
Translation: We will continue to murder Shi'ites. They are traitors. You can only trust a Sunni Arab.
>The death of Yasser Arafat has also left no leader who
>can convince Muslim youths that politicking is a solution.
Translation: Arafat was a distration to our leader Bin Laden.
>Arab youths can flock through Iraq's largely
>unguarded borders to reinforce the resistance movement.
Translation: If we can get enough Sunni Arabs into Iraq, we can kill all the Shi'ites.
>After [President George W] Bush's re-election,
>there is visible annoyance in countries like
>Russia and China, even in Europe, against US policies,
>and it will be a matter of time before they trust
>the guts [bravery] of the resistance movement and
>extend their support.
Translation: (and this is the heart of their strategy) If we can hold out long enough, Russia, China and Europe will supply us with arms (save us).
>You know, there is a new phenomena emerging in
>which a man is himself a weapon. No military
>can withstand this.
Translation: Don't bother me with talk of 'military technology', I can use my neighbor's children as heat seeking missles.
"Fight them there not here."
Sounds like a fine strategery to me.
It's true. Virtually the entire country is one big kill zone. Now, if we can just get 'em out in the open for a big group photo or something....
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.