Apparent Signs of Renewed Friction Between Sunni Insurgents

By Evan Kohlmann

A new communiqué issued by Sunni insurgents in Iraq appears to indicate continuing rifts between moderates and extremists concerning participation in the political process with the Iraqi government. On January 10, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance Front (a.k.a. JAAMI) blasted purported allegations from the Al-Qaida-led "Islamic State of Iraq" accusing JAAMI of abandoning its mujahideen partners and, instead, working with the reviled Iraqi Islamic Party on political negotiations with the U.S.-backed Iraqi government. Printed statements distributed in the al-Amiriyah neighborhood of Baghdad had claimed:

“…It is now obvious to the believers that the Salahudeen Brigades are connected or originate from the [Iraqi] Islamic Party, which has betrayed Allah, his Prophet, and the believers. That same Islamic Party is an ally and supporter of the… apostate government of al-Maliki who is fighting the Islamic State of Iraq under the orders of the infidel countries. Therefore, anyone who has joined these brigades either knowingly and unknowingly should ask for forgiveness, return to the path of Allah, and turn over their weapon and vehicles to the Islamic State of Iraq…”

Denying these accusations, JAAMI insisted that its fighters have always been opposed to the "political process" and still eagerly seek to unite with other insurgents (such as Al-Qaida's "Islamic State") in order to confront the "American-Iranian agenda."

Click to view English translation of JAAMI statement

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