Al Qaeda in Iraq Has a Long Memory...Suicide Bomber Kills Iraqi Lawmaker Who Was Awakening Leader Back In 2006

That's the thing about jihadis...once you are on their shit list, you're there forever and an Iraqi leader of a Sunni tribal awakening force back at the height of the war in Iraq, back in Fallujah in 2006...well, al Qaeda in Iraq finally took him out some 6 years later in Fallujah.

From the article at The Long War Journal:

A suicide bomber killed a prominent Iraqi parliamentarian and five others near Fallujah on Tuesday afternoon. Sheikh Aifan Sadoun Aifan al-Issawi, a member of the secular, Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc and one of the leaders of Iraq's Sunni tribal Awakening, was attacked as he inspected a road construction project south of the city. Two civilians and three of the sheikh's bodyguards were also killed in the explosion, and at least four others were wounded.

The suicide bomber, who was likely a member of al Qaeda in Iraq and its political front, the Islamic State of Iraq, had posed as a construction worker, according to a number of witnesses.

"The moment [Aifan] stepped out of the car to check out this road between Fallujah and Amriyah, at this moment, there was a man. He came to him, hugged him, said Allahu Akbar, and blew himself up," said Sohaib Haqi, the lawmaker's office chief, quoted by Agence France-Presse.

"One of the workers at the site went toward him, he thought he wanted something. The worker hugged him and then blew himself up," said Sadoun Ubaid, deputy head of the Anbar provincial council, in an interview with Reuters.

I'm guessing that al-Issawi never thought he was in the free and clear but this example of an al Qaeda plot reveals how just a moment off guard and you're gone.

It also shows just how valuable al Qaeda in Iraq saw this former leader as a target when they were willing to sacrifice a precious suicide bomber for a one-on-one kill.

Suicide bomber kills Iraqi lawmaker who was prominent Awakening leader, and 5 others


A suicide bomber killed a prominent Iraqi parliamentarian and five others near Fallujah on Tuesday afternoon. Sheikh Aifan Sadoun Aifan al-Issawi, a member of the secular, Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc and one of the leaders of Iraq's Sunni tribal Awakening, was attacked as he inspected a road construction project south of the city. Two civilians and three of the sheikh's bodyguards were also killed in the explosion, and at least four others were wounded.

The suicide bomber, who was likely a member of al Qaeda in Iraq and its political front, the Islamic State of Iraq, had posed as a construction worker, according to a number of witnesses.

"The moment [Aifan] stepped out of the car to check out this road between Fallujah and Amriyah, at this moment, there was a man. He came to him, hugged him, said Allahu Akbar, and blew himself up," said Sohaib Haqi, the lawmaker's office chief, quoted by Agence France-Presse.

"One of the workers at the site went toward him, he thought he wanted something. The worker hugged him and then blew himself up," said Sadoun Ubaid, deputy head of the Anbar provincial council, in an interview with Reuters.

In addition to being a member of Iraq's national parliament, Aifan was a sheikh of the Albu Issa tribe and one of the founders of Fallujah's tribal "Awakening" movement during 2006 that was largely responsible for the improvement in Iraq's security over the subsequent two years. Known to many American military personnel from that period by his nickname, "Dark," Sheikh Aifan was the first Fallujan to form and lead an American-allied militia against al Qaeda on the rural peninsula south of the famously restive city.

After his role in improving security, Aifan reaped significant financial benefit from his enhanced stature and his relationship with American forces prior to their departure from Iraq. He was a member of Anbar's provincial council, followed by his appointment as a national parliamentarian after a lawmaker was assassinated in September 2011. Aifan held important security positions at both levels, including his last post as the national parliament's security and defense committee chairman.

Target of multiple assassination attempts

Aifan has survived numerous attempts on his life since his public opposition to radical insurgents allied with al Qaeda in Iraq and their shadow government, the Islamic State of Iraq. On March 16, 2007, al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents detonated a dump truck filled with explosives and chlorine gas canisters in his village of Albu Aifan, in an attempt to kill him and other tribal leaders who had defied the Islamic State of Iraq. Several civilians were killed in the chemical attack, including three children and Aifan's mother. The event is widely regarded as an atrocity that galvanized widespread tribal support against al Qaeda in the Fallujah area.

"They killed a lot of kids and innocent people," Aifan told the Long War Journal in a 2011 interview. "I told my people, you see, they killed the kids, they killed the women. Why did they send the big tank with the chlorine? And a lot of people when they saw these bad things happen, they stopped sitting in their house, they felt they should fight, or at minimum, they should support us to fight al Qaeda. And thankfully, the people Awakened."

Sheikh Aifan survived at least three additional assassination attempts that year, including a roadside bomb attack on May 5, 2007 that maimed two of his bodyguards. In the second of two attacks in October 2007, a suicide bomber attempted to detonate a vest filled with explosives as the sheikh attended Friday prayers at a local mosque.

When asked about past and continuing threats on his life, Aifan told the the Long War Journal: "Every day when I woke up in the morning I thought, 'maybe I won't stay alive for the [whole] day.' A lot of people around me were killed, they lost their hands, their legs, because they fought. But we were fighting because ... al Qaeda killed any good people, they made rules, they kidnapped people, they were [earning] money from kidnapping and killing. Because of this we fight, because of this we believe. And I am happy because we fight al Qaeda."

Led the fight against al Qaeda

Despite numerous assassination attempts, Aifan led a largely successful campaign against al Qaeda in Iraq that significantly improved security in Fallujah, and he continued actions against the insurgent group until his death. Iraqi security forces have pressed a campaign against AQI, catching one of Aifan's main enemies, "Mullah" Fallah Hamadi, the insurgent group's emir for the Fallujan peninsula during the height of the war, near the city of Abu Ghraib in 2011. Aifan was recently quoted at length by Mawtani al Shorfa after Iraqi National Police caught six al Qaeda leaders in Kirkuk province on Dec. 28. The sheikh expressed his confidence in the security forces and reasserted his commitment to defeat of the insurgent group.

"It is expected that the six terrorists and the details of the daring raid launched by the Iraqi forces will be shown on television to inform the public of the scope and horror of the crimes committed by the terrorists," Aifan told the Iraqi news outlet. The news report would demonstrate "the security forces' ability to confront terrorism, as well as the importance of co-operation between citizens and security forces in defeating al-Qaeda in this country."

Despite Iraq's relative stabilization -- largely attributed to success of the Awakening movement -- security has deteriorated after the withdrawal of the US military at the end of 2011. While the terror group does not openly control territory as it did in 2007, before US and Iraqi forces drove it from strongholds throughout the country, al Qaeda in Iraq can still organize and execute large-scale attacks, such as a March 2012 raid in Haditha that killed 27 Iraqi policemen, including two commanders. The group has also launched a number of coordinated attacks, including large-scale bombings, in multiple cities throughout Iraq. Furthermore, AQI has been empowered by recent unrest in Syria, regenerating under a new banner, the Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, one of the most prominent rebel groups fighting the regime of Bashar al Assad.

The sheikh's death comes at a time of political unrest in Iraq. A coalition of Sunni politicians and tribal leaders is leading protests against Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's Shia-led government, claiming that Maliki has targeted leading Sunni figures as part of a campaign of sectarian revenge.

In December 2011, Aifan told the Long War Journal that al Qaeda in Iraq had become less of a problem than sectarian policies pursued by the Maliki government, asserting that formerly competitive Sunni political parties had put their differences aside because "we are all Ahl as-Sunnah" (Sunni).

Despite Iraq's current sectarian political conflict, the assassination is almost certainly a reflection of Aifan's longstanding feud with al Qaeda. The organization commonly employs suicide bombers as its assassins, and it has maintained a price on the sheikh's head in light of his effectiveness against the organization.

Iraqi Revenge: Six al Qaeda in Iraq Prisoners Slaughtered In Prison Transfer

Considering what al Qaeda in Iraq actually did to the tribes in al Anbar province over the past few years, this incident shouldn't really be a surprise. The basics: six al Qaeda in Iraq prisoners captured in Mosul by U.S. troops are then transferred to the Iraqis who are transporting them to a prison and when they are traveling through al Anbar, the convoy is attacked and all six of the al Qaeda piles of dung are shot and killed. Good. Here's some of the story out of Khaleej Times Online:

Six detainees suspected of belonging to the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq were fatally shot while being transferred from custody in the northern province of Nineveh to the western province of al-Anbar, police said.
“Unidentified gunmen killed six detained al-Qaeda members between the villages of Baiji and Haditha in the northwest of Iraq,” a source in al-Anbar’s security forces, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Saturday.
He said the men had been captured near Mosul by US soldiers, who transferred them to Iraqi custody. Iraqi security forces were bringing the men to Boka Prison in southern Iraq when gunmen attacked their convoy as it passed through the men’s native al-Anbar province.
Iraqi police have arrested more than 100 suspected insurgents since they launched “Operation New Hope,” an attempt to pacify the area around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which remains one of the country’s most dangerous areas.

To put it mildly, there are a TON of Sunni tribal members in al Anbar province (and other parts of Iraq) that are looking for some serious revenge on al Qaeda. The Awakenings in al Anbar lost many leaders to al Qaeda and so, this won't be the last instant justice that we'll see. In fact, if the U.S. pulls out as plans, I'm predicting a wholesale revenge spree in the country and it will not be pretty - and it will include revenge on the remaining Mahdi Militia members. Of course that is going to bring about some dicey Shia/Sunni conflicts for sure.

But for the six al Qaeda laying in pools of their own blood on the sands of al Anbar...let's just say Osama bin Laden says: "so long fellas...not only did you lose Iraq but their really aren't any virgins waiting on the other side."

Al-Qaeda suspects gunned down in Iraqi custody

RAMADI, IRAQ - Six detainees suspected of belonging to the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq were fatally shot while being transferred from custody in the northern province of Nineveh to the western province of al-Anbar, police said.
“Unidentified gunmen killed six detained al-Qaeda members between the villages of Baiji and Haditha in the northwest of Iraq,” a source in al-Anbar’s security forces, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Saturday.
He said the men had been captured near Mosul by US soldiers, who transferred them to Iraqi custody. Iraqi security forces were bringing the men to Boka Prison in southern Iraq when gunmen attacked their convoy as it passed through the men’s native al-Anbar province.
Iraqi police have arrested more than 100 suspected insurgents since they launched “Operation New Hope,” an attempt to pacify the area around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which remains one of the country’s most dangerous areas.
Insurgents have responded with a rash of retaliatory bombings and shooting attacks that have mostly targeted Iraqi police and army patrols.
On Saturday, unknown gunmen shot a police officer in central Mosul’s central Saray market before disappearing into the crowd, police there said.
In an apparently unrelated attack on Saturday, Ahmed Murad Shehab, a professor in Mosul University’s Faculty of Administration and Economics was fatally shot in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of al-Nur, on Mosul’s left bank, police said.

How Can General Petraeus Bring "The Awakenings" To Afghanistan?

This really is a good article over at Counterterrorism Blog that spells out directly from one of the top Iraqi leaders of The Awakening movement in Iraq just how American General David Petraeus can export the Awakening movement to Pakistan. I'd suggest you read the entire article over there but here's some of it, excerpted:

In considering how the U.S. will try to foster such a movement in Afghanistan, there is no better place to start than a 47-page memorandum written by Sheikh Ahmad Abu Risha, the leader of Iraq's Awakening, that was submitted to the American embassy in Kabul last spring.In an article published in the new issue of the Weekly Standard, my colleague Joshua Goodman and I analyze Abu Risha's memo, and the prospect of an Afghan Awakening. An excerpt:

Abu Risha reviews several challenges in Afghanistan. The country is beset by warlords and their followers, who "are accustomed to living freely without the rule of law." There is great distrust of Hamid Karzai's government, which some Afghans believe is conspiring with the United States in "Americanizing and changing the identity of the Afghan people."

Abu Risha outlines some preconditions for success. First and foremost is the need for a strong leader. In Anbar, this was the late Abdul Sattar al-Rishawi, Abu Risha's brother, assassinated in late 2007. Such a figure must have "charisma, outstanding leadership elements and courage," he should be "a man of honor, tolerant and persistent," and he should be "a center of trust" with "a political family background." Abu Risha emphasizes, however, that NATO should not try to establish new leadership in Afghanistan, but should work within the tribes' existing hierarchies. "This is a nation," he writes, "that does not accept changes or give up control easily without a fight."

Hopefully, Petraeus and his command will heed some of this advice from the Iraqi leader of The Awakenings and make some inroads in Afghanistan. It's clear that it will be more of a challenge but at the same time, we can't forget that The Awakening movement started in Al Anbar province and then SPREAD across Iraq. What Petraeus needs is one leader, one committed and vibrant Afghan leader in ONE province to step up and start it there....and have it succeed. Then let the dominos start to fall.

How to Export an Awakening


Abu Risha reviews several challenges in Afghanistan. The country is beset by warlords and their followers, who "are accustomed to living freely without the rule of law." There is great distrust of Hamid Karzai's government, which some Afghans believe is conspiring with the United States in "Americanizing and changing the identity of the Afghan people." This distrust is magnified by the country's living conditions: The economy is poor, with wages low and unemployment high. Despite improvements, the government has been unable to provide adequate education and health care.
These internal factors are compounded, in Abu Risha's view, by a military picture unfavorable to the United States. He argues that "military attacks by air against Taliban locations will cause the loss of many civilian lives," and so are likely to generate hostility to U.S. and NATO forces.
Abu Risha argues, nevertheless, that there are parallels between Afghanistan today and Iraq's Anbar Province in 2006 and 2007. Most important, al Qaeda and affiliated groups in Afghanistan have created a "climate of terror" similar to what they created in Anbar, where "they murdered anyone who opposed or criticized their actions and behavior." As in Anbar, he believes, an Awakening could help Afghanistan reverse its present deadly course.
Abu Risha outlines some preconditions for success. First and foremost is the need for a strong leader. In Anbar, this was the late Abdul Sattar al-Rishawi, Abu Risha's brother, assassinated in late 2007. Such a figure must have "charisma, outstanding leadership elements and courage," he should be "a man of honor, tolerant and persistent," and he should be "a center of trust" with "a political family background." Abu Risha emphasizes, however, that NATO should not try to establish new leadership in Afghanistan, but should work within the tribes' existing hierarchies. "This is a nation," he writes, "that does not accept changes or give up control easily without a fight."
Sterling Jensen, who participated as an Army contract linguist in the U.S. government's engagement with the Iraqi tribes as the Anbar Awakening was taking shape in the fall of 2006, agrees that Abdul Sattar's leadership was critical. "The Americans didn't make the Awakening," Jensen says. "They didn't make Sheikh Ahmed or Sheikh Abdul Sattar. You can influence some [local leaders'] thinking, but it's going to be the Americans recognizing these kinds of leaders, and supporting them."

Iraqi Troops To Take Over Control Of Anbar Province

This is a huge pivotal time in the Iraq War as U.S. troops transition the control of Anbar province over to Iraqi troops and Awakening members. Let's not forget that at one time, Anbar province was OWNED by al Qaeda - U.S. troops at one time called Anbar the most dangerous part of Iraq. And now, U.S. troops will basically be on call there and will look to be shifted to other areas. Here's some of the details over at CNN:

Anbar would be the 11th of Iraq's 18 provinces to revert to local security control. The move comes amid a big drop in violence in Iraq and calls from Iraqis for the United States to come up with a troop withdrawal timetable.
The other provinces that have transitioned to Iraqi security control are Duhuk, Irbil and Sulaimaniya in the Kurdish region and Karbala, Najaf, Qadisiya, Muthanna, Thiqar, Basra and Maysan in the Shiite south.
Anbar would be the first Sunni-dominated province to revert to Iraqi security control.

What this truly represents is the defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq - it's a symbolic event, for sure. People forget how Anbar province was probably the clearest signal of what was really happening in the Iraq War. While confused politicians like Joe Biden and John Murtha and Harry Reid all called the Iraq War a "civil war" between Sunnis and Shias, the real fact was evident in Anbar that al Qaeda had taken over and were busy killing local Iraqis and U.S. troops. Anbar became the shining star of al Qaeda in Iraq. Then, with the brilliance of Petraeus' surge couple with the birth of the Sunni Awakening in Anbar, al Qaeda found themselves in a dogfight and eventually, their control and plans were decimated.

Iraqi troops to take control of former restive province

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S.-led coalition troops are scheduled to hand over control of a onetime hub of the Sunni insurgency in Iraq to Iraqi forces on Monday, a senior American military official said.

The security transfer in Iraq's Anbar province originally was set for June, but it has been delayed twice.
The first postponement was blamed on a sandstorm, but days before the ceremony was to take place, there was also a suicide bombing at a meeting of tribal sheikhs in an Anbar town west of Baghdad.
The official said the handover was rescheduled after the sandstorm, but a new transfer date was not announced. The transfer then was delayed because Iraqi officials disagreed over how they would handle certain issues, the official said.
More than 25,000 U.S. troops, mostly Marines, serve in Anbar province. They will remain for the time being, the official said, but will shift their mission to supporting Iraqi forces when needed.
The turnover comes as Gen. David Petraeus -- the top U.S. commander in Iraq -- is scheduled to begin making his recommendations to President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, the official said.
The proposals could come as soon as month's end or in early September and could cover withdrawals over the next six to eight months, the official said.

The Birth Of An "Awakening" In Pakistan?

This is actually some pretty exciting word out of Pakistan. As I blogged here about last week, the Pakistani military has opened a new operation in Mohmand district of Bajaur province and almost in unison, nearly 200 tribesman in the area have decided to fight the Taliban. Here's some of the details from the article at Dawn:

Hundreds of tribesmen in Mohmand area of Bajaur have vowed to resist the local Taliban as security forces continued their operation in the troubled region.Reports reaching here said that at least 20 militants had been killed in different areas of the agency on Saturday and Sunday.The militants, meanwhile, shot dead two tribesmen in Alizai area.

Local people said that armed volunteers were patrolling Lar Kali and Ber Kali round the clock to stop the Taliban entering the areas.They said that anti-Taliban sentiments were intensifying and the tribesmen decided not to allow militant activities in their area.

Now, I don't expect the kind of wave of Awakening Councils to form in Pakistan that we saw in Iraq but it is very welcome to actually see the locals in Pakistan finally say "enough is enough." The Taliban have been wandering into that realm of abuse of locals that al Qaeda in Iraq resorted to which backfired on them.

If the Pakistani government would get its head out of its ass, they would jump at this opportunity to open up some funding for this group of tribesman and start trying to spread it across the volatile northwest provinces.

Tribesmen decide to take on militants

KHAR, Aug 17: Hundreds of tribesmen in Mohmand area of Bajaur have vowed to resist the local Taliban as security forces continued their operation in the troubled region.Reports reaching here said that at least 20 militants had been killed in different areas of the agency on Saturday and Sunday.The militants, meanwhile, shot dead two tribesmen in Alizai area.Troops, backed by Cobra helicopters, have been using heavy artillery in the operation.Local people said that armed volunteers were patrolling Lar Kali and Ber Kali round the clock to stop the Taliban entering the areas.They said that anti-Taliban sentiments were intensifying and the tribesmen decided not to allow militant activities in their area.Groups of people in Khar, the regional headquarters of the agency, are patrolling the town to check movement of the militants.Displaced families, meanwhile, started returning to their homes after the political administration assured them that they would be provided protection.Assistant political agent Iqbal Khattak told Dawn that the government’s writ had been restored in Khar and security forces had started patrolling areas which had earlier been besieged by the local Taliban.The militants had also taken control of the main roads in the region and cut off the area from the rest of the country.“Situation is normal now and people should start routine activities,” said Mr Khattak.He said that about 130 displaced families had returned to the town on Sunday.Officials said that over 250,000 people had left Bajaur for other areas after security forces launched an operation.Sources said that troops attacked two vehicles in Mulla Syed area on Saturday evening and killed eight militants.Suspected strongholds of the militants came under fire in Inayet Kali, Mulla Kali, Jar, Haji Lawang, Jar and Damadola.According to sources, 12 militants were killed when some the positions held by them were heavily bombed.

Anti-Al Qaeda Militia Leader In Kirkuk Survives NINTH Assassination Attempt

I'm not sure if this group of Iraqi militia in northern Iraq, in Kirkuk to be exact, are your typical Awakening Council material but they have been instrumental in fighting al Qaeda in northern Iraq and its leader, Abdel Karim Ensayef al-Juburi, just survived his NINTH assassination attempt by al Qaeda - ya think he's pissed the boys off at al Qaeda just a touch?

Anyway, here's some of the details from the AFP report:

A suicide bomber blocked the path of Abdel Karim Ensayef al-Juburi's motorcade on Tuesday then blew up the explosives-rigged vehicle, Captain Hassan al-Juburi told AFP.
But Juburi and five bodyguards all escaped with only injuries.
Alias Abu Seif al-Kidawi, Juburi heads a 1,000-strong US-backed militia in one of the most strategic and dangerous districts of Iraq, the Al-Muntaka neighbourhood of Kirkuk where pipelines serving the province's oilfields meet.
Oil infrastructure in the neighbourhood has been a repeated target for sabotage attempts by Sunni insurgents, particularly those loyal to Al-Qaeda.

The truly miraculous part of all this is that al Qaeda rarely misses in these attempts - these car bombers usually have the vehicle so loaded with explosives no one survives within two city blocks. And this guy has survived nine of these?!!!

It's been these kinds of militias and Awakening groups that have afforded the U.S. troops the luxury of not having to patrol some of these real hotbeds like this district in Kirkuk. Every story you see about them seems to have to mention that they are Sunni but the fact of the matter is that al Qaeda, their enemy, is Sunni as well.

I don't know if this guy has any more lives than the nine he has used up but al Qaeda in Iraq has to be pulling their turbans into shreds over this guy's escape ability.

Iraq anti-Qaeda leader survives 9th assassination bid

KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) — The head of an anti-Qaeda militia survived a truck bombing in Iraq's northern oil city of Kirkuk, the ninth assassination attempt against him, police said on Wednesday.
A suicide bomber blocked the path of Abdel Karim Ensayef al-Juburi's motorcade on Tuesday then blew up the explosives-rigged vehicle, Captain Hassan al-Juburi told AFP.
But Juburi and five bodyguards all escaped with only injuries.
Alias Abu Seif al-Kidawi, Juburi heads a 1,000-strong US-backed militia in one of the most strategic and dangerous districts of Iraq, the Al-Muntaka neighbourhood of Kirkuk where pipelines serving the province's oilfields meet.
Oil infrastructure in the neighbourhood has been a repeated target for sabotage attempts by Sunni insurgents, particularly those loyal to Al-Qaeda.
His militia is one of dozens around Iraq set up with the backing of the US military since 2006 to make common cause against al-Qaeda. The great majority are manned by Sunni Arab tribesmen or former rebels.
A colourful character with four wives and 19 children at the age of 39, Juburi was a businessman under executed president Saddam Hussein's regime before being jailed for smuggling.
He was freed by US troops during the invasion of 2003.

Awakening Council Leader and 7 Bodyguards Killed By Female Al Qaeda Suicide Bomber In Baqouba

Tragic. The leader of the local Awakening Council in the city of Baqouba, which is in Diyala province, was killed today along with seven of his bodyguards as a female suicide bomber of al Qaeda in Iraq approached them in traditional dress and set herself off. Here's the latest from CBS News:

A female suicide bomber blew herself up near U.S.-allied Sunni Arab fighters walking in a crowded area of Baqouba, killing at least eight of the guards and wounding 24 other people Thursday evening, police said.

The woman, who was shrouded in a traditional black Islamic robe, detonated her explosives belt at about 8:30 p.m. as she approached a group of Awakening Council guards in the central New Baqouba area, a police officer said. The officer, who read the police bombing report but spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, and witnesses said the local Awakening Council chief, Naaim al-Duliami, was killed along with seven of his bodyguards.

It appears that the U.S. military is investigating and there is some rumor that the bomber wasn't a woman but I will bet you, that if this was a male, he was dressed in woman's garb to get this close to this group.

As tragic as this is, I would say this is a panicked attempt from al Qaeda to create some chaos in the province of Diyala. I just blogged here at Holger Awakens about the upcoming operation in Diyala that will see nearly 40,000 Iraqi and American troops sweep the province for the dredges of al Qaeda. Perhaps this was a warning from al Qaeda that it wasn't going to be easy (and I did point that out in my other post), but the fact is that al Qaeda will not make it out of the new operation if they are kept contained prior to the operation.

It's important to recognize though, that in other instances where leaders of the Awakening Councils have been killed or injured, it has NOT stopped them from going after al Qaeda and I doubt it will stop them here. Diyala is a tough area and al Qaeda still has roots here but with 40,000 troops coming soon, this kind of attack won't save a one of their sorry asses.

Sidenote: I want to call your attention to the headline of the article from CBN News that I linked above. First of all, I rarely link to any major MSN news sources because they are shills for the terrorists and the leftists. But look at the title of this article:

8 U.S.-Allied Fighters Killed In Iraq

Now, maybe it's just me here being paranoid but to me that looks like CBS' best effort at trying to disguise this for headline readers as Americans being killed in Iraq. Why would they say "U.S.-Allied" ???? Why include "U.S." in it at all? Why not " 8 Awakening Council Fighters...." or " 8 Sons of Iraq ....." I saw this story headline as a substory at another site and at first glance, I thought we had lost some U.S. troops today. I'm thinking CBS wanted me to think that all along.

8 U.S.-Allied Fighters Killed In Iraq

(CBS/ AP) A female suicide bomber blew herself up near U.S.-allied Sunni Arab fighters walking in a crowded area of Baqouba, killing at least eight of the guards and wounding 24 other people Thursday evening, police said. The attack comes as the U.S.-backed Iraqi military is promising to launch a major offensive in Diyala province aimed at taming the last major insurgent belt north of Baghdad. Baqouba is the province's capital. The woman, who was shrouded in a traditional black Islamic robe, detonated her explosives belt at about 8:30 p.m. as she approached a group of Awakening Council guards in the central New Baqouba area, a police officer said. The officer, who read the police bombing report but spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, and witnesses said the local Awakening Council chief, Naaim al-Duliami, was killed along with seven of his bodyguards. The U.S. military in northern Iraq said troops were investigating the bombing and it could not immediately confirm that the attacker was a woman. The Sunni turn against al Qaeda has been credited by the U.S. military as a key factor in driving down Iraq's violence to its lowest point in more than four years. Also cited are the U.S. troop buildup and a cease-fire declared by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for his Shiite militia. Members of the U.S.-allied Sunni groups have frequently been targeted by al Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgents seeking to derail the security gains. Earlier Thursday, gunmen killed three Awakening Council members in drive-by shootings at checkpoints in the Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad, according to a leading member of the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. Baqouba and other areas in Diyala been hit by several bombings in recent months as Sunni insurgents show they retain the ability to cause casualties. Two suicide bombers attacked army recruits at a Baqouba military camp last week, killing at least 28 people and wounding 57. Insurgents have increasingly been using women to stage suicide bombings in a bid to avoid security measures. Women are more easily able to hide explosives under their cloaks and they often are not searched at checkpoints. Laying the groundwork for the expected new Diyala offensive, American soldiers of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment have been searching caves and blowing up suspected hideouts believed used by al Qaeda near the mountain town of Qara Tappah, about 50 miles northeast of Baqouba. They also checked IDs of adult males in each house and detained some on suspicion of being al Qaeda operatives as part of this week's sweep, "Operation Cat's Eye." U.S. commanders have said they will assist Iraq's government in pursuing the Diyala offensive against militants who are trying to regroup in the area.

Female Suicide Bomber Gunned Down Before Detonation In Iraq

The 20th Iraqi woman to strap on a suicide belt and attempt mass murder in Iraq didn't make it to her destination as Iraqi Awakening Council guards gunned her down setting off her suicide belt explosives. Her target was the headquarters of the Awakening Council's headquarters in Diyala province. Here's some of the details from CBS:

Iraqi guards opened fire on a female suicide bomber on Sunday and triggered her explosives belt before she reached their headquarters, foiling the latest of more than 20 suicide missions by women this year, military officials said. The bomber was targeting the headquarters of an awakening council - Sunni volunteers who have turned against insurgents - about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. One of the guards was wounded in the blast, the Iraqi military said.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's strategy of recruiting women as suicide bombers has been one of their most deadly in the past six months but this is proof that U.S., Iraqi and Awakening forces are looking for this now. The scary part of it all is once the strategy has been identified, al Qaeda in Iraq is usually on to another one.

Suicide Bomber Gunned Down In Iraq

(AP) Iraqi guards opened fire on a female suicide bomber on Sunday and triggered her explosives belt before she reached their headquarters, foiling the latest of more than 20 suicide missions by women this year, military officials said. The bomber was targeting the headquarters of an awakening council - Sunni volunteers who have turned against insurgents - about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. One of the guards was wounded in the blast, the Iraqi military said. The number of female suicide attackers has risen from eight in 2007 to more than 20 so far this year, according to U.S. military figures. Including Sunday's attack, at least nine have occurred in Diyala province, a former al Qaeda stronghold where the extremist group is trying to regroup after setbacks last year.

A female suicide bomber struck outside a government complex a week ago in Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 40, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials. The attacks are part of an uptick in violence against Iraqi security forces and local administrations. A truck bomb detonated by remote control Sunday killed six policemen and an awakening council member in Duluiyah, some 45 miles north of Baghdad, said police Col. Mohammed Khalid.

In other violence, gunmen killed the head of Basra's intelligence department Saturday in a drive-by shooting in eastern Baghdad, local police said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Iraq Integrates 9,000 Awakening Council Members Into Police Force

This is absolutely a brilliant idea on the part of the Iraqis. There have been reports lately that the U.S. was going to be stopping or at least cutting back on payments to most of the Awakening Councils, so the Iraqi government has jumped at the opportunity to blend these valued allies into the police force. Here's some of the report over at Aswat Aliraq:

A spokesman for Baghdad security plan on Wednesday said around 9000 awakening council members were appointed as Baghdad police personnels.“The number of awakening council members(Sons of Iraq) appointed as policemen has come to 9000,” Brig, Gen. Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI).

Not only does this ensure that the Awakening Council members stay in the fight and aligned with the goals of the Iraqi government, but it will bring some excellent leadership and expertise to the police forces.

I'm not sure if the U.S. commanders in Iraq were behind this strategy, but it really is brilliant. At the same time, the links that the Awakening members have to the civilian population will keep a good flow of intel coming into the police departments on the movements and activities of al Qaeda in Iraq. Good, good news.

Iraqi Gov’t integrates 9000 awakening council members into Baghdad police-spokesman

Baghdad, June24, (VOI)-A spokesman for Baghdad security plan on Wednesday said around 9000 awakening council members were appointed as Baghdad police personnels.“The number of awakening council members(Sons of Iraq) appointed as policemen has come to 9000,” Brig, Gen. Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI).The spokesman noted “integrating Sons of Iraq into police personnels is ongoing”, but he did not elaborate the whole number of awakening council across Baghdad areas.Awakening councils are mostly Sunni groups that turned against al-Qaeda network in Iraq(AQI)and have helped US-Iraq forces to wrestle power from the AQI in many western and central Iraqi areas.AM

Confiscated Documents List 6,000 Al Qaeda In Iraq Suicide Bombers

Ominous to say the least. This is from an article over at MonstersAndCritics found here:

Iraqi security forces found documents purported to belong to the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Diyala province, which include names of 6,000 alleged suicide bombers in Iraq, an official newspaper said Tuesday.
'The documents reveal that 6,000 people, most of them Arab and Afghan nationals, were involved in suicide bombings in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003,' Sheikh Sabah Shukr al-Shumary, the spokesman for the Awakening Councils of Baquba Clans, was quoted by al-Sabah newspaper as saying.

And as if that isn't bad enough, look at this from the article:

The spokesman said the documents revealed that widows of suicide bombers in Diyala were invited to join al-Qaeda.
Al-Shumary added that intelligence information indicated the presence of training camps in the Hamrin mountains in Baquba, where 15 women are being trained for suicide bombing operations.

All along it has been known that Diyala province has been a stronghold of al Qaeda in Iraq and when the U.S. forces tried to gut out the city of Baquba, they saw what was basically a home based camp of al Qaeda. But this reveals just how big of an "industry" suicide bombing had become with the sophisticated training camps and of course, what seems to be a limitless number of suicide attackers.

I've said it before...any human being that would prey upon the emotions of a woman who has lost her husband to enlist her in the effort to kill herself and others, is below the worst vermin on this Earth. There isn't a special place in Hell for these minions...oh no, there's a dungeon BELOW Hell that will take care of these sorts.

Document lists 6,000 al-Qaeda suicide bombers in Iraq (Extra)

Baghdad - Iraqi security forces found documents purported to belong to the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Diyala province, which include names of 6,000 alleged suicide bombers in Iraq, an official newspaper said Tuesday.
'The documents reveal that 6,000 people, most of them Arab and Afghan nationals, were involved in suicide bombings in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003,' Sheikh Sabah Shukr al-Shumary, the spokesman for the Awakening Councils of Baquba Clans, was quoted by al-Sabah newspaper as saying.
Awakening Councils are police units set up by clans and backed by the US military to fight Sunni extremist insurgents loyal to al-Qaeda mainly in Sunni-dominated provinces.
The spokesman said the documents revealed that widows of suicide bombers in Diyala were invited to join al-Qaeda.
Al-Shumary added that intelligence information indicated the presence of training camps in the Hamrin mountains in Baquba, where 15 women are being trained for suicide bombing operations.
Four suicide bombings were carried out by women in the last two months in Baquba, the capital of Diyala, 60 kilometres north-east of Baghdad.

Sons Of Iraq Along With U.S. Troops Capture High Ranking Al Qaeda In Iraq Operative

Great, great news from the Baghdad area! A high ranking operative in al Qaeda in Iraq operations, a piece of shit known for leading IED and sniping operations in and around Baghdad, has been captured and taken off the streets. This is the result of intel coming to the Sons of Iraq and them taking the target down. Look at this excerpt from the Multi-National Force piece here:

During a meeting with a local sheik and other citizens, a Sons of Iraq member indicated that a known key terrorist was nearby. The SoI member detained two suspects and turned them over to MND-B soldiers for further identification.
One of the suspects was positively identified as a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda of Iraq. The captured terrorist is a prominent member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell that operates in Baghdad and the southern outskirts of Baghdad

Three things about this capture I want to point out:

1. Again, this is the result of an Iraqi citizen's tip going to an "Awakening" group showing that more and more Iraqi citizens are feeling emboldened to rat out the al Qaeda in their midst.
2. The Sons of Iraq are proving that not only can they help the effort in locating al Qaeda, they are capable of taking the information, understanding the immediacy, and acting upon it to either capture or kill the target
3. The intel that we will get out of this key al Qaeda operative is going to be nothing short of priceless. Watch for key take downs of al Qaeda operations in Baghdad over the next two weeks.

And as we have seen over the past few months, more and more al Qaeda in Iraq mid level and upper level leaders and operatives are being taken down - this has to have extremely adverse effects on the overall efficiency of the al Qaeda operations. We aren't just taking out the leaders but we are depleting the expertise in IED construction and placement. Like I said, this is great news.

Sons of Iraq capture key terrorist

BAGHDAD – The strong working relationship between Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq) led directly to the capture of key terrorist at approximately 9 p.m. April 28.
During a meeting with a local sheik and other citizens, a Sons of Iraq member indicated that a known key terrorist was nearby. The SoI member detained two suspects and turned them over to MND-B soldiers for further identification.
One of the suspects was positively identified as a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda of Iraq. The captured terrorist is a prominent member of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell that operates in Baghdad and the southern outskirts of Baghdad.
The suspect is reportedly known for vehicle-borne improvised-explosive device attacks, improvised-explosive device attacks, sniper attacks on Coalition Forces, the kidnapping and murder of Iraqis, and weapons trafficking. He has been directly implicated as a key operator in an attack on Coalition forces at a checkpoint in which a vehicle-borne improvised-explosive device, under his direction, was responsible for the killing of three MND-B soldiers.
“The Abna al-Iraq again prove to be heroes of the day; they found this extremely dangerous terrorist and took him off the streets,” said Maj. Al Hing, spokesperson for 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “His actions directly led to the deaths of both U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi citizens.
“Detaining him and taking him out of the al-Qaeda terrorist network will hamper the foreign-led group’s ability to carry out indiscriminate attacks against the Iraqi people, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces. The partnership between the Abna al-Iraq and Coalition forces, working together to capture this known terrorist, makes for a safer and more stable Iraq.”
Soldiers from MND-B continue to work with the Iraqi Security Forces and conduct operations to maintain pressure on al-Qaeda in Iraq and any other foreign terrorists and Special Groups criminals by targeting their leadership, networks and sanctuaries.

Confiscated Al Qaeda in Iraq Letter To Their Leader: Generate Chaos, Awakenings Biggest Threat

An interesting communication found in a raid on an al Qaeda in Iraq safehouse had yielded some insight into what al Qaeda in Iraq has found successful, what it fears and what it proposes as strategy for the future -at least through the eyes of one jihadist who wrote the letter, that being Abu Safyan.

I'm going to go ahead and pick out the quotes from the actual letter from the article here at CNN:

"We must always leave the enemy in psychological conflict" so that "they can never have stability," according to the document. With such instability, they "will not all unite against us," it adds.
The letter details the need for fostering "security chaos" among the anti-al Qaeda in Iraq and mostly Sunni awakening groups, Shiites and Kurds, the coalition forces, and the government.
"This will lead to weaken them, particularly the Maliki Shia government, by wisely, intelligently and cautiously spreading sedition among them," the letter said, referring to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
"We will work against them and attack them as they fight among themselves," Abu Safyan is quoted as saying.
Abu Safyan talks about the need to "bring many brothers who have sharia knowledge and abide by the teachings of Islam from the outside of Iraq."
"They will explain to the people why we are fighting and whom we are fighting with, we must explain to them whom the mujahideen are and who are the people we're fighting."

And what I think is the most telling part of the article on this letter found, is this:

In the letter, Abu Safyan considers awakening groups a top threat to al Qaeda in Iraq and proposes a media campaign that would discredit the awakening forces by passing along false information about them.

It's right there - it is more proof that the Awakening Councils are really, really having an effect on al Qaeda in Iraq. They talk about a media campaign so hopefully, the U.S. can work with the Iraqi government to shut off any access that al Qaeda in Iraq could try to must to the media.

The one thing this letter does also show is this: al Qaeda in Iraq is not shaking in its boots. You can see the confidence in this letter - the planning alone shows a man who is not going to give up. So, when you are confronted with an enemy who will not give up, you simply need to redouble your efforts to exterminate him.

Militant's letter: Generate chaos, 'psychological conflict'

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military says a recent raid uncovered a detailed letter from an al Qaeda in Iraq militant to the group's leader about how the insurgent network should continue to generate economic chaos and "psychological conflict" and must bear down against American-backed Sunni militias.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday about a letter to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, from a militant named Abu Safyan. The document was posted on the Multi-National Forces-Iraq Web site.
The sentiments reflect the tenacity of and continuing challenges posed by the predominantly Sunni militant network believed to be responsible for bombings that erupted across Iraq on Tuesday. Bergner said it "provides further evidence about the strategy and tactics of violence" the group is pursuing.
Bergner said a March 5 raid northwest of Baghdad resulted in three insurgents killed, including Abu Safyan, and three others captured. Troops seized a suicide vest, computer material and a stack of documents, including the document from Abu Safyan -- who was believed to be from Diyala province. Abu Safyan lays out a variety of tactics that militants should pursue.

Abu Safyan also called for organizing fighting groups by having an emir as commander with sniper, assassination and martyrs' groups.
It also cautions vigilance against allowing the "enemy" to infiltrate its apparatus and exhorts its fighters to keep silent about operations.
Sometimes, "they speak of our operations and area's secrets among their families and their wives in their houses, which unfortunately lead to the spread of our secrets.

Al Qaeda in Iraq Hideout Found On River Island In Samarra

When I first saw this headline, I didn't think that much of it but after reading more of it, this could actually be very big news. Those that found this al Qaeda in Iraq hideout are descbribed as "a group of Sunni Arabs fighting the Islamist militants" - well, that in plain language, means that members of an Awakening Council in Northern Iraq got another tip from an Iraqi citizen and went in to investigate. This is from the article:

"We found 1,500 heavy, medium and light weapons as well as several bombs," Hassan told AFP.
He said the underground hideout had four big rooms, each with eight beds.
"We found documents which were messages between the base and other Al-Qaeda branches. One document had the names of Al-Qaeda members, another was a message from the group's chief (Abu Ayyub al-Masri) to other members," Hassan said.
He said other documents involved exchanges of messages regarding "funding, the suspension of some fighters and new deployments in Samarra".

And now THAT is what may be huge about this find - the fact that all that intel was in this hideout, once turned over to the U.S. command, is probably going to bring some great perspective on a lot of al Qaeda in Iraq operations. I especially noted the reference to "suspension of some fighters" - now, at this point in time, I gotta believe that al Qaeda in Iraq is desperate for any willing, able fighter to join them, so for them to suspend a member...well, that has to mean they are paranoid about moles in their organization or they are worried about some of the civilian torture issues. Either way it shows some chaos in the group and is a welcome sign.

I've said it before that the Awakening Councils have brought a key element to the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq and that is the tips that the general population will give only to them - this has been invaluable.

Here's the full story from AFP.

Suspected Qaeda hideout found on Iraq island

SAMARRA, Iraq (AFP) — A suspected Al-Qaeda hideout has been uncovered on an island on the Tigris river in central Iraq, by a group of Sunni Arabs fighting the Islamist militants, their leader said on Saturday.
The hideout, from where Al-Qaeda's operations in the provinces of Salaheddin, Anbar and Diyala are believed to have been coordinated, was found on an island in the Tigris near the city of Samarra, 125 kilometres (80 miles) north of Baghdad.
Majin Younis Hassan, leader of the local anti-Qaeda group, said the hideout was discovered early on Saturday following an "intelligence tip".
"We found 1,500 heavy, medium and light weapons as well as several bombs," Hassan told AFP.
He said the underground hideout had four big rooms, each with eight beds.
"We found documents which were messages between the base and other Al-Qaeda branches. One document had the names of Al-Qaeda members, another was a message from the group's chief (Abu Ayyub al-Masri) to other members," Hassan said.
He said other documents involved exchanges of messages regarding "funding, the suspension of some fighters and new deployments in Samarra".
Since September 2006, the US military has been bankrolling anti-Qaeda groups across Iraq recruited mainly among Sunni Arab tribes and former insurgents.
US commanders say there are now around 130 such groups totalling some 80,000 volunteers, 80 percent of them Sunni and the remainder Shiite.

Iraqi Tells Story of Fighting Against U.S. And Now Alongside Us

This really is an amazing article and one that you should read in its entirety, here at Times Online. The amazing part of Abu Abdullah's story is the full circle of his status in conflict with the U.S. - he was a major in Saddam Hussein's army, then a member of the Sunni insurgency fighting Americans, a brief member of al Qaeda and finally, he is now shoulder to shoulder with U.S. and Iraqi Army forces fighting against al Qaeda. Now, let's not get the idea that this guy is wearing stars and stripes underwear - he won't shed a tear once the Americans are out of Iraq and he simply hates the American "occupancy" but what I wanted to focus on this article is this: Abdullah's hatred of Americans was overshadowed by his disgust and anger towards al Qaeda.

Let's look at what he said about his exposure to al Qaeda:

After another six months he was released, but his time in captivity left him even more embittered towards the US forces and he vowed to return to the resistance. “When I arrived back in Samarra I found that a lot of things had changed. My group had become part of al-Qaeda and was killing members of the Iraqi security forces and even civilians,” he said.
Most of the people he had fought with had fled to Syria, being replaced by hired guns who were working for an influx of new commanders, many of them foreign. Mr Abdullah said that other Arab countries and Iran were helping to fund the operations.
“I could not tolerate or accept how they were working, so in the end I fled to Syria. I felt quite disappointed with the way that the resistance had become.” After only a week Mr Abdullah returned to Iraq and took his family to Baghdad, where he used his car to work as a taxi driver. Leaving al-Qaeda meant that his life was in constant danger. Twice gunmen tried to shoot him and he was forced to move house four times.

The key here is this - we can't be lulled into thinking that Iraqis like Abdullah are converts to American patriotism. They are not. Abdullah was a Sunni army major in Saddam's army - he basically hates America from the history of Gulf War 1 and still regards the Americans as "occupiers." At the same time, you can see some outlandish claims from him in the article about his treatment in prison while captured by American troops. But we have to be realistic - this guy is one of those many across Iraq right now that are fighting the true enemy - al Qaeda in Iraq. He wants his country to step up and run their own country and so do we. So while we have enjoyed the alliance of the Awakenings across Iraq and fighters like Abdullah will help the U.S. achieve victory, make no bones about it that these guys want us out and they probably will never see us anything other than occupiers. A Shia from Basra may feel differently but that is the nature of Iraq - it's complicated. But in the meantime, it's telling of how al Qaeda was able to turn so many Iraqi insurgents against them in such a short time.

I fought for my land against the US. Now I fight alongside them

As a loyal officer under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi major never imagined that one day he would become an insurgent, but when Iraq fell five years ago he was left bitter, jobless and desperate to drive the invading forces out.
“I saw my country collapse right in front of my eyes,” said Abu Abdullah, who has since orchestrated countless attacks against the US military, spent time in the notorious Abu Ghraib detention centre and briefly joined forces with al-Qaeda.
Recalling the invasion, he told The Times: “I felt as though my freedom was being snatched from me. It was one of the darkest moments of my life.” In many ways Mr Abdullah’s story is the story of the insurgency in Iraq, where the changing allegiances of Sunni Arab fighters has dictated the pace of a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 2003.

Appalled at the cruelty of attacks sponsored by al-Qaeda, Mr Abdullah switched sides recently and is cooperating, albeit reluctantly, with the US military as part of a grassroots security drive that has spread across Iraq.
Five years ago, as Major Abdullah, he was holed up in the Iraqi city of al-Kut, south of Baghdad, listening to the sound of American combat aircraft dropping bombs on buildings and the thunder of invading tanks. “When the infantry entered al-Kut most of my soldiers stopped fighting. They realised that the US Army was much more powerful than ours,” he said. “We pulled out and returned to Baghdad. All my soldiers vanished. It was over.”

“I started to feel that the Americans were better than the Iraqi Government at that moment. I still look at them as occupiers. My feelings towards them have not changed. But my main concern is to stop the Iraqi people’s suffering,” he said

Al Qaeda In Iraq Beheads 5 Awakening Members In Diyala

Okay, as most of the regular readers here at Holger Awakens know, I am extremely supportive of all military operations by the U.S. in Iraq - I have been a light carrier for the Surge and for our presence in Iraq until total victory is achieved. But even I have days when my frustration boils over.
My frustration is focused on one thing, on one area: Diyala Province in Northern Iraq. First, here is an excerpt of what happened today:

Suspected Al Qaeda militants have attacked a village in Diyala province north of Baghdad and beheaded five members of a local group fighting the jihadist network, police have said.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Najim al-Sumaidaie said the militants raided the village of Benizad, south of the provincial capital Baquba, and attacked a newly created outpost of a local anti-Al Qaeda 'Awakening' group.
"Five people from the Sahwa (Awakening) group were shot dead and later beheaded by the militants," the police officer said, referring to groups of mostly Sunni Arabs who have allied with the US military to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Okay, back to my frustration - sure, the U.S. troops ran into huge roadblocks in Ramadi and in Fallujah and throughout Anbar province but with a strong will, more offensive troops and a coalition with the Anbar Awakening, those areas are now VACANT of al Qaeda. But, we have had miserable success in Diyala. We tried two major offensives to gut Diyala of al Qaeda but we didn't get that done and with the onset of the Awakenings in the north and east (like the Sahwa who was attacked today) we still have seen Diyala appear time and time again as the most violent area of Iraq.

It's my feeling that we left Diyala too soon to go after Mosul. It's also my view that al Qaeda is still moving back and forth out of Diyala to Mosul. The fact that we are still seeing major car and suicide bombings in Baghdad is testament to the fact that al Qaeda is still in significant force in Diyala.

I hope we find the answer soon...if not, we are going to see the fall of these Awakenings in the north and then we will lose our eyes on the streets and our ears to the ground.

Here's the full story.

Five beheaded in Al Qaeda attack on Iraq village: police

Suspected Al Qaeda militants have attacked a village in Diyala province north of Baghdad and beheaded five members of a local group fighting the jihadist network, police have said.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Najim al-Sumaidaie said the militants raided the village of Benizad, south of the provincial capital Baquba, and attacked a newly created outpost of a local anti-Al Qaeda 'Awakening' group.
"Five people from the Sahwa (Awakening) group were shot dead and later beheaded by the militants," the police officer said, referring to groups of mostly Sunni Arabs who have allied with the US military to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq.
One of the members of the group who survived the attack with injuries said they had established the outpost.
"We set up the outpost with the help of Iraqi army soldiers who later left us to man the post. However, this afternoon we were attacked," he said from his bed in a hospital in Baquba where he is being treated for his wounds.
"Five of our number were killed after we ran short of ammunition. Another 10 of us escaped. We later alerted the army, who went to the village and found that the five men who were shot dead had been beheaded. Their bodies were mutilated."
Diyala is one of the most dangerous regions of Iraq where US and Iraqi troops are fighting Al Qaeda militants.
The Awakening groups began in western Anbar province where Sunni tribal leaders in September 2006 turned on their former Al Qaeda allies and put them to flight.
Since then, they have sprung up across the country, supported and paid for by the US military, which sees them as essential to help hold areas cleared by an American "surge" of some 30,000 troops.

Female Suicide Bomber Kills Awakening Council Leader in Diyala

Al Qaeda in Iraq has pulled out all stops in going after the Sunni tribal sheiks that have formed Awakening Councils in Iraq. The latest victim of al Qaeda's targeting, Sheik Thaeir Ghadhban al-Karkhi of the Awakening Council in Diyala, was killed by a female suicide bomber as well as the Sheik's niece and bodyguard. The cunning and strategy of al Qaeda in Iraq cannot be ignored, look at how the plan worked, from the article from Breitbart:

Mahmoud said the bomber had visited the sheik's house on Sunday, claiming that her husband had been kidnapped and asking for help. Mahmoud said his brother told the woman to return Monday.
"She came back this morning and nobody checked her. She had an appointment with the sheik and the guards told her to go and knock on his door," Mahmoud said.
The woman was ushered into the house and blew herself up once she got close to the sheik, Mahmoud said.

The al Qaeda message is clear - abandon any coalition with U.S. and Iraq Army forces or you will be targeted and killed. I think the problem for al Qaeda in Iraq is this: they are only serving to incite the Awakenings with this and instead of persuading , they are creating even more hatred and resolve to see that al Qaeda is eliminated in Iraq. At the same time, the Awakening Councils have to begin to distrust EVERY single person, regardless of gender, that approaches them.

Female Suicide Bomber in Iraq Kills 3

BAGHDAD (AP) - A female suicide bomber on Monday killed the head of a local group of Sunni fighters northeast of Baghdad who had turned against al-Qaida insurgents, the leader's brother and a provincial police official said.
Sheik Thaeir Ghadhban al-Karkhi, his 5-year-old niece and a security guard were killed in the blast in Diyala province, where violence has persisted despite drops in other parts of Iraq.
Duraid Mahmoud, the sheik's brother, told The Associated Press he witnessed the attack inside his brother's home. A provincial police official, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to release the information, confirmed the attack.
The woman, wearing an explosives belt, entered al-Karkhi's home in the predominantly Sunni town of Kanaan about east of Baqouba.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But al-Qaida in Iraq has been targeting fellow Sunni Arabs who have taken up arms against the militants and joined the so-called awakening councils like the one al-Karkhi led.
The councils are made up of U.S.-backed former insurgents who have risen up against the brutality and strict Islamic codes of conduct al- Qaida was trying to impose on local populations.
The U.S. military said it was looking into the incident but did not immediately have any details.

Awakening Force in Samarra Sticks It To Al Qaeda in Iraq

Great news! A tribal force or "Awakening" group in northern Iraq, specifically in Samarra, killed one al Qaeda in Iraq jihadist (who happened to be wearing a suicide belt) and captured two others in a raid today. That raid uncovered the following munitions as well: 100 rocket propellers, 100 mortar guns, hundreds of rifles of various ranges, explosives, mines and explosive belts.
This is exactly how things turned around in Anbar province - and get this, when these tribal forces were finished with the raid, they turned the captive al Qaeda over to U.S. Troops! So now we have these two pieces of shit and can get our intel from them as well.
Things have been bloody in not only Iraq lately but in Afghanistan as well, so to be able to put up this good news is refreshing.

Here's the full story.

Tribal force attacks al-Qaeda insurgents, seizes weapons in Iraq

Baghdad - A local tribal force in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra said Monday it killed a gunman wearing an explosive belt and arrested two suspected al-Qaeda insurgents in a raid on their hideout where a large weapons cache was seized.
'The local police and a tribal force launched Sunday night a search operation in Jalam, east of Samarra, for members of al-Qaeda,' Mazen Yussif, the head of the tribal force in Samarra, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

A US force took the weapons and the two arrested fighters to its headquarters.
Tribal forces known as Awakening Councils are US-funded civilian armed groups formed in Sunni Arab-dominated areas to fight insurgents from the al-Qaeda terrorist network. Some members of the groups are themselves former insurgents.
Their campaign against al-Qaeda has contributed to improving security in many Sunni areas and marked a significant development in Iraq in the past year. Under a US-backed plan, their members should join the regular security forces or find other jobs.
Awakening Councils have recently been targeted in attacks believed to be largely carried out by the al-Qaeda in Iraq group and their allies.

An 'Awakening' Council Version in Pakistan!

This is HUGE news, folks! Eighteen tribes in Orazkai Agency (a "province" in Pakistan) have decided to band together and form an army to rout out the Taliban from their land! And we aren't talking about a few pickup trucks full of dudes here...the initial "rally" for this new Pakistani Awakening Council version was attended by 10,000-15,000 armed men. I figure with 15,000 tribal patriots combing the mountains in search of Taliban, we are going to see a lot of Taliban tail heading north into Afghanistan, hopefully into the arms of awaiting Apaches.
These tribes have even set up a fine system for any tribe that gives shelter to the Taliban!
Unbelievable. Now, unfortunately, we will probably see some offensive strikes against this new coalition to try and defeat its spirit before it starts but this is truly wonderful news.

Here's the full story.

18 Orakzai tribes form Lashkar against Taliban

LAHORE: After the killing of three levies personnel by local militants in Orakzai Agency on Saturday night, 18 tribes of the agency have decided to form a Lashkar (tribal army) against the Taliban to flush them out of the area, reported BBC Urdu on Tuesday.A grand jirga of the 18 tribes was held in Ghuljoo, Orakzai Agency headquarters, on Monday morning, which was attended by around ten to fifteen thousand armed men.Talking to BBC, head of Rabiakhel tribe Malik Zaman Shah said all tribes had unanimously decided not to give shelter to any militant in the area and any tribe breaching the pledge would be punished with Rs 10 million in fine and a hundred houses of the tribe would be burnt down.End to fight: He said the jirga had also settled ‘Islam Zona’ to temporarily end mutual enmities between the local tribes. The local tribes will, according to the decision, not fight each other until the area is cleared of militants.Thousands of Pakistani forces are battling suspected militants in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan, where scores of militants and troops have died in clashes in recent weeks. Militants have stepped up attacks against government troops there.

9,000 Awakening Ready For Iraq Military Training

This really has been an amazing story from day one when the Sunni tribes in Anbar province decided they had put up with al Qaeda in Iraq long enough and banded together to fight al Qaeda. We have been watching all along as Anbar has gone from the most violent province in Iraq to one of the most quiet and calm and now, over half of all the Awakening forces have signed up to become regulars in the Iraqi Army!
U.S. officials have helped process the screenings and all is moving forward for them to begin their training. I would have to say that based on their successes in Anbar, these new recruits will more than likely speed past others from the eastern and southern part of Iraq in skill level and dedication - after all, they've already been in many battles.

Here's the full story.

9,000 'Awakening' members ready for Iraq military training: US

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Some 9,000 members of anti-Qaeda "Awakening" fronts in Iraq have been screened and lined up for training as regular police or soldiers, the US military said on Sunday.
The number represents more than half the 16,000 or so Awakening members, many of whom are former Sunni Arab insurgents.
They have applied to join the regular Iraqi security forces after having been recruited by the US military to fight Al-Qaeda in their own backyard.
Military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith told a news conference in Baghdad that the rest were still waiting to undergo screening and for openings in police colleges and military academies.
"Around 9,000 members of the Awakening have been entered into a process in which they are in a queue to begin their training programmes," Smith said.
In western Anbar province, where tribal leaders in September 2006 launched the first Awakening group, effectively putting Al-Qaeda to flight, another "10,000 to 20,000 ... have already gone through a training programme and are serving as police officers or members of the army."
US troops have for the past year been working closely with former insurgents they call CLCs or Concerned Local Citizens, who are paid 300 dollars a month to patrol neighbourhoods and man checkpoints.
Their numbers have swelled to some 80,000 members of a total of 130 CLC groups countrywide, according to latest figures from the US military

Iraqi Sunnis SLAM Osama bin Laden

In the latest bin Laden tape, he criticized the Sunnis in Iraq who had been fighting his al Qaeda forces. Well, apparently the sheiks of the Awakening Council in Anbar province don't consider bin Laden's criticism or threats to be worth much. You got to love the stones on these guys.
My favorite quote from Sheik Sheikh Khalid Shahudh:

" Bin Laden's statement doesn't affect us - he is making these threats from a position of weakness "

This is a very important push back by the Sunnis in Iraq. They spell out to bin Laden that his fighters are marked men. They go on to explain that the awakening councils in Iraq are of ALL sects. These are not only statements of defiance but of unity of Iraqi people. I commend this bravery because they will continue to be targeted by al Qaeda, but you can see the resolve here, the determination. Bin Laden's thugs in Iraq made some huge mistakes in Iraq and they are paying and will pay dearly.

Must read here at the full story.

Leaders hit back at 'weak' bin Laden


IRAQI Sunni tribal and political leaders singled out as "traitors" by Osama bin Laden have hit back, accusing the Al-Qaeda chief of being un-Islamic and mocking him as being weak.
"Bin Laden's statement doesn't affect us - he is making these threats from a position of weakness," said Sheikh Khalid Shahudh, a senior member of the Awakening Council in western Anbar province which came in for particular censure from the Western world's most wanted man.
Bin Laden, in a 56-minute tape released late Saturday, warned Sunni Muslims in Iraq not to take up arms against the terror network, saying those who did were "traitors".
Those fighting Al-Qaeda, known as "Awakening" councils, have "betrayed the nation and brought shame and scandal, that will be followed by damnation forever unless they repent," he said.
Along with Awakening members, especially those in Anbar where the movement first began, bin Laden also rejected supporters of the Islamic Party of Iraq, a Sunni faction led by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, as "traitors to Islam".
Sheikh Shahudh said bin Laden's threats carried no weight.
"Al-Qaeda has no more power in Anbar province," he said

"The Awakening is now operating all across Iraq and involving all sects. We will continue chasing Al-Qaeda. We have no enemies except Al-Qaeda. The Americans are not our enemy anymore. Our forces will deal exclusively with Al-Qaeda. We will hunt them until we get rid of the last element."