Sunni insurgent groups join together to run Al-Qaeda out of Anbar Province in Iraq.
"There was a meeting right after the bombings," one Ramadi resident said, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals.
"Tribal leaders and political figures gathered to form the Anbar Revolutionaries to fight al-Qa'ida in Anbar and force them to leave the province.
"Since then, there has been all-out war between them."
Last week, three local Islamist groups around Ramadi - the 1920 Brigades, the Mujaheddin Army and the Islamic Movement for Iraq's Mujaheddin - met to distance themselves from their fellow Islamists in al-Qa'ida.
The statement condemned "armed operations which target innocents" and affirmed "a halt to co-operation with al-Qa'ida".
In a further sign of the rifts emerging within Iraq's insurgency, Zarqawi has also stepped aside as the head of a new council of radical groups in favour of an Iraqi, according to a posting on a website used by al-Qa'ida.
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1
It's just a turf battle. Don't read too much into this.
Posted by: Ariya at January 25, 2006 10:24 AM (uxW3N)
2
Ah yes but a turf battle I can delight in.
Posted by: Howie at January 25, 2006 10:28 AM (D3+20)
3
Me too, Howie. And kind of interesting how the "civil war" has not manifested itself. Instead, those who try to instigate such a war end up getting their a$$es thrown out.
Posted by: Oyster at January 25, 2006 10:33 AM (osKlJ)
4
You're right Ariya, but it would be far better for Iraqis to be in control rather than al Qaeda, even if they are still fighting our forces, because they're fighting for different reasons, and are not committing acts of terrorism against their own people. Also, if they are just fighting to get US troops to leave, then local sheikhs can be put in charge of local affairs, and our troops can go fight AQ elsewhere.
This is a compromise situation, but any compromise which gets us closer to our goals is acceptable. We don't necessarily have to have the Iraqis as our allies, but we certainly don't want them as enemies, so if they're willing to take up the fight against AQ, we should try to make an agreement with them.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 25, 2006 10:33 AM (0yYS2)
5
Well, the Sunnis just want Al Qaeda out so they can force their own standard on the country (again). And we know how that went...
Posted by: Ariya at January 25, 2006 11:06 AM (uxW3N)
6
Yeah but it's too late for that now, they've gotten to like the taste of freedom, and voting seems to be all the rage these days, so any recidivists will be engulfed by the majority who just want peace and prosperity.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 25, 2006 11:19 AM (0yYS2)
7
Heh...
Article from Rooters:
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An Iraqi television cameraman was killed in clashes between Sunni rebels and U.S. forces in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi on Tuesday, witnesses said on Wednesday.
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Like I said... turf war.
Posted by: Ariya at January 25, 2006 01:06 PM (uxW3N)
8
A muslim is still a muslim. Same as a rat is still a rat. Vermin at best.
Posted by: greyrooster at January 25, 2006 07:12 PM (YjVDY)
9
Heh. Couldn't have said it better myself rooster, but in defense of rats, they can't help what they are, but muslims are
supposed to be human beings, complete with free will and that little thing we call humanity, but which we know they lack.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 26, 2006 12:42 AM (0yYS2)
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