Counterterrorism Blog

I agree with Doug Farah that the Al Qaeda propaganda machine is rolling at top speed. But sooner or later, they have to win something in Iraq - anything - and they haven't won anything real in Iraq for a long time. The same people who assert that we didn't have enough boots on the ground to control Iraq from the outset (and I count myself in that crowd) have to apply the same standard of strategic success or failure to Al Qaeda in Iraq and Sunni insurgents. Where are their victories? What do they really control for any length of time? What cities fly their flag? Killing people and blowing up infrastructure are not "victories." Right now, I don't see Zarqawi and the MSC really running anything anywhere in Iraq, they haven't for months, and a fancy tape can't change that military fact. Maybe that's why, as Bill Roggio said, "Zarqawi is shown leading the planning session, but there is no video of him actually leading and conducting a strike." Maybe he can't.