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04/26/2004 Entry: "Next time you hear the phrase 'foreign fighters...'"
Next time you hear the phrase 'foreign fighters...'
Keep in mind that it, like so many other things this administration says, is a fallacy.
Most insurgents battling the US-led coalition in Iraq are Iraqis, not foreigners, according to a US marine intelligence officer at the forefront of the battle to control the hottest part of the Sunni triangle."The vast majority of the insurgents in Iraq are local and not foreign fighters," said Captain Ben Connable, the intelligence deputy for the US 1st Marine Division, in charge of the western al-Anbar province.
Al-Anbar, a scorched desert province of more than 1 million people, encompasses the flashpoint town of Fallujah which has been under a US marine siege for three weeks.
It boasts a high concentration of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's military and intelligence service veterans. Its long borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia serve as gateways for foreign fighters.
A burgeoning population of criminals dabbles in weapons-running, drug trafficking and car smuggling in a province notorious for smuggling, Connable said.
But all three groups collaborate and wrap themselves in the cloak of mujahideen or Islamic holy warriors, he added.
"There are very few actual mujahideen and jihadists. There is a tendency to wrap yourself in a flag, so to speak, and use it as a cover for operations," Connable said.
The cells are usually run by a military or intelligence veteran, with access to funding from abroad, including neighbouring Syria, he added. "The former regime elements have connections with other countries."
Replies: 11 people speak up
The only foreign fighters in Iraq are US and other occupying forces.
Posted by Dr. Wu @ 04/26/2004 11:30 AM NY
you mean they've been lying to us? not our government, i cant believe it, no i wont believe it...
Posted by justin @ 04/26/2004 01:16 PM NY
What makes Iraq worse than Viet Nam is that in Nam, at least there was a foreign army we were engaged in battle with. In Iraq, there no longer is an army. As a result, the U.S. Army and Marines are engaged in combat directly with Iraqi civilians. This is appalling and makes every one of us war criminals or accessories to war crimes. It is a hideous situation we find ourselves in.
Posted by Stephen Kriz @ 04/26/2004 03:37 PM NY
The word on the street in Baghdad is that the the cessation of suicide car bombings is proof that the CIA was behind them
I know Bush passed an executive order (don't remember the number) that allows this and wonder about it every time I hear about the 'insurgents'.
MSNBC 'Question of the Day': Should we leave Falluja or go in? Followed by extensive coverage of Michael Jackson, of course...
Maybe if the soldiers stop shooting people in the back: US snipers in Falluja shoot unarmed man in the back, old woman with white flag, children fleeing their homes and the ambulance that we were going in to fetch a woman in premature labour.
Posted by Allison @ 04/26/2004 05:05 PM NY
hmm, I wonder how the Chalabi corps the US airlifted into iWaq back in the days of "Shuck 'n' Jive" would be classified under this definition
Posted by preznit giv me turkee @ 04/26/2004 07:28 PM NY
if your that stupid to believe that crap Allison, God help you.
I dont beleive one word of it. Just like the editor posting a story about some us soldiers beating someone to death. It was crap then and its crap now. Flush already ! ! !
Posted by Robin_Hack_er @ 04/27/2004 12:30 AM NY
yes robin, we all know that you prefer to change the facts to fit your beliefs, as opposed to changing your beliefs to fit the facts, that doesnt mean that the rest of us want to burry our heads in the sand and chant "this isnt happening"
Posted by justin @ 04/27/2004 12:33 PM NY
Justin
How did I change the facts ?
Many news outlets are reporting there are around 10,000 insurgents fighting in Iraq that are not Iraqi's. Remember the syrian boarder fight ? What they were iraqi's trying to get back in ?
The editor posted a supposed news link of US soldiers beating someone to death. It didnt happen and no one reported on it but some obscure news outlet. That dosent mean the editor lied or I changed the facts. It means some dumbass posted a bogus story. OH! My! say it aint so..............
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/27/2004 10:48 PM NY
it was a criticism of your conservative world view in general, not necessarily this story in particular.
Posted by justin @ 04/27/2004 11:06 PM NY
AHHH ! ! ! ! !
When confronted and found out, cut and run........... I See
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/28/2004 01:59 PM NY
unfortunately, living in this country (and probobly any other for that matter) words like "facts" and "truth" are subjective at best. everyone is just repeating what someone else told them. face it, truth is as dead as rock and roll.
Posted by justin @ 04/28/2004 09:55 PM NY
