The Commissar, who I hear has gone into semi-retirement, republishes this SPI article on Ansar al-Islam.

Because large portions of this site have been devoted to exposing the Ansar al Sunnah, I thought I'd republish it also below. I would correct the SPI article only in stating that Ansar al-Islam is now defunct. Ansar al-Islam bases of operation were heavily bombed during the Iraq invasion and Kurdish forces have completely suppressed the groups activities in the area. All terrorist activity in Northern Iraq has been by Ansar al-Sunnah, an offshoot and now replacement of Ansar al-Islam. Further, it was the Army of Ansar al-Sunnah themselves that have claimed allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq group. The article makes it sound as if there is some question about the relationship. There is none. SPI:

A look at the Islamic extremist group Ansar al-Islam, blamed for attacks in Iraq and supported by a network of members in Europe, according to authorities.

-HISTORY: Founded in late 2001 in Kurdish part of northern Iraq by Mullah Krekar, who has lived as refugee in Norway since 1991. Area was beyond Saddam Hussein's control thanks to Western-enforced no-fly zones. Supporters set up an enclave near the Iranian border ruled by strict Islamic law. Members trained in Afghanistan and provided safe haven to al-Qaida members fleeing after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

-SIZE: Ansar al-Islam fighters in Iraq, believed to number about 700, scattered by U.S. invasion. U.S. officials say some regrouped and linked up with Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for attacks.

-ABROAD: European supporters, including Iraqis and North Africans, believed to be concentrated in Germany and Italy. Authorities accuse them of channeling fighters to Iraq for attacks on U.S.-led forces. United States has declared Ansar al-Islam - Arabic for Supporters of Islam - a foreign terrorist organization.

-ATTACKS: Group and a suspected offshoot, Ansar al-Sunnah Army, blamed for numerous bombings and killings in Iraq. The Ansar al-Sunnah Army has been the most active recently, claiming responsibility for a Dec. 21 strike on a U.S. base in Mosul that killed 22 people, mostly Americans; videotaped executions of 12 Nepalese construction workers in Iraq in August; and Feb. 1 twin suicide bombings at offices of two main Kurdish political parties that killed 109 Kurds.

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