Article

2004-12-26 Iraq-Jordan

Ansar Al-Sunnah Army Gains Clout in Iraq

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Posted by Fred 2004-12-26 10:57:07 AM|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The article has some useful information, but the writer is spinning it hard. The ability to perpetrate dramatic booms does not equal the ability to sway the populace, especially when the elections are so close. Nor does it equal staying power: wasn't it Mao who said something about the Revolutionary swimming in the sea of an approving populace? That certainly does not appear to be the case in Iraq anymore.

Posted by Gleaper Thomomble7223 2004-12-26 12:59:37 PM|| [http://Trailing Wife, offsite] 2004-12-26 12:59:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 gleaper
good point - the Maoists, were voluntarily protected by the population during the war against the Japanese and then the war against the Nationalists
- the Ansar al Sunnah are involuntarily protected by the population because of intimidation

Posted by mhw 2004-12-26 1:10:31 PM|| 2004-12-26 1:10:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Individualism or nationalism, that is the question.

Posted by Capt America 2004-12-26 1:38:17 PM|| 2004-12-26 1:38:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Unlike al-Qaida, Ansar al-Sunnah is believed to be made up mainly of Iraqis, and its apparent strategy of targeting only Americans and those viewed as collaborating with them â Iraqi security forces and Kurds â may have increased its support, in contrast to other groups that have hit more clearly Iraqi civilian targets.

In light of the mess hall attack, I advocate shifting gears and killing all members of Ansar al-Sunnah post haste.

The group seeks an Islamic government and Islamic law in Iraq, stressing its opposition to democracy, which it says replaces Godâs rightful rule with that of man. "We believe democracy is an atheist call that idolizes human beings," says a manifesto detailing Ansar al-Sunnahâs ideology.

Any sane Iraqi needs to realize that only one splinter of their diverse country will benefit from such anti-democratic policy. Someone needs to point out quite clearly how only democracy alone will give voice to all of Iraq's people. Anything less will be nothing more than another totalitarian regime like Saddam's.

Posted by Zenster 2004-12-26 3:58:57 PM|| 2004-12-26 3:58:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Keep in mind that this report directly contradicts previous reports indicating that Ansar al-Sunnah is comprised of foreign terrorists.

Posted by Capt America 2004-12-26 4:07:09 PM|| 2004-12-26 4:07:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Is it me or does Trailing Wife sound different away from home? Probably feeling carefree.

Posted by Shipman 2004-12-26 5:32:38 PM|| 2004-12-26 5:32:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Turn the Kurds loose on them and get it over.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-12-26 5:33:52 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2004-12-26 5:33:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Huh. I didn't realize I sounded different, Shipman...you could be right about being carefree, we are on vacation after all (and I managed to get all the vacation/Xmas (husband is one of those inactive Catholics)/end of term stuff done before we left!!!). It could also have something to do with the fact that I'm not familiar with husband's laptop, and can't do all those kewl highlighting/italic/boldface thinkgies that add so very much character to my posts (while you expert types smile gently at my excitement about the whole thing). Happy Boxing Day to you and all Rantburgundians!

Posted by Gleaper Thomomble7223 2004-12-26 8:00:30 PM|| [http://Trailing Wife, offsite] 2004-12-26 8:00:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 mhw: the Maoists, were voluntarily protected by the population during the war against the Japanese and then the war against the Nationalists

Actually, the Chinese Communists (Mao wasn't the leader at the time) had their own secret police who executed "traitors" to the people. The Communist-loving Western media were assigned press minders who saw to it that they saw only the positive facets of Communist rule. By the contrast, the Nationalists let the Western press go wherever they wanted to.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2004-12-26 10:57:35 PM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2004-12-26 10:57:35 PM|| Front Page Top

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