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FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

MAR 27, 2007 09:59 AM

This crazy topsy-turvy world just turned more topsy-turvy, or as some would say, “Super-duper topsy-turvy.” Sunni insurgents in Iraq and al-Qaeda are no longer getting along, and in some cases it has led to combat between the two groups. The US is hoping to exploit the feud.

The insurgents are upset with al-Qaeda tactics and command, according to US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who wrapped up his time in Iraq today.


U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, on his last day in Iraq, said Monday that American officials were actively pursuing negotiations with the Sunni factions in an effort to further isolate Al Qaeda.

"Iraqis are uniting against Al Qaeda," Khalilzad said. "Coalition commanders have been able to engage some insurgents to explore ways to collaborate in fighting the terrorists."


What a crazy optimist.

One group of insurgents, The General Command of the Iraqi Armed Forces stopped hanging out with al-Qaeda back in September, when al-Qaeda assassinated two of the insurgents “best members.” The insurgents took revenge and now the groups are fighting each other.

In other parts of Iraq, relationships have also become strained. In Diyala, insurgents and al-Qaeda have had disagreements over tactics, forcing the insurgents to “disavow” the terrorists. They don’t even look at each other at parties anymore. I, for one, never saw it coming. They seemed like they really worked together.

Shiites are now talking to insurgents about fighting al-Qaeda and possibly a truce. If the Sunnis agree to a truce, Shiites have said they will engage in major reconstruction in Sunni areas devastated by fighting. But, of course, some Sunnis would prefer to negotiate with the Americans because they distrust the Shiites. Not a big surprise, I mean, if you can’t get along with al-Qaeda, who can you get along with?

There are many obstacles to a truce, the main one being that they are all crazy. Also, the insurgent groups are fragmented and sometimes engage in turf wars, while in other areas they are getting along great with al-Qaeda. And the Sunnis want the Shiites to rewrite the constitution and to have elections all over again. Basically, there will never be a truce. I can almost hear Cheney wiping the saliva off his chin while he thinks about al-Qaeda and the Sunnis battling it out.

Sean

Sean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

MAR 27, 2007 11:07 AM

BUT I THOUGHT THE KORAN SAID KILLING WAS WRONG???!?!?!?!??!?

st_even

st_even

Milwaukee, WI
September 2006

MAR 27, 2007 11:15 AM

I didn't know wiping saliva made much noise.

zyryx

zyryx

Tyler, TX
April 2004

MAR 27, 2007 11:16 AM

same old shit, different millennium...

DrStinkypants

DrStinkypants

Saint Paul, MN
October 2002

MAR 27, 2007 11:22 AM

Hooray. I'm gonna go shoot my AK-47 in the air in a celebratory fashion

Signon

Signon

Austin, TX
June 2005

MAR 27, 2007 11:25 AM

st_even said:
I didn't know wiping saliva made much noise.



That's not saliva. Cheney was visiting his masters in the pit.

Horrorflick

Horrorflick

Detroit, MI
February 2003

MAR 27, 2007 11:28 AM

I'm so sick of hearing about this shit already... puke

ZenTrixter

ZenTrixter

Portland, OR
October 2002

MAR 27, 2007 11:30 AM

Does this make it a civil war yet, daddy?

Tarqu1n

Tarqu1n

Victoria, BC
February 2005

MAR 27, 2007 12:08 PM

Quran 9:123 : Believers! Make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Let them find harshness in you.

In this case, an infidel is even someone who disagrees with a teeny little bit.

scylis

scylis

USA
November 2004

MAR 27, 2007 12:12 PM

Sean said:
BUT I THOUGHT THE KORAN SAID KILLING WAS WRONG???!?!?!?!??!?



hahahaha! and i bet you thought that Jesus didn't tell us to be hate-mongering, queer-bashing asshats, too, didn't you?!?

cranstonlamont

cranstonlamont

Des Moines, IA
September 2006

MAR 27, 2007 12:32 PM

Religion of any kind is the one element of human culture that isn't accessable to reason or common sense. That's what makes it so dangerous when it enters the political arena.

Tarqu1n

Tarqu1n

Victoria, BC
February 2005

MAR 27, 2007 12:34 PM

Oh, and all of this reminds me of Northen Ireland. Protestants v Catholics. The "Troubles" (Modern conflict) there has been going on for...what...40 years?

Iraq is going to bubble on for 400.

American_Psycho

American_Psycho

Anaheim, CA
March 2007

MAR 27, 2007 12:53 PM

At least they're killing each other.

Ravnos

ravnos

Edmonton, AB
OLD SKOOL

MAR 27, 2007 01:21 PM

Tarqu1n said:
Oh, and all of this reminds me of Northen Ireland. Protestants v Catholics. The "Troubles" (Modern conflict) there has been going on for...what...40 years?

Iraq is going to bubble on for 400.



The Troubles are basically a continuation of a much older conflict, but that war isn't exactly religious even though it's drawn along sectarian lines.

mingol

mingol

Singapore
July 2005

MAR 27, 2007 02:15 PM

American_Psycho said:
At least they're killing each other.



Ha ha.

Tarqu1n

Tarqu1n

Victoria, BC
February 2005

MAR 27, 2007 02:17 PM

Ravnos said:

Tarqu1n said:
Oh, and all of this reminds me of Northen Ireland. Protestants v Catholics. The "Troubles" (Modern conflict) there has been going on for...what...40 years?

Iraq is going to bubble on for 400.



The Troubles are basically a continuation of a much older conflict, but that war isn't exactly religious even though it's drawn along sectarian lines.



As I stated, I was refering to "The Troubles" within a modern context, naturally assuming that people would realize the extended history by the fact of me saying "modern".

Comparing the "Troubles" to the Middle East right now though, I can't help but see the Shia as akin to the Catholics, even down to having a Pope (Ayatollahs), and following a follower of the prophet (St. Paul for the Christians & Ali, Muhammed's son in law) rather than the posthumous teachings of the prophet himself more like the Sunnis), which, again, is more akin to the Protestants.

Just as the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland are sundered by religious hair-splitting and history, so too are the Shias and Sunnis.

So, yes, the long, slow burning war in Northern Ireland has been over religion because that is how they defined the sides. I have first hand experience of Belfast and the scisms. What's yours like?

It has taken 40 years of blood to get to a point where Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams are talking nicely with one another. Compare that to trying to expect the same in the Middle East. In all that time only 3000 people died and 24,000 injured. In 4 years of Iraq the US alone has lost 3000 soldiers (more than those killed in the WTC which has nothing to do with Iraq) and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died. Mostly as "Collateral damage too".



All_Sewn_Up

All_Sewn_Up

Papua New Guinea
January 2007

MAR 27, 2007 03:11 PM

Tarqu1n said:

It has taken 40 years of blood to get to a point where Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams are talking nicely with one another.



They aren't talking to each other -- apparently they're just tolerating each others' presence. From the Washington Post:
"Adams and Paisley did not speak to each other while the cameras were rolling. At the end of their remarks, Adams looked toward Paisley as if he wanted to shake hands. Paisley looked down and shuffled his papers."

Ravnos

ravnos

Edmonton, AB
OLD SKOOL

MAR 27, 2007 05:48 PM

I was going to discuss this further with you, but then you pulled this crap

Tarqu1n said:
I have first hand experience of Belfast and the scisms. What's yours like?



and I realised that arguing with you would be a waste of time because you're "right" and nothing anyone can say can change that. Because really, how could anyone outside of Ireland know anything of Irish history? How silly of me. whatever

Untimely

Untimely

Chicago, IL
January 2007

MAR 27, 2007 11:53 PM

When extremists handle dissenters by resorting to suicide bombing and terrorism, it follows that they'll continue these tactics on everyone who disagrees.

FellOnEarth

FellOnEarth

Temecula, CA
April 2006

MAR 28, 2007 12:34 AM

Sean said:
BUT I THOUGHT THE KORAN SAID KILLING WAS WRONG???!?!?!?!??!?


Yeah, well so does the Christian Bible, but that's never stopped the bloodshed either. More people have been killed in the name of god (religion) then for any other reason.

mathilde74

mathilde74

France
August 2003

MAR 28, 2007 02:20 AM

American_Psycho said:
At least they're killing each other.



Situation in Sudan or in Iraq is so funny.

NickFaust

NickFaust

USA
April 2004

MAR 28, 2007 06:40 AM

Um... Newsflash. Muslims have been killing each other since 632 CE.

Not to be outdone, those zany Christians have been killing each other since 335 CE.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

MAR 28, 2007 06:43 AM

mathilde74 said:

American_Psycho said:
At least they're killing each other.



Situation in Sudan or in Iraq is so funny.



Yay mathilde is back! Missed you!

Wendy

Wendy

SUICIDEGIRL

Israel

MAR 28, 2007 07:59 AM

NickFaust said:
Um... Newsflash. Muslims have been killing each other since 632 CE.

Not to be outdone, those zany Christians have been killing each other since 335 CE.



how much longer do you think it's going to take for the Muslims to grow up like the Christians did?

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

MAR 28, 2007 08:23 AM

Wendy said:

NickFaust said:
Um... Newsflash. Muslims have been killing each other since 632 CE.

Not to be outdone, those zany Christians have been killing each other since 335 CE.


how much longer do you think it's going to take for the Muslims to grow up like the Christians did?


Well, the West needed two World Wars, a few genocides, and nuclear weapons. So unless Islam manages to work out its kinks more peacefully than Christendom did, I'd say we're all dead men.

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