Commander: al-Qaida remains a combat power
WASHINGTON — A top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday that simmering ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs remain a grave threat to Iraq’s stability, especially after American forces depart.
The general in charge of U.S. operations in northern Iraq also said that spectacular attacks in Mosul this week show the resilience of al-Qaida in the city the U.S. has called the last bastion of the terror network.
The competition for energy and land resources between Arabs and Kurds “could certainly resolve in an ethnic, lethal-force engagement,” said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Caslen. He spoke to Pentagon reporters through a video hookup from his base in Tikrit.
Several top defense officials have identified the split between Iraq’s majority Arabs and the Kurdish minority as probably a greater long-term threat to Iraq’s stability than the more familiar Sunni-Shiite conflict. Defense Secretary Robert Gates went to the Kurdish self-rule area in the North to make the case that both sides have limited time to resolve their differences before U.S. troops leave in 2011.
Caslen said he is encouraged by political movement on both sides, particularly Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s recent trip to see Kurdish leaders on their home ground.
“Are they capable of resolving their ethnic differences peacefully?” Caslen said. “They have the capability to do it. The question is whether the senior leadership will exert the leadership necessary to do that.”
The two sides are at odds over borders for the self-rule area and the jurisdiction of the ethnically divided city of Kirkuk.
Addressing the spasm of violence in Mosul and Baghdad, Caslen said al-Qaida is using the new attacks to draw attention, but that so far the Sunni insurgents have not been able to provoke a large-scale sectarian retaliation.
Caslen said the number of insurgent attacks has dropped in Mosul since the handover of control of the city to Iraqi forces on June 30. Weekly attacks averaged 42; they now average 29, Caslen said. At the same time, high-profile attacks are up, attacks on Iraqi security forces are up and the overall number of casualties higher, he said.
A double truck bombing Monday in Mosul and blasts in Baghdad brought the Iraqi death toll to more than 100 in four days, the worst spasm of violence the country has suffered since U.S. forces left the cities.
The bloodshed threatened to chip away at public confidence in the U.S.-backed government as it seeks to project a sense of normalcy ahead of next year’s national elections, including an announcement last week that all concrete blast walls will be gone from Baghdad’s main roads by mid-September.
Al-Qaida “remain a resilient force that has the capability to regenerate their combat power as necessary,” Caslen said.
The Mosul bombing, like another Friday on the fringes of the ethnically tense city, targeted ethnic minorities, indicating that insurgents are seeking out relatively undefended targets to maximize casualties as the strapped Iraqi army focuses its efforts on more central areas.
The attacks in Mosul, which the U.S. military has called the last stronghold of al-Qaida, killed 28 people Monday and 44 on Friday.
Related News
Feds say ruling that put bears back on threatened list actually puts them in greater dangerOctober 8th, 2009 Feds: Bears in more danger on threatened listBILLINGS, Mont. — Federal officials say a court ruling that returned Yellowstone grizzly bears to the threatened species list has unexpectedly put the animals at increased risk.
Pakistan still considers India its greatest threat: US generalOctober 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Pakistani leadership and its spy agency ISI still consider India as its greatest threat, even greater than the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists, a stance that affects US strategy in the region, says a top US military commander
"It is important to note that India is still seen as the greatest threat, greater than the Taliban, greater than even Al Qaeda," Gen David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command said at the Association of the US Army annual meeting here Tuesday. "So there are still some dynamics there that are challenging," he said.
Obama national security adviser downplays threat of renewed al-Qaida haven in AfghanistanOctober 4th, 2009 Adviser downplays threat of renewed al-Qaida havenWASHINGTON — A top U.S. commander's public plea for more troops in Afghanistan prompted a mild rebuke Sunday from the White House national security adviser, as the administration heads into a second week of intensive negotiations over its evolving Afghan strategy.
Syria echoes Arab calls for Israel to join nuclear nonproliferation treatySeptember 30th, 2009 Syria calls for Israel to join nuclear treatyUNITED NATIONS — Syria says Israel must comply with the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency if the Mideast is to become a region free of weapons of mass destruction. Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem echoed on Monday calls by many Arab nations at the U.N.
CIA boss asks Arab-American, Muslim leaders to join efforts to reduce terrorism threat in USSeptember 16th, 2009 CIA boss asks US Muslims to aid anti-terror effortDEARBORN, Mich. — The director of the CIA beseeched Arab-American and Muslim leaders Wednesday to join efforts to reduce the threat of terrorism in the U.S.
FBI Director Mueller: No imminent danger seen from case that led to explosives search in NYCSeptember 16th, 2009 FBI Director says no imminent danger from NYC caseWASHINGTON — FBI Director Robert Mueller says there's no imminent danger stemming from the case that led authorities to search New York City apartments for explosives and possible links to al-Qaida. Mueller made the statement during testimony Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Yemen Interior ministry says 4 Yemenis with explosives arrested near US embassySeptember 8th, 2009 Yemen:4 men with explosives caught near US embassySAN'A, Yemen — Four Yemenis carrying explosives and guns were arrested near the U.S. embassy in San'a, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.
Pakistan, US investigate reports that Taliban chief was killed in US missile strikeAugust 7th, 2009 Pakistan, US probe report of Taliban chief's deathISLAMABAD — U.S. and Pakistani authorities are investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an American missile strike, officials from both countries said Friday.
Deputy commander of al-Qaida-linked cell arrested in Mosul, US military saysAugust 4th, 2009 US: Al-Qaida operatives arrested in MosulBAGHDAD — The American military says the deputy commander of an insurgent group linked to al-Qaida was arrested in Mosul during a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation. The military said in a statement released Tuesday that Fakri Hadi Gari, also known as Abu Abbas, was captured July 24 in a raid in Mosul.
US commander says Iraqi troops ready to handle urban security after US combat troops withdrawJune 28th, 2009 US commander: Iraqi troops ready for city securityWASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in Iraq says he believes Iraqi forces are ready to take over when American combat troops pull out of Baghdad and other cities by Tuesday.
Chavez tells US general to look in mirror, saying US is threat to his region, not VenezuelaJune 28th, 2009 Chavez to US general: You're the threat, not usCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. general shouldn't be raising concerns that Venezuela is buying arms, and the American commander is wrong to argue there isn't a "conventional military threat in the region."
Chavez says the U.S.
Despite rise in insurgent bombings, Obama stays on course for pullback of US troops from IraqJune 24th, 2009 US discounts Iraq withdrawal risk despite attacksWASHINGTON — The Obama administration has concluded the risk of a security collapse in Iraq is too slight to slow plans for withdrawing U.S. troops. In the run-up to June 30, the deadline for U.S.
Egypt doesn't see Iran as a danger, regional peace higher priority, says president spoxMay 31st, 2009 Egypt: Iran less important than peace processCAIRO — Egypt does not agree with Israel's point of view that Iran's nuclear ambitions are a higher priority for the region than Mideast peace, the presidential spokesman said Sunday. Israel is looking to rally moderate Arab nations around the idea that Iran is the common danger to the whole region.
US commander says top threat to Pakistan comes from extremistsApril 24th, 2009 US urges Pakistan to focus on Taliban, not IndiaWASHINGTON — The United States is urging Pakistan's military to focus more on the Taliban and extremists advancing inside their borders instead of the nation's longtime enemy — India. The top U.S.
Arab divisions harm Iraq, says Iraqi PMMarch 30th, 2009 DOHA - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Monday said divisions among Arab states 'harm Iraq', and called on Arab countries to play a greater role in rebuilding his war-ravaged country. 'We call for the adoption of a common Arab strategy based on a partnership of all the Arab family,' al-Maliki told an Arab League summit in Qatar.
Loading ...