The Opinion Journal has an editorial that describes what is happening over in Iraq right now. It is much more than the media has let Americans know. It is also of vital importance that we defeat these elements and not walk away from Iraq and the Iraqi people.
Only last month, newly independent Iraqi newspapers obtained and reported on a terrorist assassination list with the names of 60 government, military and political figures. The document was dated September 5, 2006 and issued from Thi Qar Operation HQ in the name of the "Martyr Qusay unit/Karkh sector," which is Baghdad. Qusay is Saddam's son, who was killed in Mosul in 2003.
Addressed to "comrades" and "commanders of Special Operations," the order translated into English declares that "Approval of deputy combatant comrade, treasure of the country (Baath Party-Iraq branch), and the supreme commander of armed forces was granted, and communicated to us by the letter from the country treasure office . . . Execution punishment regarding criminals, agents, apostates, names below, in addition to their first, second, and third degree relatives. Execution (of the order) by your units is according to the plan and to your suitable timing discretion."
The list includes major Shiite, Kurdish and Iraqi political figures, as well as Sunnis who are participating in the government. And the killings seem to have already begun with the murder of several relatives of men on the list. We keep being told by our own intelligence services that the Sunni insurgency is leaderless. But tell that to those on this list or to their relatives.
The goal of the terrorists who created this list is to intimidate Iraqis from joining the government, and to maintain as much disorder and violence as possible so the U.S. will lose patience and withdraw. Then they will take their chances with the majority Shiites, who they have beaten before. The Saddamists will have won, even if Saddam himself is dead.
The goal of these elements has always been to wear American will down and force a withdrawal. Too many of our politicians are willing to do this and force a "redeployment" or some other fancy euphemism for defeat. For it would be a defeat for the US and a victory for these terrorists, not matter how you dress it up. And it would unleash a bloodbath on the Iraqi people.
Not only targeting the local politicians, but we have some word of where the missing Iraqi nuclear scientists have shown up: in Syria. Reportedly working with the Syrians, Iranians and some ex-Russian Republic nuclear scientists. Ray Robison has the original report which had to be double translated which is why it took so long to get anywhere. Basics here: http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2006/11/some-of-digging-going-on-with-fmso.html
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