Saddam's Red-Haired Iraq Deputy Back In The Fray

An uncompromising violent extremist movement, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has an unlikely, secular, ace in its pack - or rather a king.

More precisely, the King of Clubs, as Izzat Ibrahim al Douri - the most senior surviving member of Saddam Hussein's inner circle - was dubbed in the US Most Wanted deck of cards issued during the hunt for members of the Baath Party.

A playing card with an image of al Douri

The former deputy to the executed dictator, al Douri has been reported to have died, twice.

But he has emerged as a galvanising figure behind the enormous success that ISIS has had during its offensive in northern Iraq.

He evaded capture by the Americans and formed the Naqshbandia group of Baathist officers, all of them hardened by war with Iran in the 1980s, to lead attacks against US and allied forces during their occupation of Iraq.

The Baath Party shunned fundamentalist Islam and jailed conservative clerics favouring a pan-Arab secular socialist future which quickly mutated into a reign of terror under Saddam Hussein.

But the Naqshbandia have joined forces with ISIS now because they share a vision of a return to Sunni dominance of Iraq.

This may explain why ISIS has met little resistance from Sunnis in the north of the country who are already deeply suspicious of the Shia-dominated central government in Baghdad.

The tribes around Mosul and in Tikrit were the most fiercely loyal to the Saddam regime.

ISIS fighters in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul

Al Douri's presence in an alliance with ISIS has made it easier to swing the population in the Sunni north behind what both groups hope will escalate into a wider Sunni revolution.

The latest ISIS annual report painstakingly details the tactical and strategic efficacy of every attack in Iraq, sub-grouped by type of weapon, type of attack, and effect on the local population.

It also details efforts to 'reform' Sunni militia who fought al Qaeda and policemen serving the state - part of a programme to rapidly expand ISIS ranks.

Its meticulous detailing of assassination, selective murder and terrorism has all the hallmarks of well-trained senior staff officers from a formal army.

Al Douri was one of the late dictator's most trusted aides

And points further to the close involvement of senior members of Saddam's former military machine.

There have been several unverified social media reports from sources showing detailed insider knowledge of ISIS that some of Saddam's generals have joined their ranks in senior positions.

This, therefore, adds greater urgency to the need to bring Sunnis into the central government.

ISIS has been charting its brutality in annual reports

"We want to do everything we can to avoid sectarian violence. We have been saying for years that the central government must include Sunnis in genuine power with a full state in the future," Dr Dhiya el al Assadi, a recently elected Shia MP said.

The same message has been coming from Sunni leaders, Washington and Tehran.

There is no sign yet that it has been received by Iraq's Prime Minister who seems to believe he has other cards to play.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Saddam's Red-Haired Iraq Deputy Back In The Fray

Dengan url

http://anterinjemput.blogspot.com/2014/06/saddams-red-haired-iraq-deputy-back-in.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Saddam's Red-Haired Iraq Deputy Back In The Fray

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Saddam's Red-Haired Iraq Deputy Back In The Fray

sebagai sumbernya