Cross-posted from Smirking Chimp
Even now, little is known about the shadowy group of Sunni radicals who call themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). What is known, however, is that they are an extremely proficient military force that can strike with lightening speed, dispatch their better-equipped adversaries effortlessly, and enlist the support of the local people to join their ranks. ISIS could never have captured a city the size of Mosul unless the bulk of the population saw them as liberators not occupiers. It's clear that al-Maliki has failed to win the hearts and minds of the people in the Sunni heartland where he is seen as a dispassionate tyrant who rules with an iron fist. Still, none of this explains why the ISIS has emerged from obscurity just recently or what their real objectives are. Here's a clip from the Alakhbar News that helps answer that question:
"A lot of theories are being bandied about...The most logical analysis leans in two directions that meet at some point. The first argues that ISIS... sensed a US-Iranian understanding on the horizon and the signs of a regional front emerging to liquidate the takfiri Islamist movement including ISIS. The seeds of this front emerged first in Syria, and its signs were detectable in Iraq given the talk about military preparations and arms deals to regain state control over al-Anbar province. All this prompted ISIS to wage a preemptive strike to fortify its positions and prepare for the crushing battle expected to come.
"The second direction alludes to an operation meant to lure ISIS into a trap similar to what the United States did with Saddam Hussein before he invaded Kuwait in order to rally regional support to eliminate him...The international reaction to the fall of Mosul reinforces the second analysis." (Theories behind the ISIS takeover of Iraqi province, al-Akakhbar)
So, is ISIS march on Baghdad a preemptive strike designed to undermine a US-Iranian alliance that would sabotage their political future or has the disparate militia been lured into a trap? It is impossible to say at the present time, but at least one veteran journalist thinks he knows where the groups funding comes from. Here's a short excerpt from an article by Robert Fisk with the revealingly title "Iraq crisis: Sunni caliphate has been bankrolled by Saudi Arabia":
"So after the grotesquerie of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 suicide killers of 9/11, meet Saudi Arabia's latest monstrous contribution to world history: the Islamist Sunni caliphate of Iraq and the Levant, conquerors of Mosul and Tikrit -- and Raqqa in Syria -- and possibly Baghdad, and the ultimate humiliators of Bush and Obama.
"From Aleppo in northern Syria almost to the Iraqi-Iranian border, the jihadists of Isis and sundry other groupuscules paid by the Saudi Wahhabis -- and by Kuwaiti oligarchs -- now rule thousands of square miles...
"Remember that the Americans captured and recaptured Mosul to crush the power of Islamist fighters. They fought for Fallujah twice. And both cities have now been lost again to the Islamists. The armies of Bush and Blair have long gone home, declaring victory.
"Under Obama, Saudi Arabia will continue to be treated as a friendly 'moderate' in the Arab world, even though its royal family is founded upon the Wahhabist convictions of the Sunni Islamists in Syria and Iraq -- and even though millions of its dollars are arming those same fighters. Thus does Saudi power both feed the monster in the deserts of Syria and Iraq and cozy up to the Western powers that protect it." (Iraq crisis: Sunni caliphate has been bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, Belfast Telegraph)
Fisk is not alone in pinning the blame on Saudi Arabia. There's also this from Al-Thawra news which is Syrian state media:
"Terrorism is spreading in front of the eyes of the western world... and alongside it are the fingers of Saudi Arabia, providing money and arms...In the events in Iraq and the escalating terrorist campaign, no Western country is unaware of the role Saudi is playing in supporting terrorism and funding and arming different fronts and battles, both inside and outside Iraq and Syria.
"The emergence of these organizations is not the result of a vacuum but rather long and clear support for terrorism... which the Gulf has dedicated its finances to expanding.... (These actions were taken) 'with Western knowledge and in most cases clear and explicit orders.'" (Saudi behind ISIS onslaught in Iraq: Syrian state media, Alakhbar)
While neither Fisk nor al-Thawra provide any proof of their claims, we suspect that when the money-trail is finally uncovered, the evidence will once again point to Riyadh, the Capital of global terrorism. Here's more from Alakhbar:
"Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed his military officers on TV in light of security reports stating that the attackers are Baathists affiliated with Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri -- who was vice president under Saddam -- as well as officers from the former Iraqi army and Fedayeen Saddam. According to the reports, more than 40 officers who had served in Saddam Hussein's army conspired with the attackers. There are tales of betrayal involving senior military leaders including General Abboud Qanbar, Lieutenant General Ali Ghaidan and General Mahdi al-Ghazzawi, all members of the former army." (ISIS "success" facilitated by betrayal, Iraqi government inadequacies, Alakhbar)
So the ISIS is not just a group of disgruntled jihadis after all. The ranks are full of ex-Baathists and professional military who are ready for a winner-take-all, no-holds-barred clash in Baghdad.
And what does al-Maliki intend to do to defend the capital from this rampaging horde of highly-motivated, combat-tested Sunni troopers?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
