[Grovenet] al-Qaeda in Iraq

[JBlair2154 at aol.com]

"...U.S. intelligence has intercepted communique from al-Qaeda  leaders to 
Zarqawi in 2005 that actually reveal their alarm at the possibility  of a prompt 
U.S. military withdrawal and their goal of "prolonging the war" by  keeping 
the Americans bogged down in Iraq. In a Dec. 11, 2005, letter, a senior  
al-Qaeda leader known as "Atiyah" lectured Zarqawi on the need to take the long  
view and build ties with elements of the Sunni-led Iraqi insurgency that had  
little in common with al-Qaeda except hatred of the Americans. "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," Atiyah wrote. "Indeed, prolonging the war is in our 
 interest." [Emphasis added.] The "Atiyah letter," which was discovered by 
U.S.  authorities at the time of Zarqawi's death on June 7, 2006, and was 
translated  by the U.S. military's Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, also 
stressed  the vulnerability of al-Qaeda's position in Iraq. "Know that we, like 
all  mujahaddin, are still weak," Atiyah told Zarqawi. "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." Atiyah's 
worries  reiterated concerns expressed by bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri in 
another  intercepted letter from July 7, 2005. In that letter, Zawahiri fretted 
that a  rapid U.S. pullout could cause al-Qaeda's operation in Iraq to 
collapse because  foreign jihadists, who flocked to Iraq to fight Americans, would 
give up the  fight and go home. "The mujahaddin must not have their mission end 
with the  expulsion of the Americans from Iraq, and then lay down their 
weapons, and  silence the fighting zeal," wrote Zawahiri, according to a text 
released by the  U.S. Director of National Intelligence. To avert mass desertions, 
Zawahiri  suggests that Zarqawi talk up the "idea" of a "caliphate" along the 
eastern  Mediterranean.  

What al-Qaeda leaders seem to fear most is that a U.S. military  withdrawal 
would contribute to a disintegration of their fragile position in  Iraq, 
between the expected desertions of the foreign fighters and the targeting  of 
al-Qaeda's remaining forces by Iraqis determined to rid their country of  violent 
outsiders. In that sense, the longer the United States remains in Iraq,  the 
deeper al-Qaeda can put down roots and the more it can harden its new  recruits 
through indoctrination and training. 
 
These intercepted letters also fit with last April's conclusion by  U.S. 
intelligence agencies that the U.S. occupation of Iraq has proved to be a  "cause 
celebre" that has spread Islamic radicalism around the  globe..."

 
This was  written last October by a guy named Robert Parry in Consortium 
News.  He's an investigative reporter who started one of the internet's first 
e-zines.  I came across the article on an AOL message board. It has more details 
about the  latest intelligence reports than I've seen elsewhere, so I thought 
ya'll might  find it interesting.

 
P.S. I've long suspected that certain of our  illustrious leaders in 
Washington have been pleased with al-Qaeda's interest in  Iraq. After all, if we keep 
the terrorists busy there, maybe they won't attack  our homeland again...or at 
least, not until the next administration is in office  to take the blame.  
Joy





Joy