Iraq's Maliki Bracing For An Al Qaida Surge As U.S. Withdraws

[Devin]

Had this discussion several places so why not here...Iraq is going to disintegrate into a
bowl of broken pieces as soon as coalition forces pull out unless someone can pull off
a Holy Mary rescue. I'd like to hear from the board's seasoned members on this one.


Iraq's Maliki Bracing For An Al Qaida Surge As U.S. Withdraws

Iraq's Maliki is bracing for an Al Qaida surge as U.S. withdraws

BAGHDAD — Iraq has concluded that Al Qaida would intensify operations as
the U.S. military withdraws from cities throughout the country.

Officials said the Baghdad government and military have assessed that Al
Qaida would expand operations, particularly against Iraqi security forces
and Shi'ites. They said AQI would seek to exploit the withdrawal of the U.S.
military from cities, particularly Baghdad, Baqubah and Mosul.

"The attacks will be stronger," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said.
"They will try to give the impression that Iraqi forces have failed in their
duty with the withdrawal of multinational forces approaching."

In a June 11 address to his Cabinet and military command, Al Maliki said
Al Qaida would also expand operations to Shi'ite provinces. He cited the
bombing in the Shi'ite province of Dhi Qar, in which 32 people were killed
on June 10. Dhi Qar has been deemed the quietest of Iraq's 18 provinces.

"This is a political message that says attacking a market is an attempt to
bring back sectarianism," Al Maliki said.

Officials said AQI carried out the car bombing in the market of Batha, a town
in Dhi Qar. They said two Al Qaida operatives, based outside the province,
have been arrested and linked to the car loaded with rockets and explosives.

The Iraq Army has also been bracing for an AQI resurgence in the Diyala
province. Until 2009, Diyala was used as a launching pad for suicide bombings
in Baghdad.

Amid the redeployment, the U.S. military has also been reducing its presence
in detention camps around Iraq. The military plans to transfer three detention
camps, filled with suspected AQI insurgents, to the Baghdad government by
August 2010.

Officials said AQI as well as other insurgents were accumulating weapons in
what could mark a power struggle in wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi
cities on June 30. On June 9, the Defense Ministry said Iraq Army troops
found 15 tons of weapons and explosives in a cache in southern Baghdad.
This was believed to have been the largest cache ever found in Iraq. MORE>>>>

 

[Xenophon]

Thewy have to stand up for themselves sooner or later.

We gave them more then enough lives and money to make a new start, now its up to them.

If they can't handle running their country they don't deserve a country at this point.

 

[editec]

Is the irony that there was no threat to Iraq from Alqaida BEFORE we took over that nation sinking in, yet?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Ya remind us how there is no problem with announcing when we are leaving again.

Ya instead of terrorists they were being murdered, kidnapped, raped and tortured by their Government. Remember the mass graves?

 

[editec]

Ya remind us how there is no problem with announcing when we are leaving again.

Okay, there is no problem with announcing we are leaving. I don't know if this is too difficult for you to understand but they'd probably notice if we started leaving, anyway.

Ya instead of terrorists they were being murdered, kidnapped, raped and tortured by their Government. Remember the mass graves?

I sure do remember what a piece of shit Saddam was.

Don't you wish we'd realized that BEFORE your right wing pals gave him poison gas and military aid?

 

[Sunni Man]

We have killed far more Iraqies than Saddam ever did

 

[MaggieMae]

Ya remind us how there is no problem with announcing when we are leaving again. The June 30th deadline came from Iraq's government, Maliki himself.

Ya instead of terrorists they were being murdered, kidnapped, raped and tortured by their Government. Remember the mass graves?

Ya, where was Reagan?