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2005-04-19 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Steve 2005-04-19 10:06:49 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 If the "insurgency" gravitates to this lawless (read: tribal - same thing as far as the Govt is concerned) region - that is a good / great thing.

The Sunni support for the terrs is partially based on the fact that they have not seen or felt the real brunt of war-fighting - even now. For two years the Shi'a areas, for the majority of intense military action and terr activity, have been the "battlefield" and the tribal leaders in the Sunni areas have been able to play both ends against each other - probably profiting from both sides for their "cooperation".

But the change is well under way. The attacks are gravitating homeward, to Sunni Iraq, as the Iraqi forces gain competence and acceptance and, deep breath here, support from the Shi'a.

When the asshats are blowing up Sunnis and Sunnis die in sufficient pointless numbers - and the bribery for support and transit no longer pays the Sunni tribal assholes - and the military money for reconstruction dries up because the violence has to stop first -- then, and only then, will the tribal leaders see it is in their interest to turn over / double-cross the bad guys and get the money flow from the military going again. When it hurts enough, they'll flip. This is the aspect that so completely infuriates me about Arabs, Afghans, et al, being for sale to the highest bidder, but aspects of it can be turned to advantage without becoming like them. Just bring the pain close enough to home, make it intense enough, withhold funds due to the violence, and they'll get it. The key is that they'll have to come to you for a deal, instead of the other way around. Then you are in position to make demands - and judge the results, before you release the reconstruction funds - which they'll pilfer, of course. They're really good at this obsequious shit, when they have no better choice... so good they put gold-digging money-grubbing whores to shame. The worm has turned.

Posted by .com 2005-04-19 11:27:21 AM|| 2005-04-19 11:27:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 The above begs the question. Does anybody have a handle on the number of Sunni fatalities caused by the terrorists in Sunnistan. My sense is that the vast majority of the civilian fatalities are in Shiastan or in the Baghdada area or at recruiting stations known to be frequented by Shias.

Posted by mhw 2005-04-19 12:35:35 PM|| 2005-04-19 12:35:35 PM|| Front Page Top

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