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Inside Iraq, Ansar al-Sunnah Chooses Sides... with Al-QaidaBy Evan Kohlmann
The growing conflict between Al-Qaida's forces in Iraq and other Sunni Islamist insurgents opposed to Al-Qaida's ruthless agenda continues to evolve--with yet another major armed faction choosing sides in the bitter ongoing confrontation: the notorious Ansar al-Sunnah Army (JAS). For those unfamiliar with Ansar al-Sunnah, I offer some brief initial background excerpted from my report "State of the Sunni Insurgency in Iraq: 2006": Now, weeks after the establishment of the Reform and Jihad Front, the core Ansar al-Sunnah leadership is finally beginning to make its position clearer. While JAS was quick to deny its formal involvement in the RJF, it was only this week on May 16 that the group officially addressed its relationship and opinion on Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq." In an open statement directed towards Al-Qaida, JAS broke its silence, declaring, "We are pleased and encouraged" by successive Al-Qaida terrorist attacks in Iraq, "including the martyrdom operation inside [the Iraqi] Parliament, the blessed Green Zone operation that killed three crusader soldiers , and the blessed martyrdom operation in the Mosul area... and many others." JAS offered its formal "congratulations" to Al-Qaida for these "heroic operations" and further called upon Allah "to grant you victory and guide us alongside you in future operations and strikes aimed at defeating our enemies." For those who carefully watch the Iraqi insurgency, this document hardly appears to be empty propaganda. Indeed, it would seem that Ansar al-Sunnah has made a fundamental choice about its future destiny--and that destiny is firmly in the hands of Al-Qaida and its "Islamic State." For its part, Al-Qaida has eagerly latched on to this latest statement from Ansar al-Sunnah. In a separate communique released today, Al-Qaida's "Islamic State" offered its appreciation during this turbulent time for the unwavering support of "mujahideen on the ground in Mesopotamia... especially our brothers from the group Ansar al-Sunnah... [which] has been a thorn in the sides of those who conspire against the establishment of Allah's law in Mesopotamia." Al-Qaida further characterized Ansar al-Sunnah's pledge of support as "a slap in the face of anyone who tries to differentiate between the supporters of al-Tawheed wal-Jihad [Al-Qaida] and the Sunni people."
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