Iraq: New Cartel Joins Anti al-Qaeda Front

[jmc247]

Source: AKI

Three of the most important Iraqi insurgent groups have formed a new cartel calling itself the Jihad and Reform Front in what appears further evidence of the isolation of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The Islamic Army in Iraq, the Mujahadeen Army, and the splinter group of the Army of Ansar al-Sunna known as the Sharia Committee have joined forces. Though not explicitly stated in the foundation document posted to Islamist internet sites on Thursday, the group has a clear anti al-Qaeda role, challenging the principles and strategies of its armed struggle.

"The group's aim is to continue the resistance in Iraq and throw out the occupiers but at the same time to restate that Jihadi operations will strike the occupiers and their agents and not innocent civilians whom we should protect," reads the statement.

These words, and the final part of the document which refers to an interpretation of Sharia law which can change according to the requirements of a military strategy, appear to be a pointed criticism of al-Qaeda in Iraq which is increasingly isolated within the insurgency.

Read more: http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.410789404&par=0

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They certainly don't want us there. These are three of the biggest Iraqi insurgent groups. But, their most pressing issue is to get rid of the foreign terrorist suicide bombing Iraqi civilians everyday to try to provoke the Shia into mass butchering Sunnis and causing a civil war.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I wonder if the US 'mission' includes wiping out all of the Sunni insurgency groups. Too bad there's

no one that can answer the question. In view of Bush's blathering yesterday that the '#1 enemy was al-Qaeda' in Iraq, you think we'd be trying to get the Sunnis to join our 'coalition'.

[jmc247]

2. These groups hate us

Ansar al-Sunna is an Islamic extremist group and the two other groups are hard core Baathist insurgents.

But, who loses if al-Qaeda is able to spark a civil war in Iraq? They lose because the Shia and Kurds will pound their heads in. Half the Sunni population of Iraq is now living in Jordan, Syria, and elsewhere. These insurgents want the US out and some kind of political deal with the Shia and Kurds.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I know they hate us. What's been bothering me and what I've asked both of my

Democratic Senators about (no answers yet) is if the US 'mission' is to put down the insurgency (mainly Sunni) than aren't we helping the Shia to eradicate a minority population (read: ethnic cleansing) and encouraging a heavy-handed Shia government that will turn into a mini Iran the moment we do leave? We should be encouraging Sunnis and all others to making a POLITICAL deal. That's why it's so ridiculous to try for a 'military solution' for Iraq.

[jmc247]

4. We have a bit of a weird policy in that area

Here is an interesting Guardian video on that.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/page/0,,2033085,00.html

With the tribes we are letting them build their own Army like the Peshmerga. But, with the insurgents both Baathist and Islamic extremist we are trying to eradicate them. So, we have a bit of a weird foreign policy in Iraq. Support one Sunni militia lead by the tribes and kill the other militias.

[Igel]

6. Yep, that's about it.

The Anbar Salvation Group presumably wants stability more than a removal of the US Army; for now they're working together, although when they're not together the ASG's militia is truly nasty. Their moderates go into the police.

Same for some Shi'ite groups. And the peshmerga. As long as the groups aren't extremist, the US seems to be ok letting them control areas that are nearly 100% like the militias. So peshmerga over Kurds, Shi'ite militia over Shi'ites, ASG over Sunnis.

It's different with extremist militias or with areas that are too mixed, or when there are rival bands that the US doesn't want to choose between.

[denverbill]

5. What an outrageously misleading headline.

It makes it sound like they are helping us hunt al Qaeda in Iraq. Instead, they just reject al Qaeda's methods, but are clearly anti-occupation.