Spearhead of Jihad

The 37-year old Jordanian, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is arguably the most dangerous terrorist in the world today. He seems to be the rising dark star among a new generation of holy warriors stepping up to fill Osama’s shoes. The founder of al-Qaida has apparently been busy keeping his head down, but his younger disciple has been busy carrying on the bloody work. Zarqawi is implicated in many plots and attacks, including last year’s plan to use lethal toxins in European capitals, this year’s bombings in Morocco and Turkey, and a string of recent suicide attacks in Iraq.

Last month, U.S. intelligence snagged a key al-Qaida operative as he tried to slip out of Iraq, along with computer files he was evidently intending to deliver to Osama bin Laden. Among those files was the now famous “Zarqawi letter". While some have questioned the letter’s origins, no one has really been able to challenge its authenticity as of yet. And with last week’s savage bombings on Iraqi police and army recruiting stations that perfectly fit the strategy outlined in the letter, it seems increasingly likely that the letter is just what it appears to be.

Despite the view of some conservative commentators (such as Bill Saffire of the NY Times) it does not constitute a “smoking gun” that proves Saddam’s regime had ties to al-Qaida before the war. There are better sources for that. But--assuming it’s genuine--the Zarqawi letter provides chilling view into the current mind and plans of one of our deadliest enemies. Below are selected excerpts reflecting its main themes. They were taken from CENTCOM’s initial translation of the letter, which you can read here: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2004/02/040212-al-zarqawi.htm

Much of the letter bemoans the successes coalition forces are having against them, and recognizes that the U.S. is not going to cut and run from Iraq. “It has been extremely difficult to lodge and keep safe [and] train new recruits. . . Our field of movement is shrinking [and] with the spread of the army and police, our future is becoming frightening. . . America has no intention of leaving. . . Our enemy is growing stronger day after day, and its intelligence information increases.”

He plainly realizes the threat that local Iraqi councils, security forces, and democracy initiatives pose to his aims: “There will be a schism between us and the people of the region. How can we kill their cousins and sons and under what pretext, after the Americans start withdrawing?. . .The sons of this land will be the authority. This is the democracy, we will have no pretext.”

But he also brags about successes, thus verifying the role of foreign jihadists in Iraq, and promises still more attacks: “I have completed 25 of these [suicide] operations. . . against the Shi'a and their leaders, the Americans, [the] police, and the coalition forces. There will be more in the future, god willing. . . We are spreading within the security void.”

He says he’ll intensify attacks on the fledgling police and army, a lethal promise he’s apparently kept: “We are determined to target [Iraqi troops & police] with force in the near future, before their power strengthens.”

And particularly targets the Shiite community: “The only solution is to strike [the] Shi'a so that they revolt. . . If we are able to deal painful blow[s] so that they engage in a battle [with Sunnis] there will remain no value or influence for the ruling council. . . [or] the Americans. . . Souls will perish and blood will be spilled. This is exactly what we want.”

Most tellingly, he realizes the next few months are crucial. “We are racing against time. . . The zero-hour needs to be at least four months before the new government gets in place. . . We are hoping [to] turn the tables on them and thwart their plan.”

Finally, he describes his mission to “reveal the truth, enflame zeal, and become an outlet for jihad. . . a continuation between the Mujahidin inside and outside of Iraq”, and offers his group’s loyalty to bin-Laden. “We want [to] be the head of the spear. . . we stand ready as an army for you, to work under your guidance and yield to your command”.

Zarqawi is variously reported as either still inside Iraq or somewhere in Iran, and he may well be transiting across the porous border regularly. The bounty on him was recently raised from $5 million to $10 million, reflecting the urgency of running him to ground. This brutal killer is hoping that in the next few pivotal months he can derail forward progress towards democratic institutions in Iraq. We need to recognize that participatory democracy in Iraq—and elsewhere in the Middle East—is the most effective antidote to his poison.

T.T.

©2004, WestRim Digital Arts