We are Winning!

RMNIXON · 09-15-2007, 02:37 PM

Iraqis vow to fight al Qaeda after sheikh death

Fri Sep 14, 10:32 PM ET

RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - Sunni Arab Iraqis and U.S. forces in Anbar province vowed on Friday to keep fighting al Qaeda after the assassination of a tribal leader who worked with Americans to create one of Iraq's few security success stories.

Abdul Sattar Abu Risha was killed in a bomb attack on Thursday near his home in Ramadi, provincial capital of what was once one of Iraq's most dangerous areas.

"All the tribes agreed to fight al Qaeda until the last child in Anbar," his brother, Ahmed Abu Risha, told Reuters.

An al Qaeda-led group said on Friday it was responsible for the killing of Abu Risha, according to an Internet posting. The self-styled Islamic State in Iraq called the killing of Abu Risha a "heroic operation" and vowed to assassinate more tribal leaders who cooperate with U.S. and government forces.

Its statement could not be authenticated, but it was posted on a main Islamist Web site.

"This ... is a new setback for the crusaders' plans and Bush's new strategy," the Islamic State in Iraq said, adding the operation took more than a month to prepare.

Abu Risha, who met U.S. President George W. Bush less than two weeks ago, led the Anbar Salvation Council, an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that worked with U.S. troops to push Sunni Islamist al Qaeda out of much of the vast desert area.

Ahmed Abu Risha was named as the council's new head hours after the death of his charismatic, chain-smoking brother, who wore flowing white and gold robes as he shook hands with Bush.

"The killing of Sheikh Abu Risha will give us more energy ... to continue confronting al Qaeda members and to dispose of them," said Sheikh Rashid Majid, a leader of the al-Bufahad tribe in Ramadi.

"But his murder will make us more cautious, because the reason for the killing of Abu Risha was careless security. We are 90 percent sure that al Qaeda is behind the assassination."

Many ordinary Iraqis agreed. "All of Anbar owes this man, he offered security and stability," said 45-year-old Mohammed Hussain Ali from Ramadi.

Iraq's national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, Defense Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim and Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno, second in command of U.S. forces in Iraq, joined about 1,500 mourners at Abu Risha's funeral amid tight security.

"Revenge should be made quickly," mourners chanted as the coffins of Abu Risha and two bodyguards, draped in Iraqi flags, were carried to the cemetery. "We will chase the killers."

Iraqis vow to fight al Qaeda after sheikh death - Yahoo! News

__________________________________________________ _____________

Hearts and Minds are more powerful than bombs. If we can do this we can get a government to get its act together or replace it. This is a war that future generations in Iraq will be greatful to read about. The war on terror is not conventional and the lessons have been hard. But the lesson is not failure!

6SpeedTA95 · 09-15-2007, 02:40 PM

Edit, sorry bro, thought that was your sig

@ me

JaJae · 09-15-2007, 03:38 PM

While this is bittersweet good news, it doesn't mean we're "winning" anything. In a game of chess you aren't winning simply because you took one piece in the grand scheme of the game. This is one play in the war that has gone our way, but certainly isn't conclusive of the overall game.

RMNIXON · 09-15-2007, 04:57 PM

We win every time a member of the Islamic world understands what Al Qaeda is and what future they promise that part of the world. When these people have that realization and can get passed the same rhetoric that Osama just handed back to us that is a victory. The big picture is fought on the little battlefields every day.

Galactic Gigolo · 09-16-2007, 10:33 AM

Man, it's such an easy route to victory when you can discount all the negative things and only accept the positives.

We're winning the War on Drugs because 12 year old Tommy in Des Moines, Iowa turned down a joint yesterday.

We're winning the War on Obesity because several children ate apples instead of ice cream yesterday.

No need to look at the bad. Come on now. Isolated good things occurred.

Ohh, and I'll close my post off with an American smiley to make the point that if you disagree with me, you must dislike America.

SoFlaJDM · 09-16-2007, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Galactic Gigolo

Man, it's such an easy route to victory when you can discount all the negative things and only accept the positives.

We're winning the War on Drugs because 12 year old Tommy in Des Moines, Iowa turned down a joint yesterday.

We're winning the War on Obesity because several children ate apples instead of ice cream yesterday.

No need to look at the bad. Come on now. Isolated good things occurred.

Ohh, and I'll close my post off with an American smiley to make the point that if you disagree with me, you must dislike America.

Donkey® · 09-16-2007, 02:30 PM

They have been fighting al queda all along. Where is the news?

RMNIXON · 09-16-2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Galactic Gigolo

Ohh, and I'll close my post off with an American smiley to make the point that if you disagree with me, you must dislike America.

That is really offensive. I made my case. I never came close to any suggestion that people who do not agree are unpatriotic. If you are that intimidated by a smiley that is not my problem.

RMNIXON · 09-16-2007, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

They have been fighting al queda all along. Where is the news?

I thought this was a Civil War?

garbagemanlb · 09-16-2007, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I thought this was a Civil War?

It is impossible to have two wars at once!

kinggovernor · 09-16-2007, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Galactic Gigolo

Man, it's such an easy route to victory when you can discount all the negative things and only accept the positives.

We're winning the War on Drugs because 12 year old Tommy in Des Moines, Iowa turned down a joint yesterday.

We're winning the War on Obesity because several children ate apples instead of ice cream yesterday.

No need to look at the bad. Come on now. Isolated good things occurred.

Ohh, and I'll close my post off with an American smiley to make the point that if you disagree with me, you must dislike America.

this is not an isolated event

This has been going on for several months

DosEquis · 09-17-2007, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I thought this was a Civil War?

Yes, it is very civil. They take turns shooting at each other.

RMNIXON · 09-17-2007, 07:23 PM

"The turning of Sunni Iraq against al Qaeda is a signal event in the war on terror. Petraeus’s plan is to be allowed to see it through."

- Charles Krauthammer

Charles Krauthammer on Iraq on National Review Online=

David Octavius · 09-18-2007, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

"The turning of Sunni Iraq against al Qaeda is a signal event in the war on terror. Petraeus’s plan is to be allowed to see it through."

- Charles Krauthammer

Charles Krauthammer on Iraq on National Review Online=

And we are ignoring the Shia on Shia violence, as well as Shia on Sunni and Shia on Americans (most attacks on Americans are by Shia). Oh yea, Shia represents the largest sect in Iraq.

Of court the Shia can never be terrorists right? Hezbollah etc etc and least we forget, AQ is mostly a Sunni organization.

So we are trading one terrorist organization for another, it's like deja vu all over again - we support the tyrant to destroy the dictator without remembering the tyrant is still a tyrant. This will have consequences that we may not see for years.