Backing the strong horse, as always. “Fighters abandoning al-Qaeda affiliates to join Islamic State, U.S. officials say,” by Greg Miller, Washington Post, August 9, 2014 (thanks to Will):
U.S. spy agencies have begun to see groups of fighters abandoning al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Africa to join the rival Islamist organization that has seized territory in Iraq and Syria and been targeted in American airstrikes, U.S. officials said.
The movements are seen by U.S. counterterrorism analysts as a worrisome indication of the expanding appeal of a group known as the Islamic State that has overwhelmed military forces in the region and may now see itself in direct conflict with the United States.
“Small groups from a number of al-Qaeda affiliates have defected to ISIS,” as the group is also known, said a U.S. official with access to classified intelligence assessments. “And this problem will probably become more acute as ISIS continues to rack up victories.”
The influx has strengthened an organization already regarded as a menacing force in the Middle East, one that has toppled a series of Iraqi cities by launching assaults so quickly and in so many directions that security forces caught in the group’s path have so far been unable to respond with anything but retreat.
U.S. officials attribute the Islamic State’s rapid emergence to factors both psychological and tactical. Its core group of fighters honed their skills against the armies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the United States when it occupied Iraq. The group has used raids and ransoms to stockpile weapons and cash. And its merciless reputation triggered rampant defections among Sunni members of Iraq’s security forces already disenchanted with the Shiite-led government in Baghdad….
Jay Boo says
We can expect the al-Qaeda affiliate sponsors to counter with a promotional free ‘al-Qaeda’ Tee Shirt give-away.
Jay Boo says
They wish to rape, pillage and destroy in honor of gluttonous pig prophet Muhammad.
Angemon says
OK, so if al-Qaeda decides to fight ISIS will the US help it in some way? I mean, Obama/Hillary/Kerry/McCain and the rest of the loonies seem to work under the “they’re fighting against the ‘radicals’ therefore they’re our allies”logic.
http://dianea.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/104p0s8.gif
Jay Boo says
Instead of reacting and playing their game help Assad decimate the Islamic State in Syria and then step back and let the Islamic State fight on two fronts.
Oliver says
Any chance of A GOOD showdown –fight to the last imbecile–between the Sunnis and Shias? They can fight in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
Let Iran and Hezbollad along with Assad on one side, and the johadist, ISIS on the other.
All si fair– car bombs; roadside bombs; bombing mosques, etc.
Just leave others out of it.
And may ( paraphrasing Henry Kissinger on the Oran/Iraq War-) a shame both sides can’t lose. May each side kill all of their opponents, and regroup and do it again, and again.
Wtf? says
This is all good. By ISIS clearly identifying themselves with flags and arm patches they are a visible enemy. By occupying towns and cities full of local sympathisers targets have been clearly defined so civilian casualties as such will not exist.
They have built an army with no air support and can’t slink away and hide amongst innocent people.
Hit them hard now.