Iraqi sheik offers troops to Afghanistan
The constant bleat from the Left that the war against Hussein and al Qaeda in Iraq distracted us from fighting the “real enemy” in Afghanistan is losing traction. The leader of the “Anbar Awakening” has offered to send troops to Afghanistan to help fight al Qaeda there (NY Sun link);
In an interview, Sheik Ahmad al-Rishawi told The New York Sun that in April he prepared a 47-page study on Afghanistan and its tribes for the deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in Kabul, Christopher Dell. When asked if he would send military advisers to Afghanistan to assist American troops fighting there, he said: “I have no problem with this; if they ask me, I will do it.”
The success of the Anbari tribal rebellion known as the awakening spurred Multinational Forces Iraq to try to emulate the model throughout Iraq, including with the predominately Shiite tribes in the south of the country.
The sheik went on to praise President Bush;
Of his meeting with Mr. Bush, Sheik Ahmad said he was impressed. “He is a brave man. He is also a wise man. He is taking care of the country’s future, the United States’ future. He is also taking care of the Iraqi people, the ordinary people in Iraq. He wants to accomplish success in Iraq.”
When Sheik Ahmad’s brother, Sheik Sattar, met with Mr. Bush in Anbar last fall, he told the president that he dedicated his victory over Al Qaeda to the victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001. On September 13, 2007, Sheik Sattar was assassinated by an improvised explosive device. Since then, his brother Sheik Ahmad has led the awakening movement.
So, I guess this will lead the Democrats to cry that Iraq is invading Afghanistan and it’s, of course, Bush’s fault.
Hat tip to an emailer named Faith Jones.
Category: Politics, Terror War
I’m sure our battle tested Marines in Afghanistan can’t wait to have this ass kissing Iraqi Sheik’s rag tag band as advisors.
Jonn wrote: I may have read it wrong, but I’m pretty sure he wants to advise Afghan sheiks.
Oh like Sheik to Sheik.
Try not to choke on our success in Iraq, richard. Having Iraq as an ally in the GWOT is a positive development by any measure.
Mike I just hope this awakened looney Sunni sheik armed by us doesn’t doze off.These are the same guys we battled in Fallouja and I’m told the Marines don’t trust em.
Good afternoon, richard.
I don’t know if Sheikh Ahmad can teach us anything we don’t already know about the tribes in Afghanistan, and yes we battled members of his tribe before the Anbari rebellion, nevertheless, we should welcome his assistance. I don’t see any suggestion that they will be sharing foxholes with U.S. combat personnel, and I imagine that they learned the consequences of dozing-off when al-Qaeda assassinated Sheikh Sattar (I’m sensing that his brother has a little axe to grind with bin Laden here).
No matter how you look at it, this is a truly remarkable and positive development. Iraq is becoming a constructive member of the international community.
Hi Mike I agree this insomniac Sunni shiek wants revenge on his broher’s assassins but his relationship with the al-Maliki govt.is fragile at best and bellicose at worst.Five years and three months into this debacle the Shia-Sunni reconciliation train still hasn’t left the station.”Construtive member of the international community”.Maybe in the next hundred years.
Thank you for posting this. It made me cry with pride at first, then it made me cry when I found that Sheik Sattar had been murdered. I pray, God, grant us the Victory…