[Marxism] AP: Iraq Insurgency Larger Than Thought (surprise)

[Derek Seidman <derekseidman@xxxxxxxxx>]

AP: Iraq Insurgency Larger Than Thought
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraq (news - web sites) insurgency
is far larger than the 5,000 guerrillas previously
thought to be at its core, U.S. military officials
say, and it's being led by well-armed Iraqi Sunnis
angry at being pushed from power alongside Saddam
Hussein (news - web sites).

Although U.S. military analysts disagree over the
exact size, dozens of regional cells, often led by
tribal sheiks and inspired by Sunni Muslim imams, can
call upon part-time fighters to boost forces to as
high as 20,000 ? an estimate reflected in the
insurgency's continued strength after U.S. forces
killed as many as 4,000 in April alone.

And some insurgents are highly specialized ? one
Baghdad cell, for instance, has two leaders, one
assassin, and two groups of bomb-makers.

The developing intelligence picture of the insurgency
contrasts with the commonly stated view in the Bush
administration that the fighting is fueled by foreign
warriors intent on creating an Islamic state.

"We're not at the forefront of a jihadist war here,"
said a U.S. military official in Baghdad, speaking on
condition of anonymity.

Full:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040709/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_insurgency&cid=540&ncid=716



                
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