Ex-Saddam Loyalists: Insurgency Not About Saddam but Driving Out Americans

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA00PDS7ND.html

AP Exclusive: Ex-Saddam Loyalists Say Insurgency Not About Former Dictator but Driving Out the Americans
By Scheherezade Faramarzi Associated Press Writer

SAMARA, Iraq (AP) - A former Iraqi general who claims to be part of the insurgency against U.S. troops says the guerrilla war around this "Sunni Triangle" city is being waged by small groups fighting on their own without direction from Saddam Hussein or others.

He and two other Samara men, who said they are in separate guerrilla units, insisted in interviews with The Associated Press that their fight isn't aimed at returning Saddam to power. They said it's about ending the U.S.-led occupation and restoring Iraqi rule.

"I am fighting for my country - not Saddam Hussein - to get rid of the infidels. Very few people are fighting for him. They gave up on him at the end of the war," said one of the men, an unemployed electrical engineer.

Despite the Bush administration's statement that it wants to turn over sovereignty by next June and eventually withdraw its troops, the men said they believe the Americans are here to pillage Iraq and steal its oil. <snip>

The general said the fighting won't stop until U.S. and other troops get out. "We don't care who replaces them," he said. "The important thing is to throw out the occupation."
AP-ES-11-19-03 1444EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA00PDS7ND.html

[karabekian]

1. hmmm another possible log on the insurgency fire

I think one aspect of the insurgency is about keeping power and influence in the hands of the minority Sunni. I think that is a major factor to the resistance we are seeing in Iraq. Regardless of your views on the war, the likely shift of power from the Sunni to Shi'ites in post occupation Iraq definately plays a part in the resistence. Even if this general is not fighting for Saddam, I bet that he would like to replace it with a Sunni dominated government of one form or another. Only by forcing the retreat of the US and co. can the sunni's realistically hope to hold on to the power they have long held over the rest of the countries groups, the Shi'ites and the Kurds. I am not dismissing the "infidel" factor, but I also think that there are a lot of other things going on in Iraq that have little to do with that.

just my 2 cents based on my limited knowledge of the ethnic and tribal make up of Iraq.

[bemildred]

2. I was thinking the other day that Saddam will probably

be treated well in Iraqi history, if there is an Iraqi history,
because he made sure that there were plenty of arms around for
the resistance to use; he will get credit for that despite his
many faults.

I think the Shia are letting the Sunnis do most of the fighting,
but pigs will fly before the Sunni grab control again. I think
there is going to be a civil war as soon as they kick our ass out,
unless the Iraqis decide to work out their own federal system.