It is natural and logic that “Al-Qaeda has made the Iraqi front its physical centre of gravity” and “it’s exactly the place where we must fight”. The presence of the American troops in Afghanistan and especially in Iraq has broken a system of Islamist terrorism, headed by Al-Qaeda. I read only some extracts from al-Zawahiri’s audio message (AFP and http://jihadwatch.org/). The most significant is this part: “The monitoring service said he called on Muslims to make Iraq a “fortress of Islam” and, underscoring the Sunni Muslim orientation of Al-Qaeda, he referred to a plot against Iraq by the United States together with Shiite Iran, which he said would lead to the Mideast region exploding”. It is possible to see here a rivalry between two terrorist organisations: Sunni Al-Qaeda and Shiite Mahdi Army controlled by Iranians. After losing its main base in Afghanistan, Iraq became for Al-Qaeda the “fortress of Islam”, i.e. a “strategic” place absolutely necessary for its “political survival”. An eloquence of al-Zawahiri confirms a complete defeat of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (it’s clear that this defeat was possible only with a support of local population). The latest “heroic” action of Al-Qaeda (carnage between the simple civilians in a funeral) had only goal to create an appearance to be present on the scene. What about Shiite terrorists? See excellent articles by Michael Ledeen about the Mahdi Army and its “charismatic” Führer Moqtada al Sadr.
To Steamboat Jack: thank you for additional information.
