U.S. troops gone, al Qaeda makes Iraq peace elusive

[Dat1111]

If Iraqis were hoping that the withdrawal of U.S. forces last year would finally mean the end of war, al Qaeda and its Sunni militant allies are determined to prove otherwise.

Daily bombings and shootings remain an endemic feature of life. In the past three months, al Qaeda-linked fighters have been blamed for attacks that have killed at least 250 people.

In a particularly poignant reminder of militants' potency this week, gunmen in unauthorized uniforms of special commandos drove from checkpoint to checkpoint in the western town of Haditha before dawn, gunning down police. They killed 27 including two officers dragged from their homes and slain in the street.

A return to the all-out sectarian slaughter that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis in 2006-07 is unlikely. Nor are al Qaeda fighters threatening to again impose their rule over whole swathes of Iraq as they did in the early years after the U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

But unlike Shi'ite militia groups - which have largely declared they are ready to lay down arms now that U.S. troops have left - al Qaeda and other Sunni groups have shown no sign of giving up the fight. And Iraq's security forces show little sign of the wherewithal to vanquish them once and for all.

But unlike Shi'ite militia groups - which have largely declared they are ready to lay down arms now that U.S. troops have left - al Qaeda and other Sunni groups have shown no sign of giving up the fight. And Iraq's security forces show little sign of the wherewithal to vanquish them once and for all.

Yup no alqaeda here.. I just hope were still helping the iraqis out


http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8280OH20120309

[Dat1111]

INTELLIGENCE FAILURE

INTELLIGENCE FAILURE

Iraqi troops privately say a lack of intelligence-gathering capability is their biggest hurdle in combating al Qaeda. Without the ability to deeply analyze information, they have little choice but to mount raids as soon as tips come in.

"We don't have the technology or the experience," said Adnan, a veteran soldier who joined the army in 2003 after the fall of Saddam. He did not give his full name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"Now, whenever we get any information we act on it. We raid, we ambush. We don't delay, we don't check to see the validity of the information," he said.

With low pay in a stressful job, the security forces are susceptible to infiltration by militants.

"The biggest weakness is that of a soldier who is in cahoots with them. They exploit him and tell him to keep quiet about attacks," said Adnan.

The security forces are vast and decentralized, and training is inconsistent. Units each have their own operating procedures and dress themselves in an array of non-standard uniforms that can be bought in any street market, which makes it easy for militants to pose as members of the security forces.

Some checkpoints stop cars and search them. At others, policemen can be spotted leaning against lightpoles, smoking cigarettes and waving cars through with barely a glance.

John Drake, senior risk consultant with security firm AKE Group, said the security forces' own reputation for corruption and brutality had cost them the trust of the public which is vital for setting up a good intelligence operation.

"The general community in many of the most hazardous areas in Iraq do not trust the police forces. Officers in the past have been involved in kidnap and extortion and it is going to take a long time for public trust to return," he said.

"Until then, the people will not provide them with information on suspicious activity. They will not provide them with warnings of potential infiltration of militants."

Iraqi troops privately say a lack of intelligence-gathering capability is their biggest hurdle in combating al Qaeda. Without the ability to deeply analyze information, they have little choice but to mount raids as soon as tips come in.

"We don't have the technology or the experience," said Adnan, a veteran soldier who joined the army in 2003 after the fall of Saddam. He did not give his full name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8280OH20120309


And If Syria falls. Im betting that the islamists fighting there WILL SHIFT straight into Iraq

[Wimbly]

Originally Posted by Dat1111

Yup no alqaeda here.. I just hope were still helping the iraqis out

Shadow boxing again Dat? Don't pretend there's a single person here who thinks there's no AQ in Iraq. BTW you have Bush to thank for that.

[figatova]

I doubt violence will stop while the US puppet Iraqi government and SOFA remain in place. That's what happens when you invade a country and take over their sovereignty, the locals get angry.

[Chained]

Was there al Qaeda before the iraq invasion?

[Dat1111]

Originally Posted by Chained

Was there al Qaeda before the iraq invasion?

Affialiates of course.. Butt buddies.. Ansar al islam

[OCEANBLUE]

its all good now dat. The imoptant shit is in US and coalition countries hands!

[YWAHW]

Is the oil still flowing? That is all that really matters.