Steep Decline In Jihadis Entering Iraq
Washington (AFP) Nov 21, 2007
The number of foreign combatants with Al-Qaeda ties in Iraq is down markedly in recent months, top US commander David Petraeus said in an interview published Wednesday, thanks largely to “more robust” interdiction efforts by Syria.
“We have a formula to estimate how many foreign fighters come in a month. We think there’s been a reduction by a third or maybe more than that,” Petraeus told The Wall Street Journal.
“In general, the intelligence is that we have seen a reduction in that flow,” he said.
In the past, the United States has accused Damascus of failing to do enough to stem the flow of foreign fighters across its shared border with Iraq.
Now however, although the US general attributed the reduction to “no single factor,” he credited efforts by Damascus in large part.
“There does appear to have been more robust action by Syria against some foreign fighter networks,” said Petraeus, who cited efforts “to make it harder for military-age males to travel from a city to Damascus on a one-way airticket.”
Petraeus said Syria also has moved “to tighten the border ports of entry to Iraq, to look at traditional smuggling routes.”
Those inroads, among other factors, have helped brighten US prospects of subduing the stubborn Al-Qaeda-fed insurgency in Iraq.
While the terror network “remains a very significant element of the security situation in Iraq … it is a threat that has been diminished over the past six to eight months in particular,” Petraeus told the Wall Street Journal.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Them Homies ain’t gonna make it to their next Gig are they? Hell, that one Vato is wearing white socks; everyone knows you ain’t gonna get no Hynas unless all your creases match! Were they headed to a Quinceanera to pick up their 72 virgins?
Anyways; Just like in Riverside where there are some areas where the Riff Raff just don’t go unless they want to be the next Rodney King story… It appears that the same is becoming true of Iraq; They have learned that “If you want to come here and start shit, then be prepared for the consequences”!
As for Syria’s “Robust Action”; I wouldn’t be surprised if they were cashing in on that return airfare to fund their own Action! But, if Petraeus is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, then I can’t argue with the logic behind it (I’ll be Skeptically Optimistic)…
November 21st, 2007 at 11:44 pmNot so sure that pic is of dead jihadis. One looks asian,
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 amand they are all laying close together in a row. MAkes it look like a execution style killing…