Al Qaeda’s Failed Ramadan
As insurgent groups continue to turn on them….
From The Long War Journal:
With the onset of Ramadan, the Muslim religious holiday of fasting and prayer, al Qaeda and the Sunni insurgents have historically increased the number of attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. The number of attacks and casualties have traditionally spiked during this time frame as al Qaeda has promoted the notion that “martyrs” killed during the holy month will receive special consideration in paradise upon committing their murders. But since the beginning of Ramadan on September 13, attacks and deaths in Iraq have plummeted.
As of September 30, attacks throughout Iraq have dropped by 38 percent, Brigadier General Mark Gurganus, the ground combat commander in Anbar province reported. In Anbar province, the attacks declined from 415 during one week in 2006 to roughly 90 during the same period this year.
Al Qaeda in Iraq has been largely unable to conduct mass casualty suicide attacks inside Baghdad, and large-scale attacks in the provinces have been rare. The most significant strikes occurred in Diyala and Anbar provinces. But both attacks were related to al Qaeda’s modified Ramadan offensive: a campaign of assassinations targeting tribal leaders organizing their resources to fight al Qaeda in Iraq.
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For some reason, I have a song trying to form in my head:
“Ram, Ram, Ram it down;
Ram, Ram, Ram it down;
Ram, Ram, Ram it down
Their throats,
… ”