Thread: 75 Percent of Al Qaeda Network in Iraq Destroyed, Says Interior Ministry

*How come JOM hasn't reported this yet? (or did he?):

75 Percent of Al Qaeda Network in Iraq Destroyed, Says Interior Ministry

Saturday, December 29, 2007


BAGHDAD — Iraq's interior ministry spokesman said Saturday that 75 percent of Al Qaeda in Iraq's terrorist network had been destroyed this year, but the top American commander in the country said the terror group remained his chief concern.
Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf said the disruption of the terrorist network was due to improvements in the Iraqi security forces — which he said had made strides in weeding out commanders and officers with ties to militias or who were involved in criminal activities.
He also credited the rise of anti-Al Qaeda in Iraq groups, mostly made up of Sunni fighters the Shiite-dominated government has cautiously begun to embrace. Additionally, an increase in American troops since June has been credited with pushing many militants out of Baghdad.
Khalaf's assertion that three-fourths of al-Qaida in Iraq had been destroyed could not be independently verified and he did not elaborate on how the percentage was determined.
But violence in Iraq has dropped significantly since June — the U.S. military says it is down 60 percent nationwide — demonstrating success in fighting the terrorist network.
"Their activity is now limited to certain places north of Baghdad," Khalaf said at a news conference. "We're working on pursuing those groups, that is the coming fight."

Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, told a small group of western reporters on Saturday that despite the success against al-Qaida in Iraq, destroying the group is still a top concern for the U.S. military.
"We still regard Al Qaeda as the biggest threat," Petraeus said. "We regard them as the most significant challenge facing Iraq."
After nearly five years of war, American military commanders have learned to couch even optimistic reports in cautious terms. They have repeatedly said that the fight against extremists in Iraq is far from over, noting that they still have the capacity to carry out large attacks.
But the impact of U.S. and Iraqi military success against the group has been reflected in decreased civilian deaths.
According to an Associated Press count, civilian deaths in Iraq have steadily dropped in the second half of 2007 after seeing a high of 2,155 killed in May. Through Friday, deaths in December stood at 691, the lowest for the year and much lower than the 2,309 killed in December 2006.
AP figures on civilian deaths are compiled from hospital, police and military officials, as well as accounts from reporters and photographers. Insurgent deaths are not included. Other counts differ and some have given higher civilian death tolls.
Meanwhile, the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on Saturday for reconciliation between his followers and Iraqi security forces in the holy city of Karbala, according to al-Sadr aide Sheik Mohannad al-Gharrawi.
In August, followers of al-Sadr and fighters loyal to the powerful Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council led by cleric Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim clashed in Karbala during a religious festival, killing 52 people. Since then, al-Sadr loyalists have been targeted in a crackdown by Iraqi security forces.
"This initiative comes as a response to the events that took place in Karbala, when more than 50 pilgrims died," al-Gharrawi said.
After that fighting, al-Sadr announced he was freezing the activities of his Mahdi Army militia for six months — a move that both Iraqi and American officials have said has had a big impact on the reduction in violence.

FOXNews.com - 75 Percent of Al Qaeda Network in Iraq Destroyed, Says Interior Ministry - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

So is it like if I dumped garbage in my backyard and flies and rats came to the pile, then 5 years later I killed 75% of those flies and rats? Or is that a bad analogy?

Originally Posted by Common Sense Craig

So is it like if I dumped garbage in my backyard and flies and rats came to the pile, then 5 years later I killed 75% of those flies and rats? Or is that a bad analogy?

I was just trying to think of an apt analogy, but I think you nailed it. 75% reduction in Al Qaeda implies there is still 25% of them left. There was little to no Al Qaeda in Iraq before the war, unless you believe intelligence that even our President now says is flawed.

Still its a good sign. Now we just need to keep those numbers down which should be possible with the help we are getting from the fed up Iraqis. Don't find reasons to nay say good information like this to prove a point. I think that everyone would like to see us doing well in Iraq, and I hope we continue to hear news like we have in the past few months. GOOD NEWS.

But where did they go?

Originally Posted by frthnkr85

Still its a good sign. Now we just need to keep those numbers down which should be possible with the help we are getting from the fed up Iraqis. Don't find reasons to nay say good information like this to prove a point. I think that everyone would like to see us doing well in Iraq, and I hope we continue to hear news like we have in the past few months. GOOD NEWS.

Sure it's a good sign. I'm happy if it means there's a positive ending and we're soon to be out of there, the vast majority of U.S. troops, I mean.

Originally Posted by freckles

But where did they go?

To their 70 virgins I'd imagine.

Originally Posted by freckles

But where did they go?

Dust in the wind, worm food, Afghanistan, Syria, underground tunnels, hideouts, Guantanemo, secret jails in Iraq, Pakistan,..........