More Disappointing News for Democrats and MSM

The New Sunni Jihad: 'A Time for Politics'
Tour With Iraqi Reveals Tactical Change

By Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, October 27, 2005; Page A01

NORTH OF BAGHDAD -- For weeks before Iraq's constitutional referendum this month, Iraqi guerrilla Abu Theeb traveled the countryside just north of Baghdad, stopping at as many Sunni Arab houses and villages as he could. Each time, his message to the farmers and tradesmen he met was the same: Members of the disgruntled Sunni minority should register to vote -- and vote against the constitution.

"It is a new jihad," said Abu Theeb, a nom de guerre that means "Father of the Wolf," addressing a young nephew one night before the vote. "There is a time for fighting, and a time for politics."

For Abu Theeb and many other Iraqi insurgents, this canvassing marked a fundamental shift in strategy, and one that would separate them from foreign-born fighters such as Abu Musab Zarqawi, the Jordanian who leads the group al Qaeda in Iraq.

Two years of boycotting the process had only marginalized Sunnis while Iraqi's Shiite majority gained power. And Abu Theeb's entry into politics was born partly of necessity; attacks by Shiite militias, operating inside and outside the government security apparatus, were taking an increasing toll on Sunni lives.

So at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the referendum, Oct. 15, Theeb was already at the polling center in his village, which he had scouted out days in advance. Two of his fighters took up positions. Abu Theeb and the rest of the fighters, more relaxed, propped their Kalashnikov rifles against walls or placed them on tables.

"No one will attack," Abu Theeb assured a reporter. "I made sure some wrongdoers are protecting the school," he said, jokingly referring to al Qaeda loyalists. To head off any violence, he had co-opted the group by enlisting two of its supporters as his polling site guards.

Oh dear, what are the Democrat naysayers going to do? Drat, another sign of success in Iraq. First Democrats are forced to suffer through a record military victory, their only bright spot being the insurrection. Then they are made to live through the capture of Saddam Hussein. Following that is that danged first election, and the terrorists didn't even blow anyone up. Next they have to suffer the indignity of watching the free Iraqis approve the new constitution (all you can do is attempt to discredit the document). Your only bright spot is the certitude that the Sunnis aren't going to participate, and now this. DRAT!

Full Story: Sunnis Join In

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