Dec 04 2007
We Can Now Measure al-Qaeda’s Presence In Iraq
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.
“This campaign should be based on explosives and its target should be the apostates … wearing uniforms and all those who fight alongside the occupiers,” Abu Omar al-Baghdadi said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist Web site.
“Every soldier (militant) is to detonate at least three bombs by the end of the campaign,” he said.
The campaign would continue until an Islamic date corresponding to the last days of January, he added.
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.
My gut-level suspicion is that this will be all talk and little action. (which may be why they strike such a sympathetic chord with the hard left these days) However, it’s also possible that this could both be a comeback of sorts and the end AQ in Iraq in any meaningful way. I’m reminded of the Battle of the Bulge, in Dec. 1944. Hitler threw everything he had in one last ditch attack on the western front – but he needed all of those troops and panzers to defend the homeland. The losses in the Battle of the Bulge led directly and inevitably to the collapse of Nazi Germany just over 4 months later.
Of course, back to my original suspicions, I very much doubt that AQ has the level of command and control that would be required to do any kind of coordinated offensive. Which is why I think this will be just one more admission that they are a spent force. There will still be people who set off bombs and say they do it for AQ, but as any kind of coordinated war-making machine, they’re finished.
WWS,
The fact AQI issues orders through the media is a good sign they have little C&C left (if they ever had it).
This campaign should be based on explosives and its target should be the apostates … wearing uniforms and all those who fight alongside the occupiers,†Abu Omar al-Baghdadi said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist Web site.
So here, they are implementing the practice of TAKFIR As I posted on the other thread:
It is allowed if you pronounce takfir on the ones you’re killing
– that is, you declare them apostates.
takfir — the practice of branding fellow Muslims non-Muslims, and thus lawfully to be killed. This practice is used promiscuously by modern jihad groups, and it is that that Saudi authorities…etc.,etc.
For more info on this, go back to that thread:
http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/4726#comments
LOL! Steve, the problem is Iraq is much bigger than al-Qaeda and will swat it like a fly. Yes, they can RATIONALIZE the attack, but if the Muslims street concludes they are the animals, they are the sinners, then it is over for them. They become the enemy of Islam.
Which is right where they are headed. Please note the Nazis are now the enemy of Germany, the KKK the enemy of southern Americans, etc. There is a pattern here where evil loses the support of the masses and the masses turn on them and turn towards a better future.
There is a pattern here where evil loses the support of the masses and the masses turn on them and turn towards a better future.
AJ, I truely hope so. I want peace in the Middle East.
But you stated on the other thread that Muslims can not kill other Muslims. I think I have sufficiently demonstrated that, in fact, they can.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/IL04Aa01.html
Pretty good interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
What you seem to consistantly miss is this: The Radical Muslims get their justifications from the Qur’an, From the Haddith, etc. Until we can get an Islamic version of the New Testiment for the Qur’an, those passage will remain their justification.
Additionally, those peacful verses were ABROGATED, which means the Radicals are doing as Allah has commanded them to do.
This is why reform of the Islamic Texts is badly needed.
http://www.meforum.org/pf.php?id=1754
Why the LOL? Seems rather silly.
Please, go back to the other thread, read .
Ok, I really have to go now! It’ll be a Dinty Moore Beef Stew night! But I wanted to help other learn, so I posted a lot of info. rather than cook today.
Enjoy!
steve:
There are 1.6 billion Muslims and right now AlQaida’s popularity is on the decline with the vast majority of them.
When Arabs bluster, it is because they are impotent to act. By exhorting each jihadi to ”set off three bombs” they are admitting they are aware that no one is willing to die any more for their cause.
They may yet have the capacity to set off bombs that kill tens of people but overall it seem al Qaeda is quickly becoming a spent force. Not as wasted as soothsayer, but getting there.
steve:
There are 1.6 billion Muslims and right now AlQaida’s popularity is on the decline with the vast majority of them.
Terrye:
We have far more to worry about than just Al Quada.