Iraqi tribes in Anbar arrest 270 Arab and foreign al-Qaeda members!

[AMDScooter]

Amazing, I have not seen this reported in ANY Western publication at all??!! Seems like a pretty darn significant event IMHO.

Iraqi tribes in Anbar arrest 270 Arab and foreign al-Qaeda members!

Friday, January 27, 2006

Iraqi tribes in Anbar arrest 270 Arab and foreign al-Qaeda members!
From Dar al-Hayat (Arabic):

The Anbar tribes’ campaign to rid the province of Zarqawi’s terror organization, al-Qaeda in Iraq is in its 2nd day and so far, 270 Arab and foreign intruders have been arrested.
[…]
Usama Jad’aan, the leader of Karabila tribes in Qaim told al-Hayat that “the operation will continue to eliminate terror elements according to a quality plan” and added “270 Arab and foreign intruders have been arrested, in addition to some Iraqis who were providing them shelter”.

Sheikh Jad’aan added “the operation is conducted in coordination between the tribes and the minister of defense Sa’doun al-Dulaimi and since we arrested hundreds of terrorists, I don’t expect the operation to take a lot of time”.

[IIgenTA]

Nice! It's about time these people stand up for themselves.

[TacticalNuke]

Boo-yah.

[Soundforbjt]

Good for them! If more of them would take the lead, We could bring our troops home.

[baghdad bob]

False Foreign Fighter Report

Great strides have been made to turn the native elements of the Iraqi insurgency against the al-Qaeda wing of the insurgency. Insurgent groups in Anbar province and the city of Samarra have declared war against al-Qaeda. But news the Karabilah tribe is summarly rounding up al-Qaeda without a fight should be viewed with skepticism.

Omar at Iraq The Model translates and reprints a spectacular claim by Arabic newspaper Dar al-Hayat which purports a massive operation to purge the al-Qaim region by local tribal groups is currently underway. According to Sheikh Usama Jad’aan, the leader of Karabila tribes in Qaim, “the operation will continue to eliminate terror elements according to a quality plan… 270 Arab and foreign intruders have been arrested, in addition to some Iraqis who were providing them shelter… the operation is conducted in coordination between the tribes and the minister of defense Sa’doun al-Dulaimi and since we arrested hundreds of terrorists, I don’t expect the operation to take a lot of time”.

While the news would be a positive development, it appears this story has little basis in fact. An inquiry to Lieutenant Colonel Dale Alford, the Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, whose unit is parked in the al-Qaim region and would be aware of such a massive operation, denies the report, “We have caught a number of foreign insurgents over the past couple of months and the tribes are providing us information and working with us, but nothing like the report [referenced]. The Marines of 3/6 and the Iraqi Army Brigade are still taking it to the bad guys, all while helping the people of this region rebuild there lives.” According to Captain Christopher O’Connor, the Operations Officer for the 3/6, the battalion captured five foreign fighters several nights ago.

The round up of such a large number of al-Qaeda could not occur without the knowledge of the U.S. and Iraqi military stationed in the region. The Marines and Iraqi Army units maintain battle positions in each of the towns and cities in the al-Qaim area, and would be watching this unfold. A roundup of al-Qaeda by ill-trained local tribal militias would not be a casual, routine affair. Coalition forces have fought tough battles in the region against the terrorists. al-Qaeda leaders have been known to wear suicide belts and detonate on the first sign of capture. al-Qaeda fighters would not timidly surrender to the tribes; there would be heavy fighting and militia and civilian casualties cannot be hidden for long. And there is the simple problem of what to do with over 270 violent prisoners, unless they have been summarily executed, which also would not go unnoticed.

The Karabilah tribe was one of several tribes which cooperated with al-Qaeda in the past, and may be attempting to ingratiate itself with the Iraqi government and working to mitigate the ill-will it accumulated while supporting with the terrorists. The word of the head of the Karabilah tribe alone should not be taken as evidence of a massive roundup in al-Qaim, as an operation of this scale would leave a wide footprint, one that could not be missed.

bb

[Orangutan]

The word of the head of the Karabilah tribe alone should not be taken as evidence of a massive roundup in al-Qaim,

Indeed, that is just what I was thinking. I also find their phrasing interesting. Arab and "foreign al-Qaeda"?

[Snowball 2]

If it's popular in Iraq to hate Al Qaeda and terrorists then let them say whatever they want. Hopefully it's encouraging enough to make others follow suit.

[Orangutan]

If it's popular in Iraq to hate Al Qaeda and terrorists then let them say whatever they want. Hopefully it's encouraging enough to make others follow suit.

I tend to agree, but I fear that it's just replacing one conflict with another (or others). If al-Qaeda is kicked out, I am afraid the tensions will turn inward and result in tribal, ethnic, and religious conflict. Shia vs. Sunni vs. Kurd vs. Alawi, bad news for all. Right now there is a common enemy present in the form of outsiders and/or al-Qaeda. What happens when that enemy is no longer there?

[Snowball 2]

In Iraq there's always going to be that potential unfortunately. I still think left to its own devices it'll eventually split itself up. It might even be healthier that way as one group might not find cause to believe that elections are rigged, sides are being favored, etc. In their own countries they can be their own rulers and the in-fighting could be reduced. That may not be a definite as ME nations seem to enjoy quarreling with one and other but it's one positive way to look at it. Otherwise it's like stuffing carrots and hand grenades into a pressure cooker and hoping it comes out as a pot roast (top that food reference, Dutch).

Overall I don't see there to be one all-encompassing strategy to bring the country together the way we'd hope it would be. There's bound to be problems with anything you do as tensions seem to run high and providing the perfect situation for even half of the people living there is wishful thinking at best. I'm just looking for the path of least resistance if one exists.

[Enmore]

I tend to agree, but I fear that it's just replacing one conflict with another (or others). If al-Qaeda is kicked out, I am afraid the tensions will turn inward and result in tribal, ethnic, and religious conflict. Shia vs. Sunni vs. Kurd vs. Alawi, bad news for all. Right now there is a common enemy present in the form of outsiders and/or al-Qaeda. What happens when that enemy is no longer there?

Oh dear, you obviously didn't get the memo. ALL problems in the Middle East are because of Isreal's treatment of the Palestinians.

Now write it out a hundred times.