Foreign Fighters Fleeing Iraq
Can’t handle the little Sunni kids who have turned against them…name that rifle anybody?
USA Today:
A growing number of foreign fighters are leaving or attempting to flee Iraq as U.S. and Iraqi forces have weakened al-Qaeda and forced its members from former strongholds, U.S. military officials say.
The trend reflects a broad disenchantment among foreign fighters, particularly since al-Qaeda has lost sanctuaries in parts of Baghdad and Anbar, a Sunni province west of the capital, U.S. military intelligence officials say.
“They’re being told in their countries of origin by facilitators that, ‘Hey, we’re basically winning the war against the apostates,’ ” said Brig. Gen. Michael Flynn, intelligence director for Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East. “They go there and find out it’s not quite the case.”
Foreign militants constitute about 10% of al-Qaeda’s strength in Iraq, but Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said they make up about 90% of the suicide bombers.
The departure of some fighters doesn’t mean al-Qaeda is quitting the fight, said Brig. Gen. Brian Keller, the chief intelligence officer for the U.S. command in Iraq. “We’re just starting to see more and more fissures in the morale and leadership of al-Qaeda in Iraq,” he said.
Recently, families of about 20 Algerians in Iraq who the military suspects are foreign fighters contacted the Algerian government and said the men were seeking safe passage out of Iraq. The Algerian government contacted the Iraqi government to seek information about the group, Keller said.
The Algerians have not surfaced, but Keller said separate intelligence shows they exist.
The number of foreign fighters entering Iraq has declined to about 40 to 50 a month from a high of about 120 a month last year, according to Multi-National Force-Iraq. Most enter from Syria.
There are about 240 foreigners out of the 23,000 detainees in U.S. custody, according to Air Force Capt. Rose Richeson, a spokeswoman for detainee operations in Iraq. The bulk of the foreigners are from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria.
The foreign militants are usually young men in their early 20s who grew up in large families and “found it hard to be noticed, to make their own mark in life,” Smith said in Baghdad recently. “In most cases, they were lonely, impressionable young men” seeking “recognition and acceptance.”
Those details, Smith said, were based on interviews with 48 foreign fighters held in Iraq.
Many were lured with the promise of killing Americans but learned on arrival that their attacks would be directed at fellow Muslims, Smith said. Some were pressured to be suicide bombers, he said.
Foreigners dominate the top of al-Qaeda’s organization in Iraq, including Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian who heads al-Qaeda in Iraq. U.S. intelligence officials watch for signs that would indicate al-Qaeda wants to cut its losses in Iraq and possibly go elsewhere.
Though some foreign fighters are leaving Iraq, it’s hard to translate tactical gains there into an overall defeat of global al-Qaeda, said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.
“What we’ve learned over the last several years is the resiliency of these organizations because of their sort of horizontal organization,” Reed told C-SPAN’s Newsmakers. “It’s not a hierarchy where you take out the leader and they’re set back for years.”
Iraq has warned neighboring countries that al-Qaeda militants will attempt to create problems elsewhere as they are forced from Iraq, said Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman.
“These people will not give up,” al-Dabbagh said. “They … need to practice jihad,” or holy war.
Before February 2007, estimates of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s strength varied widely, from 5,000 to 10,000 members, according to U.S. military statistics. By December 2007, the group was estimated to have 2,800 to 3,900 members. The latest estimates put the number at 1,800 to 2,800.
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.
H&K G36
March 21st, 2008 at 6:18 pm“The latest estimates put the number at 1,800 to 2,800.”
We are winning the war
To all the hippies out there, hate to say i told you so but, I TOLD YOU SO!
March 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pmLooks like a H&K G3 …
March 21st, 2008 at 6:20 pmYeah, not cheap, either. That’s like getting a car for Christmas when you’re 8.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pmOr at least an iPhone, Blu-Ray DVD player, and X-Box all at the same time.
Darn…i was gonna say Iranian Khaybar.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:24 pmYeah Iranian copy of the german G3….. Which by the way is technically an improvement of the spanish developed [ albeit with german designers ] CETME rifle…… a little history for youz guys….
March 21st, 2008 at 6:45 pmJust interested, is it a 308?
March 21st, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Looks like a piece of crap rifle. But if it is helping to drive the mo-fo out of Iraq, then great.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:59 pmAnd to all the left-wing yahoos in our nation, STFU.
That would be a H&K G3 I believe. Have one myself, though it’s very hard to keep maintained, I am very surprised the kid managed to get one.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:26 pmStandard G3A3, 7.62×51 NATO (.308 Win).
Thousands were used during the Iran/Iraq war in the 1980’s.
Kid might have it because ammo for the G3 might be scarce in Iraq which is flush with 7.62×39 for the Kalashnikov, just a hunch.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pmHey, wasn’t Mar. 20 the date on which the new, devastating
AQ attack strategy would be demonstrated to wobbly foreign supporters and the world? Notice anything unusual?
Me, either.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pmHajji, you can run, but you’ll only die tired.
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 amHey Pat, maybe his dad brought it back as a trophy from the Iran-Iraq war.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:38 amim wondering will the kid be able to handle the recoil, i mean its a .308, he’ll be better off with a shrot AK..or better off maybe with a book in a hand…other than that rifle is reliable, somewhat accurate and inexpencive - about $400…i like the M14 though
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 amThe little guy ought to be at home playing with his brothers and sisters…
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 amWe used to find quite a few of those in Iraq.
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 amFN FAL 7.62 NATO round.
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 amFN FAL vs HK G3 by a Master of Small Arms Dick Culver..
Please Support This Forums Sponsor
Please Support our Sponsors
[ Turner Slings | Otis Cleaning Kits |Scott Duff |Dean’s Gun Restorations | Fulton Armory ]
[CSP FORUM RULES|CSP Shopper Classified]
Please Visit Our Other Forums
[Gun Talk | M1/M14|1903 Forum|Cast Bullet | Lee Enfield| Smallbore| M1 Carbine| 1917 Enfield| 50cal ]
[M16A2/AR15A2| FAL| 1911/1911A1 Pistol| Political| Knife&Bayonet| On the Firing Line| Glock| Trapdoor]
[ Mauser Rifle| Reloading| Military Shotgun| Johnson Rifle| Martini-Henry| Book & Movie Reviews| Krag]
[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]
Re: HK 91 vs FAL - opinions
Posted By: Dick Culver
Date: Sat 11 Aug 2007 11:02 pm
In Response To: HK 91 vs FAL - opinions (General Woundwort)
Culver’s Opinion…
Again, I’ve taught both the FN/FAL and the HK-91 (we called ‘em the G3) extensively. In my opinion, the FN/FAL is much the better weapon! I taught both the standard HK91/G3 and the folding stock versions. Again, I do NOT like the roller locking system, although I much appreciate the fact that the HK is reparable by a “towel-head” on a flat rock! Conversely it does NOT hold its zero as well as the FN, and is much heavier than it needs to be! Incidentally, I had TWO G3s blow up on me in one 15-minute exercise using a modified “Rattle Battle” scenario. We were using HK manufactured rifles and good ammunition (we chronographed the ammunition following the “blow-ups”)… I was not impressed!
The FN is a better weapon (in my opinion) and holds its zero better. I prefer it from a standpoint of performance and aesthetics, (and “feel/balance” which often counts for a bunch). I’m definitely NOT a fan of the HK family of long guns.
That having been said, the M14 (and its cousin the M1A) hold their zero even better than the FN… Of course, again in my opinion, the M14 (but NOT its squad automatic version) was the best United States Service Rifle ever produced. Decent looking (of course I was raised with the M1/M14 family of long guns), and fully functional (although the full auto version sucks canal water!). We screwed up mightily when we went to the Matty Mattel!
The M14 forever!
Semper Fidelis,
Dick (OFC)
Messages In This Thread
HK 91 vs FAL - opinions (views: 302) — General Woundwort — Fri 13 Jul 2007 5:12 am
Re: HK 91 vs FAL - opinions (views: 219) — Paul S. — Fri 13 Jul 2007 9:39 am
Both are quality weapons (views: 171) — Lance White — Mon 16 Jul 2007 5:21 am
Re: Both are quality weapons (views: 176) — Col. Faulkner — Wed 1 Aug 2007 8:09 pm
Re: Both are quality weapons (views: 166) — Raffer Jaunders — Fri 3 Aug 2007 11:13 am
Re: Both are quality weapons (views: 151) — Col. Faulkner — Fri 3 Aug 2007 12:00 pm
Re: Both are quality weapons (views: 127) — raffer janders — Sat 4 Aug 2007 7:11 pm
Re: Both are quality weapons (views: 128) — Col. Faulkner — Sat 4 Aug 2007 8:01 pm
r . i. p. (views: 104) — raffer jaunders — Sun 5 Aug 2007 3:25 pm
r . i. p. (views: 95) — raffer jaunders — Sun 5 Aug 2007 3:26 pm
Re: r . i. p. (views: 81) — Col. Faulkner — Mon 6 Aug 2007 7:10 am
Re: r . i. p. (views: 91) — raffer jaunders — Tues 7 Aug 2007 7:30 pm
Re: r . i. p. (views: 62) — Col. Faulkner — Wed 8 Aug 2007 12:31 pm
the next generation (views: 76) — raffer jaunders — Wed 8 Aug 2007 5:40 pm
Re: the next generation (views: 76) — Col. Faulkner — Thur 9 Aug 2007 6:45 am
“You were fabulous with a little garlic” (views: 106) — General Woundwort — Mon 6 Aug 2007 9:20 am
and lets all take a bow for our impromptu skit (views: 71) — raffer jaunders — Tues 7 Aug 2007 7:22 pm
After performance party in Kalima village…. (views: 70) — General Woundwort — Thur 9 Aug 2007 4:23 pm
Re: “You were fabulous with a little garlic” (views: 80) — raffer jaunders — Tues 7 Aug 2007 7:24 pm
ADMIN! Re: HK 91 vs FAL - opinions (views: 169) — Dick Culver — Sat 11 Aug 2007 11:02 pm
Post Response
——————————————————————————–
Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:
To include a link to another page with your message,
provide both the URL address and the title of the page:
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
To include an image (picture) with your message,
provide the URL address of the image file:
Optional Image URL:
If necessary, enter your password below:
Password:
Save Password: Yes No
Email me when a reply is posted
——————————————————————————–
[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]
FN FAL Forum is maintained by CSP GUN TALK with WebBBS 5.12.
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 amIs the prize for selecting the gun maker and model a T-Shirt?
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm