Zarqawi, al Qaeda are heading out, U.S. general says

[Sarge]

A day of mourning for the left. Fortunately for your cause we're about to whack Iran, so you can crank your support of al qaeda right back up

http://washingtontimes.com/world/20060413-110216-1235r.htm

Al Qaeda in Iraq and its presumed leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, have conceded strategic defeat and are on their way out of the country, a top U.S. military official contended yesterday.

The group's failure to disrupt national elections and a constitutional referendum last year "was a tactical admission by Zarqawi that their strategy had failed," said Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who commands the XVIII Airborne Corps.

"They no longer view Iraq as fertile ground to establish a caliphate and as a place to conduct international terrorism," he said in an address at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Gen. Vines' statement came as news broke that coalition and Iraqi forces had killed an associate of Osama bin Laden's during an early morning raid near Abu Ghraib about two weeks ago.

Rafid Ibrahim Fattah aka Abu Umar al Kurdi served as a liaison between terrorist networks and was linked to Taliban members in Afghanistan, Pakistani-based extremists and other senior al Qaeda leaders, the military said yesterday.

In the past six months, al Kurdi had worked as a terrorist cell leader in Baqouba. Prior to that, he had traveled extensively Pakistan, Iran and Iraq and formed a relationship with al Qaeda senior leaders in 1999 while in Afghanistan.

He also had ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, formed while he was in Iran and Pakistan, and joined the jihad in Afghanistan in 1989, the military said. He was killed March 27.

Gen. Vines said the foreign terrorists had made a strategic mistake when they tried to intimidate and deny Iraqis a way to vote.

"I believe Zarqawi discredited himself with the Iraqi people because of his willingness to slaughter Iraqi people," he said.

Huthayafa Azzam, whose father was seen as a political mentor of bin Laden, told reporters in Jordan in early April that Zarqawi had been replaced as head of the terrorist fight in Iraq in an effort to put an Iraqi at the head of the organization.

Azzam said Zarqawi had "made many political mistakes," including excessive violence and the bombing last November of a Jordanian hotel, and as a result was being "confined to military action."

Gen. Vines, who from January 2005 to January 2006 led all coalition forces in Iraq, did not comment on those reports. But he did caution that although the foreign extremists were leaving Iraq "looking for more fertile ground," they could come back.

"The question now is what kind of government is going to be formed and is it going to be credible," he said, acknowledging that Iran had significant influence over Iraq's religious Shi'ite population.

"Iran wants us out, but not too soon -- after a Shi'ite government friendly to Iran is established," Gen. Vines said. "Iran's view is that the current government is not strong enough, and if we pulled out now, there would be a low-level civil war."

[visionary]

A day of mourning for the left. Fortunately for your cause we're about to whack Iran, so you can crank your support of al qaeda right back up

Oh Sarge, you do love to stir up stuff don't you...lol.

If true thsi is good news...for everyone. (except the terrorists)

[Sarge]

Oh Sarge, you do love to stir up stuff don't you...lol.

If true thsi is good news...for everyone. (except the terrorists)

And the left :laugh:

[Chief skin]

I will believe it when I see it, you see all the credibility like the political capital this administration had after the election is like p1ss1ng in the wind. The opinion of a top level military official, is this a LEAK? did King W authorize this?

[Sarge]

I will believe it when I see it, you see all the credibility like the political capital this administration had after the election is like p1ss1ng in the wind. The opinion of a top level military official, is this a LEAK? did King W authorize this?

Exibit A

[Renegade7]

Are you serious?! This is the best news I've heard period in a long, long time concerning this war. I'm liberal, but ya know what, I know good news when I hear it. This better be true though, Sarge. I'm not one for emotional rollercoasters or bullsh*t for that matter.

[jpillian]

Hopefully, this is accurate stuff. Nothing would make me happier.

Unfortunately, (and I'm not trying to rain on any parades here), but it does seem to me that top brass in OIF/OEF have painted similar pictures in the past -- and it hasn't exactly turned out to be accurate. Tough to figure out what is posturing, and what is a serious statement of what the planners are thinking.

Regardless, good find, Sarge. Thanks for sharing.

[skinfan133]

a Lt. Gen. isnt someone to sneeze at. im ready to believe it, and ill be convinced for sure if those masked cowards come on al-jezera and say it. as soon as the insurgency ends for the most part the true rebuilding of iraq can begin. if the troops arent fighting or watching their backs all te time they can:

a)build

b)supply

c) interact positively

these are three top goals that have not been achieved on a large scale because of the insurgency. its always funny when some insugents claim they fight because the US doesnt do anything there..... oh if only they could see the irony....

[airborneskins]

Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who commands the XVIII Airborne Corps.

This is all I had to see

What a great leader..

Oh anyway, back on topic... Good find Sarge. Finally something positive that the media is reporting..

[Slateman]

I hate to sound like a lefty, but I'm skeptical. For one thing, Al Quaeda doesn't seem like the quitting type. Second, I am very skeptical of everything this administration says.

[Sarge]

I hate to sound like a lefty, but I'm skeptical. For one thing, Al Quaeda doesn't seem like the quitting type. Second, I am very skeptical of everything this administration says.

Dying by the bushel every day tends to have a bad effect on moral

[skinfan133]

I hate to sound like a lefty, but I'm skeptical. For one thing, Al Quaeda doesn't seem like the quitting type. Second, I am very skeptical of everything this administration says.

the military isnt the administration my friend i can gaurentee that.

[airborneskins]

I hate to sound like a lefty, but I'm skeptical. For one thing, Al Quaeda doesn't seem like the quitting type. Second, I am very skeptical of everything this administration says.

Not to sound like a Righty (sp?) , But this guy is not in the Administration . He is a LTG that had led the forces on the ground on Iraq (as well as the mighty 82d, but that is a different thread ) . So you cant really say that he is speaking for the Administration. He is just telling it from the POV that he had on the ground (not to mention the intel that others don't have) .

edit.. Man Sarge and sf13 are all over it tonight.. :laugh:

[skinfan133]

Not to sound like a Righty (sp?) , But this guy is not in the Administration . He is a LTG that had led the forces on the ground on Iraq (as well as the mighty 82d, but that is a different thread ) . So you cant really say that he is speaking for the Administration. He is just telling it from the POV that he had on the ground (not to mention the intel that others don't have) .

already taken care of, but you expounded alot more than me, plus i can forgive him for being in the ummmm, cough, army.... :laugh:

[redskins4life234]

You got to be kidding me right? Terrorist giving up? I thought I'd never see the day. I thought they all had to day before they volenteerly surrender and stop the violence. This is just wow.. If this is true and they are leaving and Violence stops, now hoply Bush will be given more credit as a new good Democracy will be set up now and all will be good.

[airborneskins]

You got to be kidding me right? Terrorist giving up? I thought I'd never see the day. I thought they all had to day before they volenteerly surrender and stop the violence. This is just wow.. If this is true and they are leaving and Violence stops, now hoply Bush will be given more credit as a new good Democracy will be set up now and all will be good.

I wouldnt celebrate just yet. It is quite possible that they are playing Possum. Also having known John personally,(Yes I said personally. His wife and my wife know each other and still keep in contact) he tends to focus on the positive side of things. It is a good sign that he made this statement though.

Oh, and Skinfan13 some of us are too smart for the USMC ! :laugh:

But I still respect the hell out of ya!

[TradeTheBeal!]

Dying by the bushel every day tends to have a bad effect on moral

Good point Sarge! To listen to the Nat'l media you'd think our troops were really taking it on the chin over there - not to say we haven't taken our lumps - but the truth is that we've been administering a tremendous whuppin' to the pro-anarchy, pro-hussein "insurgents". Sadly, the civilian population has suffered considerably amidst the conflict.

[skinfan133]

Sadly, the civilian population has suffered considerably amidst the conflict.

even more sad is the fact 80% of their casulties come from their own countrymen or fellow islamanuts.

[Midnight Judges]

A day of mourning for the left. Fortunately for your cause we're about to whack Iran, so you can crank your support of al qaeda right back up

."

You are so incredibly wrong. This statement reveals quite a bit about you.

Have you no decency?

[TradeTheBeal!]

even more sad is the fact 80% of their casulties come from their own countrymen or fellow islamanuts.

80% might be a bit strong, but I'll certainly buy that the majority of civilian deaths in Iraq can be directly attributed to resistance forces. Worse than that, many casualties have occured by design - bombing mosques and assassinating political participants, to name a few. Just disgraceful!

[airborneskins]

80% might be a bit strong, but I'll certainly buy that the majority of civilian deaths in Iraq can be directly attributed to resistance forces. Worse than that, many casualties have occured by design - bombing mosques and assassinating political participants, to name a few. Just disgraceful!

Actually, I think that 80% is probably a little low. :2cents:

[skinfan133]

Actually, I think that 80% is probably a little low. :2cents:

80% is about right actually:silly:

but in all seriousness, the other 20% comes from collateral damage that is almost impossible to avoid, and general acidents from other daily things.... did you know the AP lops natural deaths in among civilian deaths? notice how whenever numbers are quoted in the media en print it never specifies that they are direct military related deaths, just well deaths...

but fact is they use those fgures against the ilitary when in reality it is hardly the military's sole fault.

[Sarge]

You are so incredibly wrong and this statement reveals quite a bit about you.

Have you no decency?

None whatsoever :laugh:

For the past three years we've listened to the left whine and squeal, listened to terorists being called "insurgents" and "freedom fighters" by the leftist media, instead of being called what they are, terrorists

We've heard hollywood and the left label Americans as dictators, imperialists and wanton killer of brown people. As well as call for members of our government to be tried as war criminals, all while praising those that oppose us.

I could go on and on and on, but what's the use?

And now, when it looks like the mighty jihadists al reuters team is packing it's bags and heading out with it's tail between it's legs, what are the media going to do? Who are they going to prop up now as the next poor defenseless group that dares to stand up against America?

Like I said, Iran is coming up. I look for them to start favorable stories about the Iranian leadership any day

[Midnight Judges]

None whatsoever :laugh:

For the past three years we've listened to the left whine and squeal, listened to terorists being called "insurgents" and "freedom fighters" by the leftist media, instead of being called what they are, terrorists

We've heard hollywood and the left label Americans as dictators, imperialists and wanton killer of brown people. As well as call for members of our government to be tried as war criminals, all while praising those that oppose us.

I could go on and on and on, but what's the use?

And now, when it looks like the mighty jihadists al reuters team is packing it's bags and heading out with it's tail between it's legs, what are the media going to do? Who are they going to prop up now as the next poor defenseless group that dares to stand up against America?

Like I said, Iran is coming up. I look for them to start favorable stories about the Iranian leadership any day

There is no limit to your profound wrongness.

You don't know what an insurgent is:

in·sur·gent (n-sûrjnt)

adj. 1. Rising in revolt against established authority, especially a government.

2. Rebelling against the leadership of a political party.

n.

The terrorists in Iraq fit both definitions.

I have never heard anyone call them freedom fighters.

Show me where somone on the left has praised Osama Bin Laden, or Zarqawi. It never happened. I don't know where you get your information but you are being made to look foolish when you repeat it.

You have everything in common with a McCarthyite-unable to discern fact from fiction, blinded by a false sense of patriotism, utterly manipulated.

[skinfan133]

There is no limit to your profound wrongness.

You don't know what an insurgent is:

The terrorists in Iraq fit both definitions.

I have never heard anyone call them freedom fighters.

Show me where somone on the left has praised Osama Bin Laden, or Zarqawi. It never happened. I don't know where you get your information but you are being made to look foolish when you repeat it.

You have everything in common with a McCarthyite-unable to discern fact from fiction, blinded by a false sense of patriotism, utterly manipulated.

you may have a point, but have respect for the man- he just got out of uniform and all people do is question his patriotism. sheesh.