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| Iraqi Anbar Sheik Offers Men To Go To Afghanistan to Fight Al Qaeda and the Talibun |
| 2008-06-10 |
| Eli Lake reports in the New York Sun that Sheik Ahmad al-Rishawi from Iraq’s Anbar Province is now volunteering to do something similar, only in reverse. He’ll lead a new contingent of “Afghan Arabs” into Afghanistan to help fight against Al Qaeda and their Taliban allies. WASHINGTON — The leader of the tribal confederation that has fought to expel Al Qaeda from most of Iraq's Anbar province is offering his men to help gin up a rebellion against Osama bin Laden's organization along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In an interview, Sheik Ahmad al-Rishawi told The New York Sun that in April he prepared a 47-page study on Afghanistan and its tribes for the deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in Kabul, Christopher Dell. When asked if he would send military advisers to Afghanistan to assist American troops fighting there, he said, “I have no problem with this, if they ask me, I will do it.” |
| Posted by:Kufr al-juhud |
| #20 Here's an idea. The Iraqi and Afghan armies can meet up somewhere in the middle, say Tehran... |
| Posted by: Iblis 2008-06-10 18:01 |
| #19 hope no Shia. the afghans arent fond of Shia either Anbar is Sunni, very, very Sunni The Taliban massacre of Hazara Shia was apparently a very extreme expression of a disdain of the Shia thats fairly widespread over there. In part but only in part. The fact is that even if the Hazara dispute it and say they are the original inhabitants of Afghanistan, Pashtun and apparently scientists say that Hazara are left overs of Gengis Khan armies. There was no place where the Mongols were as brutal and sadistic than in Afganistan: allegedly the entire population was killed in the most cruel way (the Afghans had dared to inflict adefeat to the Mongols and kill the son of Genghis who commanded it). Also, until the XIXth century Pashtuns have been fighting the Mogal ie Mongol empire. That is why they hate Hazara so much. |
| Posted by: JFM 2008-06-10 17:30 |
| #18 Korean Marines were kick-ass helpful as well. Sometimes those closest to the enemy get it, sometimes they don't. I would love an Iraqi battalion but I'd have it ready on the Syrian border or in other "Arab" areas. I don't want them projecting too far. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-06-10 16:18 |
| #17 I've wondered about the opposite. The Afghan government could spare a company sized force for Iraq without question. If the Mongols can do it, the Afghans can. As for Iraqis in Afghanistan, I'd much prefer to see them in Syria or Iran, both of which locations I believe the Sheik might agree with. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2008-06-10 13:17 |
| #16 Stuff like that has unintended consequences. If we don't need them, then don't allow it. Hell, in the first full moon, they would be raping the goats and then all hell would break loose. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2008-06-10 13:13 |
| #15 "occupied" Lib: That's the error in your analogy. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2008-06-10 12:11 |
| #14 Suppose there are a group of people pissed al-q killed their family members? Not mercenaries if the motive is (cue Smog voice) Revenge! Do it, at the least al-q could not automatically trust out of area jihadis. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-06-10 11:01 |
| #13 And then the wind changed direction ....... |
| Posted by: Mad Eye 2008-06-10 10:34 |
| #12 I dunno OS. You ever read "The Kite Runner"? My impression, its like asking would Germans in the late 1940s rather be occupied by Frenchmen, or by a battalion of German Jews from America. I think, on the whole, theyd rather have the Americans than Shia. But the book I read focused on upper class Kabulis, maybe its different in the Pashtun countryside. I doubt it though. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-06-10 09:51 |
| #11 lib, compared to inserting a Brit or US battalion (loaded with Christians, Jews, and all kinds of ethnicities), an Arab Muslim one, even with some Shia in it, would likely be far more acceptable by the locals/tribals in those areas. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-10 09:46 |
| #10 nope no Shia. the afghans arent fond of Shia either. The Taliban massacre of Hazara Shia was apparently a very extreme expression of a disdain of the Shia thats fairly widespread over there. Kurds, who are Sunnis, but not Arabs (and speak a related language) might be a better idea. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-06-10 09:43 |
| #9 Oh and for you Obama types out there: QUAGMIRE IN IRAQ! /ROFLMAO Damn how can people be so WRONG for so LONG and just not get it? They get away with it thanks to the mainstream press burying things to keep the image of "losing" present in those not knowing someone over there or reading milblogs. The mainstream press needs to be cleaned out with a flamethrower. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-10 09:43 |
| #8 While this guy is admirable, and it would make great publicity here in the US that Iraqis want to do this, I somehow thing Afghans will be kinda reluctant. The afghans on our side arent that fond of arabs, and wont make fine distinctions among them. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-06-10 09:41 |
| #7 An expeditionary light infantry battalion from the Iraqi Army could be very useful in Afghanistan, if properly led and supported. It provides the Allies in Afghanistan a very "Muslim" battalion that might not stir local sensitivities as badly as a US or Brit unit would in some areas. But to make it most effective, then need to pull in some Shia and Kurds as well. The press coverage in Arab lands would be a very important propaganda weapon: "Iraqi Army helps Muslims in Afghanistan defend against the apostate predators of Al Qaeda" On the practical side, combat experience in a foreign land will bond them like nothing else. And rotate the battalion after 6 months. Then the IA uses this battalion as leavening for the Officers and NCO corps in a regiment. Coming back with tales of how they stood tall, and how they all work together. Nothing better than combat veterans to shape a regiment. This could be a very good thing to do. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-10 09:40 |
| #6 But, but - this is so mercenary like. Nope. This sounds like the International Brigades a concept the left is in love of, |
| Posted by: JFM 2008-06-10 08:35 |
| #5 yeah, but nothing flies with the libs except perhaps the idea that people other than themselves should sacrifice for the good of others. |
| Posted by: Sninert Black9312 2008-06-10 03:45 |
| #4 But, but - this is so mercenary like. Reminds me of the Brits using the Hessians in Revolutionary war. This will not fly with the libs, the left and further left - Obama. This is a subject that is definitely "not relevant" - so lets please move on. Nothing to see here. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-06-10 03:41 |
| #3 It was mentioned in an earlier thread by someone much smarter than I, that it would be a good thing for Iraq to project its force abroad. This would seem to be a good opportunity. A chance for jihadis outside of Iraq, to feel the bite of death delivered by the ISF. That would be sweet. It would definitely send a message to Iran. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2008-06-10 03:25 |
| #2 This artiiiikle, amongst others, again affirms to me that Osama + Islamists are indeed after the destabilization and control of large parts of CENTRAL ASIA + PERIPHERALS, espec in the hopes of acquiring Cold War Commie, other NUC/WEPTECHS AMAP ASAP. "TIS A BATTLE NOW FOR CENASIA = ASIA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-06-10 02:08 |
| #1 This sounds like the sort of man to lead Iraq. Screw the idea of sitting on defense - go chase the scumbags to the ends of the earth. There is nothing that could improve the image of the Iraqis - and Islam in general - to western skeptics like me, than to see an Arab legion form to hunt down and exterminate the extremist Islamicists - on a global basis. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2008-06-10 00:06 |