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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. Officers In Iraq Put Priority on Extremists |
| 2005-05-09 |
| EFL: BAGHDAD, May 8 -- Senior U.S. commanders say their view of the Iraqi insurgency has begun to shift, with higher priority being given to combating foreign fighters and Iraqi jihadists. This shift comes in response to the recent upsurge in suicide attacks and other developments that indicate a more prominent role in the insurgency by these radical groups, the commanders say. Previously, U.S. authorities have depicted the insurgency as being dominated largely by what the Pentagon has dubbed "former regime elements" -- a combination of onetime Baath Party loyalists and Iraqi military and security service officers intent on restoring Sunni rule. But since the Jan. 30 elections, this segment of the insurgency has appeared to pull back from the fight, at least for a while, reassessing strategies and exploring a possible political deal with the new government, senior U.S. officers here say. Acting on the assumption that foreign fighters and Iraqi extremists may now pose the greater and more immediate threat to security in Iraq, U.S. commanders have given orders in recent days to reposition some U.S. ground forces and intelligence assets in northwestern Iraq to further fortify the border with Syria and block suspected infiltration routes. They are also stepping up efforts to go after leading bomb-makers and key organizers of the suicide attacks. In interviews, several commanders and intelligence officers cautioned that their shift was still tentative and based more on fragmentary information and intuition than on solid, specific evidence. They said assessments differed among U.S. intelligence specialists. But supporting the impression that a harder-core insurgent element has become more important, the officers say, is the fact that suicide missions have become more frequent and more ruthless -- many have been positioned and timed to kill civilians as well as Iraqi security forces. U.S. and Iraqi authorities say suicide drivers are invariably foreign fighters. Officers here said they knew of no documented case in which a suicide attacker turned out to have been an Iraqi. A recent U.S. intelligence estimate also shows an increase last month in the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq, according to several officers familiar with it. "There seems to be an increasing foreign element to the insurgency," said Army Gen. George Casey, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq. With Baathist-led Sunni groups appearing to sit on the sidelines for now, some senior officers say the insurgency seems to have shrunk as its tactics have become more vicious. "The base of the insurgency is getting very narrow, but it is still a fairly competent terrorist base," one commanding officer said on condition of anonymity. More than 300 people have been killed since the formation of Iraq's new government 10 days ago. The generals allow for the possibility that the apparent change in the nature of the insurgency may be only temporary. They noted, for instance, that a failure to draw the Sunnis into the new political process could again drive the Baathists into more violent opposition. "They may have just taken a pause," said Army Brig. Gen. John DeFreitas III, the top military intelligence officer in Iraq. "I'm not sure they've quit the insurgency. They can certainly come back." |
| Posted by:mhw |
| #8 With regards to assorted Saudis having unfortunate accidents, an internal power struggle is generally an excellent opportunity for a little very discreet mischief-making. |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-05-09 22:01 |
| #7 Drivers? Isn't that a bit too much like actual labour? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-05-09 21:17 |
| #6 time to bounce the terror back up the chain? Assorted Saudis (especially clerics) dying in unexplained hits might dissuade the less-enthusiastic |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-09 21:16 |
| #5 Saudi's are providing cash and drivers. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-09 20:51 |
| #4 The hurt needs to be put on those elements in Syria that are backing the terrorism in Iraq. The only language they understand is personal hurt, just like G'daffy in the 80s. When it gets personal, the management will back off. I wonder how much the Saudis are contributing to recent foreign terrorist fodder. They need to be dealt with, too. Being nice and diplomatic about these killers is costing us casualties, as well as the Iraqis. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-05-09 16:16 |
| #3 thanks rkb |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-05-09 11:03 |
| #2 I fixed it, mhw. |
| Posted by: rkb 2005-05-09 10:11 |
| #1 I hit a wrong key here is beginning of article: U.S. Officers In Iraq Put Priority on Extremists Hussein Loyalists Not Seen as Greatest Threat By Bradley Graham Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, May 9, 2005; Page A01 BAGHDAD, May 8 -- Senior U.S. commanders say their view of the Iraqi insurgency has begun to shift, with higher priority being given to combating foreign fighters and Iraqi jihadists... from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/08/AR2005050800838.html?sub=AR |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-05-09 08:18 |