Not “every Iraqi.” Not “every insurgent.” Not “every militant.” Al-Baghdadi, true to form, framed the conflict as a religious one — and as the fighters of a religious conflict, the warriors of jihad will continue to make gains in Iraq and elsewhere, because their opposition steadfastly refuses to admit that a religious conflict is being waged at all, and so is incapable of taking the steps necessary to defend itself against the political and cultural challenges that are coming to it under the rubric of religion.
Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, equality of rights of all before the law — all this and more is threatened by the Islamic jihad. But no one believes that, or cares.
“Iraq group calls for further attacks on U.S. troops,” from Reuters, July 8 (thanks to Maxwell):
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An insurgent group linked to al-Qaeda of Iraq urged militants to continue attacks against U.S. forces even after combat troops were pulled from city centers, according to an audiotape released on Wednesday.
“Even if the Americans remain nowhere but a small spot in the Iraqi desert … so every Muslim should battle them until they are expelled,” the voice, reported to be Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, said in the recording posted on a website used by jihadists….
“We tell them ‘Come back to your senses … Nothing better than repent and return to the ranks of jihadists and to leave the infidels,” the tape said.