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Roggio weighs in on the WaPo's latest report in a point-by-point analysis. A sample (last emphasis mine):

Claim: [Colonel Devlin] described al-Qaeda in Iraq as the "dominate organization of influence in al-Anbar," surpassing all other groups, the Iraqi government and U.S. troops "in its ability to control the day-to-day life of the average Sunni."

Context: Al-Qaeda in Iraq is considered the "dominate organization of influence in al-Anbar" - among the insurgents. An intelligence source tells us al-Qaeda in Iraq controls a majority of the insurgency in Anbar. Some insurgent groups have opted to side with the tribes (the 1920s Revolution Brigade) or are on the fence (The Islamic Army of Iraq claim to be working with al-Qaeda but want to negotiate a settlement with the U.S.)

Concerning "[al-Qaeda's] ability to control the day-to-day life of the average Sunni," this is referring to what is known as "the balance or terror." Al-Qaeda has instilled fear into the general Sunni population (particularly in Ramadi) and the Sunni tribes and Coalition forces are fighting to turn Al-Qaeda has effectively terrorized western Iraq since the fall of Saddam's regime. But they cannot operate in the open, or stand up to American, or even Iraqi military formations.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by Bill at November 28, 2006 06:59 PM | TrackBack (1)

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