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| Iraq |
| Omar al-Baghdaddy Announces Honored Murder Campaign |
| 2007-09-15 |
| BAGHDAD - An al-Qaida front group warned it will hunt down and kill Sunni Arab tribal leaders who cooperate with the U.S. and its Iraqi partners, saying the assassination of the leader of the revolt against the terror movement was just a beginning. In a separate statement, the Islamic State of Iraq announced a new offensive in Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting that began this week. The statement said the offensive was in honor of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of al-Qaida in Iraq who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in June 2006. The statements were posted Friday and Saturday on Islamist Web sites and among other things claimed responsibility for the assassination of Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, who spearheaded the uprising against al-Qaida in Anbar province west of the capital. In claiming responsibility for Abu Risha's death Thursday, the Islamic State said it had formed "special security committees" to track down and "assassinate the tribal figures, the traitors, who stained the reputations of the real tribes by submitting to the soldiers of the Crusade" and the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We will publish lists of names of the tribal figures to scandalize them in front of our blessed tribes," the statement added. In a second statement posted Saturday, the purported head of the Islamic State, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, said he was "honored to announce" the new offensive in memory of al-Zarqawi. What an 'honor'. "Today we witness the fallacy of the Western civilization and the renaissance of the Islamic giant," al-Baghdadi said in a half-hour audio file. U.S. officials hope Abu Risha's death will not reverse the tide against al-Qaida, which began last year when he organized Sunni clans to fight the terror movement, producing a dramatic turnaround in Ramadi and other parts of Anbar province. If this turns the tribes back to AQ then they were never turned our way to before. And they will get what they deserve - destruction by the Shia. The revolt has spread to Sunni insurgent groups in Baghdad, Diyala province and elsewhere. Some insurgents who were ambushing U.S. troops a few months ago are now working alongside the Americans to rid their communities of al-Qaida. Abu Risha's brother Ahmed was elected head of the Anbar Awakening movement soon after the bombing at the family's heavily guarded compound on the outskirts of Ramadi. The national Interior Ministry announced that a police brigade would be named after the slain tribal leader and a statue would be erected in Ramadi in his honor. "We condemn the killing of Abu Risha, but this will not deter us from helping the people of Anbar — we will support them more than before," al-Rubaie declared. "It is a national disaster and a great loss for the Iraqi people — Abu Risha was the only person to confront al-Qaida in Anbar." |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #8 "Now, I swear to God, if we will hear anyone is with al-Qaeda, even if he is still inside his mother's womb, we will kill him." That's the spirit! |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-09-15 18:00 |
| #7 According to an NPR report yesterday, one of Mr. Abu Risha's brothers has already stepped up to take his place at the head of the Anbar Awakening. While of course not the same, the courage and commitment are clearly shared -- he willingly puts himself and his family at proved risk of death or worse for what must be a worthwhile cause. Perhaps Iraq is starting to find her Patrick Henrys. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-15 17:22 |
| #6 We can see how Baghdadi intends to honor the "traditional time of forgiveness and confronting one's humanity." Sometimes the threats and takiyya come so close together it makes your head spin. |
| Posted by: Baba Tutu 2007-09-15 15:56 |
| #5 This just in: Who's Your Baghdaddy has now just announced he is none other than the Dread Pirate Roberts. |
| Posted by: doc 2007-09-15 15:47 |
| #4 "Today we witness the fallacy of the Western civilization importing democracy to Muslims All fixed. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-15 14:58 |
| #3 Hatfield, meet McCoy. McCoy, Hatfield. See ya in seven generations. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-09-15 14:45 |
| #2 The yahoo story downplays it, but this seems only to have strengthened the resolve of the Sunnis. This quote from the Wash Post version stood out (h/t to The Corner): "Now, I swear to God, if we will hear anyone is with al-Qaeda, even if he is still inside his mother's womb, we will kill him." - Ali Hatem Ali Suleiman, a leader of the Dulaim confederation, the largest tribal organization in Iraq's Anbar Province. |
| Posted by: mjh 2007-09-15 13:47 |
| #1 what goes unmentioned in a lot of these reports is that Abu Risha was only 36, young and well liked. He was strong enough to encourage the fighting generation to cooperate - the same age group Binny and Doc have targetted. This is important to get the 18-35 age group of Muzzies on our side. Really reduces the recruitment center of gravity. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-09-15 10:57 |