Zarqawi: Why we're still in Iraq.
On Sunday Evening early reports from Iraq indicated that Abu Musab al Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq just might may have been killed during a raid on an organization safehouse in Mosul. In any event at least eight terrorists were killed during the firefight. Three of the targets died by setting off explosives to take their own lives rather than be captured, confirming the reliability of the intelligence behind the raid. Eight members of al-Qaeda in Iraq are now dead. Terrorists, insurgents against democracy, members of an organization that beheads Americans and targets other Arabs even fellow Sunnis for suicide bombings.
The anti war movement, including members of the media and Democratic members of congress would have us believe that the current state of the war in Iraq indicates that we are losing the War on Terror. They claim that the situation in Iraq is dissolving into chaos. This despite the evidence of the elections and the new constitution. So it is unlikely that this raid will dissuade them, but it is none the less another significant indicator that we are making a difference in Iraq.
It is not merely that the raid destroyed an active cell of terrorist insurgents, dedicated to the destroying democracy in Iraq, and attacking America’s interests everywhere, though that is significant. It is also indicates that the security situation in Iraq is not as bad as the press reports, that focus on American casualties, would have us believe. The kind of intelligence, in this case a reliable tip, that leads to successful raids like this, only happens when ordinary people feel safe passing on information to American or Iraqi forces.
It would appear that al-Qaeda in Iraq miscalculated the atmosphere in Mosul, they obviously thought they would be safe there. But the someone in that city recognized that Mosul was better off without them. American commanders claim that intelligence about insurgents has continued to improve, which in turn indicates that in much of Iraq the security situation has improved. Every raid that nets another real insurgent makes ordinary Iraqis more willing to inform provide information.
This is not to say that the struggle is decided. Obviously this is a war, and al-Qaeda and Zarqawi, if he lives, can still operate where the people are supportive or cowed. But for those who still cannot see any link between Iraq and the War on Terror, al-Zarqawi offers a counterpoint. Whether or not there was a link at the war’s onset, there is now.
President Bush since September 11, 2001, has repeatedly avowed America’s willingness to “Hunt down terrorists, wherever they are.” Many of them, like Zarqawi, are in Iraq. Zarqawi has equaled or eclipsed bin Laden as the symbol of radical Islam’s hatred of America. When America chose to destroy Saddam’s despotic regime Zarqawi leapt into the fray, hoping to replace Hussein’s regime with al-Qaeda’s theocratic vision of rule, opposing America’s vision of Democracy. In 2004 Zarqawi formally proclaimed his allegiance to bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
Terrorism lives in Iraq. With or without Zarqawi, it will continue to try to nest there. Voices in America who are weary of this war, forget who it is we are fighting against. Some advocate an immediate pull out, others talk of a reasoned “withdrawal.” But unless they have a plan for defeating the forces of the insurgency, they are ignoring the facts.
The insurgents in Iraq are fighting to destroy a democracy. A few thousand violent insurgents are out to overcome the will of the millions of voters who turned out in the last two elections. The insurgency includes at least one faction that considers itself al-Qaeda’s franchise in Iraq. A franchise of the same al-Qaeda that has repeatedly declared war on the US. A franchise of the same group that attacked American interests over and over again. That attacked America itself on September 11, 2001. the antiwar movement wants us out of Iraq. After overthrowing Hussein, are we really willing to abandon Iraq to Zarqawi, or his heirs in al-Qaeda in Iraq?
The anti war movement, including members of the media and Democratic members of congress would have us believe that the current state of the war in Iraq indicates that we are losing the War on Terror. They claim that the situation in Iraq is dissolving into chaos. This despite the evidence of the elections and the new constitution. So it is unlikely that this raid will dissuade them, but it is none the less another significant indicator that we are making a difference in Iraq.
It is not merely that the raid destroyed an active cell of terrorist insurgents, dedicated to the destroying democracy in Iraq, and attacking America’s interests everywhere, though that is significant. It is also indicates that the security situation in Iraq is not as bad as the press reports, that focus on American casualties, would have us believe. The kind of intelligence, in this case a reliable tip, that leads to successful raids like this, only happens when ordinary people feel safe passing on information to American or Iraqi forces.
It would appear that al-Qaeda in Iraq miscalculated the atmosphere in Mosul, they obviously thought they would be safe there. But the someone in that city recognized that Mosul was better off without them. American commanders claim that intelligence about insurgents has continued to improve, which in turn indicates that in much of Iraq the security situation has improved. Every raid that nets another real insurgent makes ordinary Iraqis more willing to inform provide information.
This is not to say that the struggle is decided. Obviously this is a war, and al-Qaeda and Zarqawi, if he lives, can still operate where the people are supportive or cowed. But for those who still cannot see any link between Iraq and the War on Terror, al-Zarqawi offers a counterpoint. Whether or not there was a link at the war’s onset, there is now.
President Bush since September 11, 2001, has repeatedly avowed America’s willingness to “Hunt down terrorists, wherever they are.” Many of them, like Zarqawi, are in Iraq. Zarqawi has equaled or eclipsed bin Laden as the symbol of radical Islam’s hatred of America. When America chose to destroy Saddam’s despotic regime Zarqawi leapt into the fray, hoping to replace Hussein’s regime with al-Qaeda’s theocratic vision of rule, opposing America’s vision of Democracy. In 2004 Zarqawi formally proclaimed his allegiance to bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
Terrorism lives in Iraq. With or without Zarqawi, it will continue to try to nest there. Voices in America who are weary of this war, forget who it is we are fighting against. Some advocate an immediate pull out, others talk of a reasoned “withdrawal.” But unless they have a plan for defeating the forces of the insurgency, they are ignoring the facts.
The insurgents in Iraq are fighting to destroy a democracy. A few thousand violent insurgents are out to overcome the will of the millions of voters who turned out in the last two elections. The insurgency includes at least one faction that considers itself al-Qaeda’s franchise in Iraq. A franchise of the same al-Qaeda that has repeatedly declared war on the US. A franchise of the same group that attacked American interests over and over again. That attacked America itself on September 11, 2001. the antiwar movement wants us out of Iraq. After overthrowing Hussein, are we really willing to abandon Iraq to Zarqawi, or his heirs in al-Qaeda in Iraq?
posted by John Byrnes at 11/20/2005 10:34:00 PM
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