Al Qaida reactivated Iraq sleeper cells following U.S. pullout announcement
BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials said Al Qaida has activated sleeper cells long dormant
in Iraq in an effort to demonstrate the capabilities of the insurgency
movement.
The officials said many of the sleeper cells were located in Baghdad and
deactivated in 2007 amid the U.S. military surge.
"Al Qaida apparently felt that there was no point in directly
confronting the United States during the surge," an official said.
"Now,
that the U.S. military is preparing for withdrawal, these suicide bombing
cells have been placed back on operational footing."
In March, at least 60 people were killed in a series of suicide bombings
in Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported. The attacks targeted the Baghdad police academy and tribal
sheiks aligned with the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.
Officials said the Interior Ministry has received increasing authority
for the Iraqi war against Al Qaida. They said the ministry has sought to
expand its intelligence networks.
Interior Minister Jawad Al Bolani said the Iraqi effort against Al Qaida
required a "war of intelligence." But Al Bolani said the ministry has
reduced its police recruitment amid a 25 percent cut in the 2009 budget. The
ministry wants to increase the police to nearly 500,000, including the
establishment of a police brigade in each province.
Officials said the U.S. military has remained a key provider of the Iraq
Army and security forces in the war against Al Qaida. They said the Al Nouri
government has asked the U.S. military to continue operations even after the
withdrawal of most American combat troops from Iraqi cities in July 2009.
Comments
You can thank Obama for this idiotic move. When you signal an enemy that you are withdrawing, it encourages them to fill the vacuum. Yet another of many blunders by this liberal administration.