...for Al Qaeda. John Hinderaker at Powerline quotes from a document written by high-ranking al Qaeda officer, discovered in Zarqawi's "safe house" and released recently by CENTCOM;
You have to plow through a lot of palaver to get to the substance of the letter. What I think is most interesting is the picture that it paints of al Qaeda's prospects, especially in light of the recently-leaked fragments of the National Intelligence Estimate purportedly saying that the Iraq war has been a recruiting bonanza for al Qaeda, and that al Qaeda's numbers and support are ever-increasing. Al Qaeda itself seems to see its position quite differently.
Know that we, like all the mujahidin, are still weak. We are in the stage of weakness and a state of paucity. We have not yet reached a level of stability. We have no alternative but to not squander any element of the foundations of strength, or any helper or supporter.[...]
The most important thing is that you continue in your jihad in Iraq, and that you be patient and forbearing, even in weakness, and even with fewer operations; even if each day had half of the number of current daily operations, that is not a problem, or even less than that. So, do not be hasty. The most important thing is that the jihad continues with steadfastness and firm rooting, and that it grows in terms of supporters, strength, clarity of justification, and visible proof each day. Indeed, prolonging the war is in our interest, with God’s permission.
Though, all things considered, things could be worse for Al Qaeda. Imagine what trouble they'd be in if they also had to contend with a relentless negative media barrage brought about by mid-term elections.
Obviously, the key quote is here:
"We have no alternative but to not squander any element of the foundations of strength, or any helper or supporter."
This would suggest that they are hurting, and finding it hard to come up with recruits. I would not doubt their resolve, but it would appear they are thinning out by patient western resolve.
Al Qaeda's recent call for experts in "Wunder Waffen" by means of biological, chemical and nuclear warfare appears to betray a bit of quiet desperation, if one is to accept this recent bit of intelligence. By making the call for "Wunder Waffen" experts, in view of the paucity of having even messengers to send back and forth from Iraq to Afghanistan, reminds me of Adolf during the last months suggesting new 'vergeltungs Waffen' or retribution weapons would 'win the war'.
This war is a war of attrition. Whoever can last out the other, will win. The west has all the resources to win, accept one; determination. With the likes of Lollipop Jack, socialist utopians, and the MSM, we enter this war actually handicapped because our battle will be within our own society, not out on the battle fields. The Islamists know that all they have to do is outlast us… and we’ll turn tail and come home leaving the field open to them. They think in terms that last decades; while we are saddled with election cycles and a constant chorus of second guessing. If you were an Islamist and you read our media, you’d be chuckling in your beard. If we had unified purpose in the west, the Islamists would already be done for.
Looks like AL QUEDA cant find many who are willing to die for a radical fanatical worthless cuase
Alan Fotheringham, himself a lifetime journalist, said Prime Minister Harper WILL WIN the battle against the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Because of Missus Bloggs.
Will the Blogs also win the battle with the Media ?? ... squash the Media's defeatist, negative attitude and allow us (even the naysayers) to end the threat of Islamist Terrorism.
I now understand the bad, bad feelings the Liberators had when they realized many in France were neutral. Or worse.
Perhaps NDPers will have to sign up their kids to be suicide bombers if 'Taliban Jack' bin Layton's friends can't get their numbers up...
Suicide bombing has been an almost daily event across Afghan - Iraq - North Israel for quite a long time now.
One suspects that those who choose to do this are somewhat manic-depressive in nature.
By this time there must be vastly fewer of the depressive natured types in the population. Fewer volunteers?
It is a bit amazing how after all these years of self-sacrifice there seems to be nothing gained and it still fails to dawn on them that wearing a bomb-vest for Allah advances nothing at all.
Oh well, it is an adrenaline rush for some.
Some Asians routinely gather around a table to gamble. The game is called * Russian Roulette * with a loaded handgun.
If you win, you can buy smokes. If you lose, you don*t even crave for a smoke. = TG
I have wondered for some time when they would begin to feel the effects of attrition. Unlike ammunition, the humam being still has a remarkable survival instinct. At some point the futility, the loss of the one shot at life would take it's toll, not to mention that sooner or later the sheep being pushed to slaughter might begin to question why their fearless leadership dosn't seem to be making the kinds of sacrifices that the rank and file have been dutifully carrying out.
Damn media!
How DARE they point out that, when some people on this site declare some "victory" in Panjwai like it was classic, symmetrical, World War Two-style military triumph, that those people are full of it?
Then how DARE real-life events go and confirm their suspicions that the Taliban's going to keep coming back to areas we've "cleared" because, unlike beating Hitler, you can't defeat a bunch of ignorant bearded fanatics with bombs and guns alone. They've got nothing better to do than come back and fight some more.
So looks like you've got two choices: either nuke 'em all, or come up with a political solution.
Tony. There is a difference between winning a battle and winning a war. I thought this was obvious; apparently not for some. Did you know the Islamists have been told we're afraid of them, and thus the see our internal debate as proof of tha fear. I agree that guns and bombs alone will not defeat Islamism, but military action is a necessary start. Reconstruction and thus winning hearts of minds of these horribly mistreated people will not be possible unless the enemy is defeated militarily. As for your nuke scenario, I think the Layton approach, appeasement, is what will lead to a full-scale nuclear conflict. We seem destined to learn nothing from history.
Because when you win a battle in classic warfare, the front line moves forward.
This is like swatting flies. It's like, "Woo-hoo, we won the battle. Wait! Dammit, there's more flies. And these ones are even angrier because we killed one of their relatives."
We have indeed learned from history -- and history tells us that powerful armies SUCK at fighting counter-insurgencies. That the best tools we've got are political ones, with the threat of military backing.
Perhaps NDPers will have to sign up their kids to be suicide bombers if 'Taliban Jack' bin Layton's friends can't get their numbers up...
Posted by: Philanthropist at October 4, 2006
Philanderer, what, if anything, are you talking about?
The idea that your brand of total irrationality may be representative of the kind of thinking that goes on in Tory ministerial offices among their aides and handlers and assistants and policy wonks, ... well, ... it's kind of unsettling. Please tell me that you're not a real Conservative Party member, and certainly not someone high up in the party. I want to be able to sleep tonite.
BTW If you like to be pre-warned about up-coming surprises, be sure to check:
http://PowerAndControl.blogspot.com
It*s the post I wish I had written..= TG
BTW If you like to be pre-warned about up-coming surprises, be sure to check:
http://PowerAndControl.blogspot.com
It*s the post I wish I had written..= TG
Were not 2 cdns killed while working on a reconstruction project. How does taliban jack explain that. Wonder who is paying all these families for sacrificing their sons now that saddam is no longer doing it. The sooner the west accepts the fact that these people believe death is the answer to their path to heaven, and fullfill their wish. A couple of days of shock and awe should do it, before they can do it to us.