Signs of division show in Iraq insurgency

[ECH1969]

In Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province and a stronghold of the insurgency, homegrown Iraqi fighters have begun recently to air their differences in menacing fliers plastered on walls and distributed in mosques — making threats and denouncing the tactics of the extremists, according to witnesses who have seen the fliers.

Some of the fliers threaten reprisals against the militants or threaten to inform police of their identity and whereabouts. Ramadi's insurgents argue that al-Qaida fighters are giving the resistance a bad name and demand they stop targeting civilians and kidnappings. Al-Qaida militants counter that Iraqis who join the army and police are "apostates" — Muslims who renounce their faith — and deserve to be killed.

"They have tarnished our image and used the jihad to make personal gains," said Ahmed Hussein, a 30-year-old mosque imam from Ramadi, speaking of al-Qaida fighters. "They have no legitimacy," said Hussein, who claims insurgency links but says he's not a fighter himself.

Associated Press reporters in the insurgency strongholds of Ramadi, Baqouba and Samarra say there have been fewer attacks in those towns in recent weeks. They also report rising hostility toward militants associated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian al-Qaida leader in Iraq.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/international/index.ssf?/base/international-22/1113070904160620.xml&storylist=international

[LibertyorDeath]

1. They must have a death wish.

Homegrown Iraqi fighters are threatening reprisals against the militant extremists.

They're not called extremists for nothing.

This whole article sounds bogus to me.

[leftchick]

5. wishful thinking...

The real fighting between the different resistance factions will start once the US is gone. Until then they share the same goal.

[glaucon]

2. well of course there are divisions

This is a nation-wide insurgency that crosses many tribal and religious lines. There will always be in-fighting and squables. What unites them is their hatred of the United States. Don't expect that passion to fall apart any time soon.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. If only... if only we could get the civil war into full swing....

what a relief that would be for the architects of this frigging insane immoral and illegal oilscapade.

[Alpharetta]

4. Bullshit

The article pretends the insurgency has an organization. It doesn't. There are many different groups.

It pretends the insurgency has a strategy with clear political goals. It doesn't. The goals are varied.

This article is typical close-minded spin from "embedded" reporters captive to the Green Zone and American sympathizers (on the payroll).

I don't claim to be an expert but I'm not stupid.

The insurgency is as varied as fighters who entered from Jordan, Sunnis who went home with their weapons, Shias who want a theocracy, Kurds who want to defend their turf, Iranians who want to disrupt, and Al Qaeda who just wants a political toehold. And more.

The kidnappers are not insurgents. They are local criminals who spot a foreigner and turn that opportunity into profit by selling the captive to whoever is running the show locally. Al Sadr's gang. Al Zarqawi's gang. Al Qaeda. Some Sunni loyalists. etc. The ruling gang does the ransom.

Here is a more credible depiction of the current state in Iraq. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/040805N.shtml

[chlamor]

6. Fliers?

The CIA has dropped and passed around more fliers than your local paint crew.
Hmmm?