`Gurgling gasp' now a war cry: Iraq rebels gain force, expand power

[iconoclastic cat]

From the Chicago Trib:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0407190193jul19,1,4538048.story?coll=chi-news-hed

BAGHDAD -- A year ago, a U.S. colonel wrote off Iraq's insurgency as a last "gurgling gasp" from Saddam Hussein's murderous henchmen. Too old and round for the rigors of urban combat, the leaders of the former regime were turning with cash and rifles in hand to their sons and nephews, asking them to fight their fight.

Since then, the rebellion that imperils Iraq's rebirth has evolved into a cauldron of disparate tactics, ideologies and ambitions far more potent than the threat posed by last summer's ragtag recruits.

Jihadist outsiders have made Iraq an international stage for their holy war against the United States, relying on car bomb attacks that do not distinguish between soldier and civilian. Iraqis disenfranchised by Hussein's ouster ambush U.S. and Iraqi troops daily in the name of nationalism. Gunmen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr have fought to give their young firebrand clout.

If there has been one constant in the 15-month insurgency, it has been the perception among Sunni Muslim insurgents that the U.S.-led coalition conspicuously pushed Sunnis aside as they forged the post-Hussein landscape. Today, analysts say the Sunnis are fueling most of the insurgency both in terms of manpower and financing, and their leaders make clear that they are unlikely to accept offers of amnesty.
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[mhr]

1. If Ever There Were A More Incompetent Group Than The Neocons

I'd sure like to know.

------
Never Forget The Face Of American Fascism'THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SKULL & BONES INITIATION...I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME. THESE PEOPLE -- YOU EVER HEARD OF EMOTIONAL RELEASE? YOU EVER HEARD OF NEEDING TO BLOW SOME STEAM OFF?'

[mom cat]

2. This article shows clear misunderstanding of the motives of the

Iraqi resistance. Consider this comment: "Gunmen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr have fought to give their young firebrand clout." I doubt if any of the resistance sat down and thought: "Gee, I want to give my young firebrand some clout so I will go out and fight" anymore than "terrorists" "hate us for our freedom". Journalists would be of more service if they used their heads instead of Pentagon approved scripts. Perhaps if they just asked the simple question: What would most Americans do if someone started a war against us on false pretenses, killed thousands and thousands of our people, bombed the hell out of our cities, put in a puppet government and expected us all to roll over and play dead, started building 14 military bases in our country while failing to provide even rudimentary medical care, basic utilities, minimal security, while dropping horrifically cruel bomblets to explode on children and poison the air, water and land with depleted uranium, while,at the same time siphoning off oil revenues for reconstruction projects that don't happen and only fill the pockets of the cronies of the perpetrator of all of these offenses. I know what I would do. And it wouldn't be to give some firebrand "clout". It would be the acts of o reformed pacifist hellbent on justice, freedom and defeating the arrogant sob's who thought they could pull it off.

[phantom power]

3. I tried that line of reasoning with a friend of mine a few months ago

and his response was "There's just no chance of anyone ever invading us." Which, when you work it through, equates to saying "Might makes right". It was depressing, since it convinced me that those who support this war have essentially jettisoned the Golden Rule. It's hard to get through to someone coming from that viewpoint.

[mom cat]

4. I have had some luck with this reasoning, but some people do not

want to be confused by the facts. Keep trying with others. Not every Repub is as dim as dimson.

[struggle4progress]

5. If there were many "jihadist outsiders" you'd expect more in custody:

Few detainees in Iraq are foreign-USA Today
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x667657
'Only 29 Foreign Fighters' Held in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=670298