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| Iraq | ||
| Leader of Anbar Awakening killed by bomb in Ramadi | ||
| 2007-09-13 | ||
The most prominent figure in a revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Iraq was killed Thursday in an explosion near his home in Anbar province, police said. Abu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb, said Col. Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.
No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaida in Iraq, ...
A senior member of Abu Risha's group, Sheik Jubeir Rashid, said the explosion took place at 3:30 p.m. as Abu Risha was returning to his home in Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital. "It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work," Rashid said. "Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us." A Ramadi police officer said Abu Risha had received a group of poor people at his home earlier in the day, to mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said authorities believed the bomb was planted by one of the visitors. After the bombing, police announced a state of emergency in Ramadi and set up additional checkpoints throughout the city, Rashid said. | ||
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #11 I had planned to comment on this earlier, but got involved in another project, and forgot. Expect to see as much of this kind of activity as possible over the next ten days to two weeks while the Congress is debating what to do about Iraq. A-Q HAS to make a big hit somewhere, or the concensus will be that the surge is working, and we'd be fools to leave. That doesn't mean the Donkeys won't still try to pull out, but the average Joe will be very confused about it. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-09-13 23:49 |
| #10 Yes, great spot, doc. I full on expect that the President will mention this specifically tonight (in a few minutes). "It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work," Rashid said. "Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us." Compare this to Hillary's "suspension of reality" comment or Harry Reid's whining that we've lost already. These guys are bleeding and dying for their country while the Donks are trying to score political points. I pray the Anbar Awakening continues to be awake and doesn't go back to sleep. What's most frustrating is that this leader took a chance (like Masood in Afghanistan) and may be a "signal" to further attacks. AQ, if anything, knows how to "time" an attack. With Petraeus's report Mon-Tues and the Pres's speech tonight, they know what this'll do in the media. Sad, but that's the "game" they play. |
| Posted by: BA 2007-09-13 20:54 |
| #9 Good spot doc... |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2007-09-13 18:03 |
| #8 Well, if this murder makes the tribes switch sides and back AQ again, they deserve what they get. " But I doubt the Sunni tribes will do it - they may be stupid, deluded, and all sorts of other negative descriptives, but they don't strike me as easily-forgiving, or cowards, or Euro-weenies. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-09-13 17:29 |
| #7 But then this solves one of Binny and Doc's biggest embarrassments - that Sunnis have turned on AQ. They are so impotent right now that they have to resort to red on red violence and killing. They haven't touched us (knock on wood) in 6 years but they sure have popped the cork on other muzzies. You're sitting in your cave in Waziristan and see your islamic world collapsing on top of you - what can you do? |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-09-13 15:40 |
| #6 Shades of Shah Masood in Sept 2001? Head's up! |
| Posted by: doc 2007-09-13 15:30 |
| #5 Wouldn't this trigger the "required revenge" clause in the Tribal contract? That's how Al Qaeda got in trouble with the tribes in the first place, if I recall correctly. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-13 12:33 |
| #4 Any Sunni wondering about their options these days just things (further) clarified for them! (1) go back to being alQueda's slaves...and risk dying on an alQueda whim, say, for smoking a cigarette! (2) fight, and yes maybe die...but have a chance at controlling or, at least influencing, your own destiny! Same choice we have here in America. Democrats (and a few round-heeled Republicans) are busy choosing Opion 1. The rest of us are choosing Option 2. |
| Posted by: Justrand 2007-09-13 11:56 |
| #3 Now if our guys had done something like this, the Times would say it only creates more terrorists... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-09-13 11:15 |
| #2 Sad news indeed. But it looks like alqaeda has another sunni Martyr to deal with. |
| Posted by: Galactic Coordinator Shins1195 2007-09-13 11:04 |
| #1 Sunnis are between Iraq and a hard place. |
| Posted by: Cheasing Wittlesbach4201 2007-09-13 10:18 |