Even Time Magazine & CNN Can’t Hide It
More confirmation of what you’ve been reading here for awhile…
Ultimately, here’s where Al Qaeda screwed up: they tried to annex Al Anbar as their own “pure Islamic state”, just as the Taliban had done with Afghanistan. They set up Sharia courts and started their own government agencies. This, combined with too many civilian casualties, pushed the Iraqi Sunnis over the edge. Ultimately, Al Qaeda intended to use Al Anbar as a resource center and staging ground for attacks against the United States of America on American soil. If the Democrats have their way, and force us to leave any time soon, this could still happen. And had we already left like Moveon.org, George Soros, Cindy Sheehan, Rahm Emmanuel, etc. would have liked, Iraq would now be a terrorist haven that would make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like Disneyland - as Lt. Colonel Turner, the C.O. of 3/7 says in my documentary series. Make no mistake. We are in no danger of losing Iraq if we stay. We are only in danger of losing Iraq simply because it isn’t happening fast enough for impatient and politically motivated Americans who are trying to make us leave. The simple truth is that America can either pay the low price of stabilizing Iraq now, or the high price of coming back and doing it later - - after we suffer more civilian casualties in attacks launched from Iraqi soil. 20 year old Marines in The Triangle of Death warned me of this over a year ago. It’s not rocket science. And another thing in the documentary: Iraqis who get angry with me for using the term “invasion” instead of “liberartion”, and Iraqis who make it clear that if the experiment of democracy works in Iraq, then the regimes of Iran and Syria are doomed. Which is why Iran and Syria are trying so hard to keep Iraq’s experiment in democracy from working. This fight is not going away. We can do it now on the cheap, or do it later on the expensive - expensive in American civilian blood.
By the way, Nic Robertson fixed my broken camera in Ramadi, saving my ass.
Time.Com
Monday, May. 14, 2007 By BOBBY GHOSH/BAGHDAD
Al-Qaeda has lost its most powerful friend in Iraq: Harith al-Dari, the country’s most influential Sunni cleric and a prominent anti-American figure, has rejected al-Qaeda’s vision of an Islamic state, telling TIME that Iraqis “will not accept such a system.” In a sharp departure from his long-standing view of the terror group, al-Dari now says al-Qaeda has “gone too far.” He also repudiates recent statements on Iraq by Osama bin Laden’s deputy, saying: “Ayman al-Zawahiri doesn’t represent Iraqis.”
As leader of the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS), the largest Sunni clerical body, al-Dari is the sect’s most prominent figure in Iraq. Many U.S. military commanders and Iraqi government officials believe he is the spiritual head of the insurgency, and accuse his son Muthanna of personally commanding a deadly terror group known as the Brigades of the 1920 Revolution (named after an anti-British uprising led by Harith al-Dari’s grandfather). Both al-Daris deny direct connection with the Brigades, but say Sunni insurgent groups are part of a legitimate, nationalist resistance to occupation. He has given religious sanction to some of the insurgency’s more controversial tactics, such as kidnapping and killing foreigners, citing precedents from Islamic history.
In the past, Harith al-Dari and other AMS figures have given at least tacit backing — and occasionally open support — to al-Qaeda, believing the terror group would help the Sunni insurgency achieve its goal of driving American forces from Iraq. But in recent months, many Sunni leaders have grown uncomfortable with al-Qaeda’s indiscriminate bombing campaign, which targets Iraqi civilians more often than U.S. forces. Now, al-Dari says, insurgent groups “have changed their view of Al-Qaeda.”
Al-Dari says the “harsh actions” — suicide bombings and attacks on civilian targets — of al-Qaeda’s foreign fighters in Iraq are “unacceptable.” He also accuses the group of trying to take over sole command of the fight against the Americans, pushing aside home-grown insurgent groups. But there may also be a personal reason for al-Dari’s change of heart: his nephew, also known as Harith and a top commander of the Brigades, was murdered by al-Qaeda in March.
But if the senior cleric’s attitude toward al-Qaeda has changed, al-Dari says he has not softened his view of the U.S. presence in Iraq. “The occupation cannot continue,” he says. “As long as the Americans are in Iraq, there will be violence.” Like other Sunni leaders — and some Shi’ite ones — he wants the Bush Administration to set a timetable for a withdrawal.
Al-Dari also remains inflexible in his hatred of the al-Maliki government, which he accuses of “serving foreign masters” — a reference to the close ties of leading Shi’ite politicians to Iran. The loathing is mutual. Top government leaders, from President Jalal Talabani on down, have described al-Dari as an inciter of ethnic and sectarian violence. Last November, the Interior Ministry issued a warrant for his arrest. Ever since, he has divided his time between several Arab states, monitoring al-Maliki’s actions from afar. Not even the Prime Minister’s recent decision to allow many former Baath Party officials back into government has impressed the Sunni cleric. “They are inviting the former Baathists to register their names, but you know what will happen after that,” he says, alluding to the murder of many former officials by Shi’ite death squads accused of operating under government protection.
Like many other Sunni leaders, al-Dari says al-Maliki’s efforts at sectarian reconciliation have been empty promises. “All he does is say, ‘Come and join us,’ ” he says. “But he doesn’t change any of the things that make us feel we are being victimized by his administration.” For there to be any meaningful reconciliation, he says, the government must first dismantle the interior and defense ministries, which are currently controlled by Shi’ite parties, and bring back some senior officers from the old army. “Once these ministries are under the control of professionals instead of sectarian interests, you will see peace returning quickly,” he says. “And then the Americans can leave with their dignity and leave us with ours.”
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Mr. al-Dari, “All he does is say, ‘Come and join us,’ it’s that simple, join the central government, stop being the ‘victim’, get over yourself and then the Americans can leave with their dignity and leave you with yours.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:31 amAn Open Letter to Senator Reid
The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 205210
Dear Senator Reid:
You were right when you said that Iraq was a lost cause, but wrong in your conclusion: it wasn’t the US and her magnificent military that was losing- it was you! You are on the wrong side of this issue- have been for years- and you now have been exposed as an incompetent…or worse.
In spite of credible classified information to the contrary, you said in a public press conference on 19 April of this year that “…the war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything.” Due to my current assignment I see the same information regarding the progress of Operation Iraqi Freedom that is presented to General Peter Pace– he’s the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, if you weren’t aware- every day. There were important pieces of operational data regarding the successes of the surge that were available to you well in advance of your ill-conceived pronouncement that you failed to consider. This colossal failure could only be due to one of two possibilities:
1. Your staff member who should have provided you the critical information failed to do so either due to ignorance or dereliction of duty. If this is the case, that individual should be fired- immediately and publicly- because his failure led to a most unfortunate situation wherein the Senate Majority Leader has made statements that give aid and comfort to our enemies while we are at war. If this staff member is not relieved of his duties immediately, then you are guilty of his dereliction as well.
2. You were provided the critical information, and you either failed to recognize the import of its message or you willfully ignored it for petty partisan purposes or to specifically demoralize soldiers in the field. The first instance shows your incompetence; the second shows your treason. Which is it, Senator?
Now that information regarding the historic turn of events in al-Anbar Province and Baghdad is being published- in legacy media venues, mind you- you are about to be unmasked as the Quisling that you are- and that goes for your House colleague from San Francisco as well. Even given the top cover provided you by a craven, sycophantic press there is nowhere for you to hide from this one. You have chosen deceit, and you now will receive disgrace…that would be the Law of the Harvest, if you recall.
Not that you possess any honor, but the honorable thing for you to do would be publicly and unconditionally to admit your mistake and explain your motivations. I advise you to do so quickly and unequivocally before charges are brought against you for aiding and abetting the enemy. If brought, the indictment would stick and a conviction is better than even odds.
Speaking of odds, the great people of Nevada know a thing or two about odds and gaming. One thing they know, Harry, is not to back a loser. For your sake I hope you have a good plan for what to do with all your free time following the next election.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:34 amWhen he gets over his hatred of the al maliki goverment and decides to be a part of the iraqi government as a real part of its establistment then Iraq is “saved”
May 16th, 2007 at 2:37 amIt is a shamne that his retorec is such that he sees the American and coalition forces in Iraq as an “occupation” when in reality this is the only thing that keeps his neck attached to the rest of him. He’s a sunni, the rest are shia. The ‘OCCUPATION’ is the only thing that keeps his head from being removed. If he could only see that everyone in Iraq COULD and SHOULD live in harmony without the need to resort to primitive retribution against a perceived enemy( always another muslim sect)then it would be a breze to get the troops to depart. Unfortunatly it seems that this is non negotiable in the weird world of the Muslim hatred of the other.
Totally OT: after a 6 month drought here in Tasmania the rains have come and the Mushrooms are blooming. Ive had fielt mustrooms for the past 6 days and I think of all you bloggers that have never tasted Tassie Mushrooms and think :Sucked in:You dont know what you’r missing. A holiday here in the fall( your spring) and a trip to my place can show all the bounty of the earth in Tasmnania.
This is why I live here.and this is why I write such weird blogs. The Mushrooms:The Mushrooms.
Just another thought from an aussie
And another thing. Tonight I saw a peice on the Aussie ABC about nancy. I was sickened by the approach by the left wing aussie ABC showing her as the “saviour” of the americans and how to wind down the war and how to stick it up GWB as fast as she can.In another world or time she would be in a cooking pot or just put out on the hillside for the dogs to eat. Except that noone has askedthe dogs yet.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:56 amI cannot believe that this peice of left wing fertaliser is the third most powerful politician in the US. If we had someone in the Aussie parliment that unpatriotic about the country there would be a couple of letters to the editors .We are just about as complacent as you yanks( opologiesm to those in the south). Backtrak: we have Bob Brown (G-d help us)against everything,forests, urban development, nuclear energy,coal fired power, beachside deveopment, urban renewal.Everything. Just name it BB is and will find accolates to back him up. Please take him away. There must be a program in upper canada to freeze the b—s off him. He is also a gay advocate, so maybe he wont go north of frisco. I have no predudice against gays so sont get stuck into me, I just hate ecofreaks.
Just another wild thought from an aussie.
and onother thing and just this: We are a day ahead of you guys there in the US so im blogging 9 hours ahead of you Texans in Dallas or Mckinney so when you see ther dayline of 2:56 as in th last post its only 8:56 at night and ive just finished work and got very angry. Except ive got a gut full of Tassie mushrooms and the peace of the REAL world is apon me.Blogs will resume after 24 hours: This is a real thought from this aussie
May 16th, 2007 at 3:06 aminteresting article in the WSJ today:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010080
Another reason while we have to press to eliminate the d’rats and their fellow defeatists. We have the initiative and can not give it up, make this bullshit from the d’rats be the death throes of the hippies having political power in this county.
The islamic’s understand the fist, and thank God GWB came out swinging, let it not be in vain.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:02 amYes, Terry, you’re right, it’s the ’shrooms.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:13 amIf they would stop fighting the “American Occupation” and put that effort into rebuilding their country. We will leave. The longer they fight, the longer we will stay. Once again just shows their backwards way of thinking. Sunni’s really need to get over themselves, espcially since they have only been the “Victims” for a short period of time compared to the terror they inflicted on the rest of the country during their rule.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:24 amCan’t believe the clinton news network broadcasted that. Bout time they showed something positive on Iraq.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:41 amThere should be no doubt where al queerda is going to form next. Iran
And Poopholesi will go and meet with the bastards, mark my words.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:16 amThe open letter to Reid that is posted above, and the postings from our Aussie friend show that all is not lost. I just wonder what is in those Tassie ’shrooms to make them so wonderful
Pat is letting us know what is going on, which we all appraciate, and are able to channel on to our elected officials so they know the public is better informed than before. This in turn is being noticed by parts of the MSM, and they may eventually start to actually get back in the business of reporting the news, and not be just a national editorial for liberal views.
I do not know if anyone else has noticed, but the very little amount of MSM news I watch on TV has become not as bad as a few months ago. I just hope the tide turns quick enough here to avoid tax increases and increased socialism.
Back on subject, it is great to read all good news out of iraq, I just wish some blind Muslim would claim pelosi as his wife through the “traditional” method. then we could ship her out of country, and get Arnold to put someone else in her place.
Positive changes are happening in Iraq, I think the MSM will be downplaying them as much as possible until they have no other choice, but when they do publish the positive actions, we all know they will be spinning them as a result of democratic initiatives. It will be up to all of us to make sure we remind the less sure that it was conservatives, Christians, Republicans, Libertarians, any and all non-leftists that help ensure the victory, and that we need to make sure good candidates are vetted for elections, and we need to keep voters active. In a way, I would like to see the Australian voting requirements enacted to an extent here, because I know that the majority of people complaining never vote.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:38 amI’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–turn and move straight into Iran because the Al Qaeda fraternity has moved that way. Keep those fuckers on the run and take Iran to a place they don’t want to go–to battle with the USA. Then take it on into Syria and continue the push until the rock throwers put their fucking rocks down or start building houses with them.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:39 amWell, for some reason this post doesn’t seem to be making it onto the site.
I had the displeasure of sitting beside Al-Dari during a prisoner release in ‘04, and meeting with him at length afterward, and all I can say is the man reeks of evil in way that even that frightening photo posted above does not do justice.
And you should see his entourage. They make the Sopranos look like Richard Simmons wannabes.
Turning his back on AQ is a good thing, but only when he denounces his support for ‘honorable resistance’ will we make any progress with the Sunni in Baghdad.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:49 amBrad- “they may eventually start to actually get back in the business of reporting the news, and not be just a national editorial for liberal views.” They don’t even understand the events they’re supposed to report, unless some lefty-lib is standing by to explain it to them.
And MikeP, you’re absolutely right, turn and move straight into Iran, but the dems are standing in the way. The Dems ARE Al Q’s last hope.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:56 amwho hoo Im back.Its midnight here and im pleased that some read my blogs.John Cunningham its not just the ’shrooms and Brad W, well come out and try them next year. they are finished. Goddamm. I realise that real changes are in effect in Iraq, I watch this site and the vids on liveleak every day. I dont think that many of my aussie mates do though. But bugger them, its my post and if I cannot persuade them that its worthwhile to really see whats going on in the world then screw them, They have to realise that there are Aussie SAS regiments in Iraq and Afghanistan laying their lives on the line so that the catmeat mufti can spout his dirty propaganda in Sydney to keep the local mujadheen braced to sing “akbar etc” when anything bad happens on the aussie ABC( just as bad as the US MSM in that the left wing propaganda is the only adgenda). I only hope that there will not be a war casulty.We have been very lucky so far. The casualty rate for aussies is about the same at WW2, US 3500, Aus 0
May 16th, 2007 at 6:28 amso far. If we lose one(1) the shit will hit the fan and the left wing and the greens will be unable to console themselves about how they sacrificed them selves so badly to stop the carnage, by holding up banners and badmouthing conservatives like me and telling the John Howard Government here that he is like bushitler and mussolini and pol pot and ad nauseam. He of course would never be like their love boys like Stalin,Mao and kim and even the poster boy fidel.They make me spew.
Keep up the good work in killing the insurgents.
Thats the message I give my adopted US soldier in Iraq.
And I mean it.
Just another thought from an aussie ( getting a little pissed)
cnn’s ratings are in the tubes is it any wonder? they are damned forever with me because of previous actions, they may never recover with the new media gaining ground.
on a side note, I went to a Letterman taping in september of 05 and the only speaking guest was ted turner, I did get a yell out of ‘please save us from our selves uncle ted’ as he walked by the line outside. couple of angry looks and a loud laugh from a Texan next to me. even in that bastion of liberalism when turner made a swipe at the war in Iraq the crowd went dead silent….fuck cnn and any associations
May 16th, 2007 at 6:42 amTo Flytdoc
May 16th, 2007 at 6:48 amAmen.
@thepointyend:
totally agree with you. I’d rather see Al-Dari strung up on the gallows than be his “ally.” His pullout from AQ is one thing, but he is still a murderous bastard who would like to see America crumble. I hate it when the hand is pushed to use “my enemies enemy is my friend.”
Steve in NC:
haha. fuck ted turner. i wish i could have seen his face.
I hope the abandonment of AQ in Iraq pays off, but the bombs are still blowing up all over Diyala. Desperate acts of a dying resistance?
May 16th, 2007 at 7:34 amWASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation that would cut off money for combat operations in Iraq after March 31, 2008.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:45 amDRUDGE
I’ve been following al-Dari for years…He’s a 100% slimy Islamofascist fxxking pig (a big Saddamite, too), and a natural puppet and throat-cutter for AQ…For him to give up on AQ is indeed the last straw, if they can’t get him on their team they have blown it.
But it won’t save his sorry ass, he has way too much blood on his hands…We need to JDAM him as soon as Diyalah is deverminized.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:08 amWhat’s the saying?
“Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer”.
I’m with @thepointyend & EZRider on this. That bastard is evil… but like it’s a first time the US has had to deal w/ devils? Also I simply think this as a sign that Al-Dari knows what horse to back…
a very good sign for our liberation of Iraq.
btw: I think Ted Turner is one evil turd too.
Glad it’s not up to me to judge any of them.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:10 amFTL,
I agree with the others as well, and with the saying of keeping your enemies closer. Like anything political, one needs to chose the lesser of two evils. Whether this guy ever realizes that the US will get out when the Iraqis can run things without all the killings only time will tell. But at least we are getting more and higher profile local allies, which proves the surge is working. What the libels and MSM refuse to admit is that in any type of war, people will be killed, the only way to avoid that is to always surrender, and submit to the invaders demands, which in this case would likely cause the deaths of millions of non-muslims.
I really thing Terry’s shrooms are of the type not legally available in the US
Infidel, you have a good point about the MSM needing a lib to provide definitions, but I also feel that the MSM and libels would have a terrible time finding the truth with a map and sherpa guide… Which is the same problem most of them have with finding their asses…
May 16th, 2007 at 12:21 pmTerry, trust me, I understand, you’re allowed to have feelings and they do rush through. Far be it from to throw ’shrooms, I mean stones. It’s the thought that counts.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:37 pmwith al-dari as with so many islamists they will talk out of 2 sides of their mouths to get what they want. He speaks as if he represents all iraqis yet this asshole was silent when saddam was killing shiites and kurds. he had the good life and it was stolen from him by america. Now he just hates us a little less than alqaida whom he realizes wants to occupy iraq like he percieves america to be doing. If he could kill us both he would and he is probably still oraganizing raids on both parties.
i say we use him like he is using us, then when peace is assured frag his ass with an ied.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:30 amBrad–Yep! They have a problem finding their asses without some leftist lib
to say “Hey it’s right there on your shoulders.”
May 17th, 2007 at 3:32 amWhile we are talking about evil, let’s talk about the out dated “Geneva Convention”. Why can’t we play by the same rules the enemy does. I always hear people saying you treat the enemy the way you would want to be treated if you were captured! That’s total BULLSHIT when the enemy are cowards! My son is deployed in Ramadi and the advise we gave him is you fight til the end! I really feel for the families of the missing GI’s.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:41 pmNow about the missing GI’s
May 18th, 2007 at 3:40 amIts really noteworthy that the only people who REALLY try to get their wounded and dead soldiers back are WE, the band of brothers in the west, The US, Australia, Israel and the Brits.The terrorists have no such feelings for their soldiers (if you could call them that)they are left on the field either blown to bits (uggh) or left to their own devices. Usually this means prison and seeing that we in the west abhor killing they just stay in prison, whereas captured westerners are beheaded on TV for the orgasmic delight of the ragheads. We have a different slant on life than those fuckers and maybe,maybe in a time not too distant we may even take a leaf from theit koran and treat the mutherfuckes the same way they treat us. Roll on