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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (25563)	8/15/2003 11:14:26 AM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Who is behind the violence in Iraq? While a better analysis than we hear from the Satrap or the DOD, it is still flawed. A third and possibly overlapping group are the Arab volunteers - mostly Islamic fundamentalists of Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian, and possibly Yemeni origins. Baghdadi families said that hundreds of these Arab volunteers (of whom there are about 6,000-7,000 in total) have been trapped in Iraq. They have wanted to leave the country but have been unable to cross border checkpoints. They have run out of cash and are being housed by families who provide for them out of compassion for their misery rather than sympathy with their cause. These warriors of misfortune are looking for a safe exit. This implies that the jihadists (DOD terminology) were there before the fall of Baghdad, and now just want to leave. Maybe that's what it looks like to an Iraqi sociologist based in London, but for a closer perspective consider chicagotribune.com Now all of this is currently poorly organized, and hence less effective. With the involvement of Hamas et al, the organization will improve. Moreover, unless there is a significant change in the evolving perception of Iraqis, the populace will become increasingly radical. JMO lurqer