The Saudis were followed by North Africans recruited by Al Qaida. The
report said Algeria and Libya comprised 40 percent of Al Qaida suicide
bombers in Iraq.
"Again and again, we heard this reality bothered the recruits, this
disconnect between the stories they were told as they were recruited and
indoctrinated and the reality of a war against innocent civilians was deeply
disturbing," Smith said. "They had not come here to kill Iraqi civilians."
The report was based on Al Qaida records captured by the U.S. military
in Iraq. The military also contributed information from the interrogation of
48 foreign Al Qaida recruits in Iraq.
"The recruiter begins by engaging in seemingly harmless conversation
about Islam before then beginning to bring up the twisted interpretation of
Islam," Smith said. "These 48 men told us they were lured here with the
promise they would be killing Americans. But they were disappointed that
most of the violence they saw was directed at the Iraqi people fellow
Muslims."
The military compiled a profile for Al Qaida recruitment. The report
concluded that the candidate was a Sunni Muslim single male around 22 years
old and alienated.
"In these large family groups, individuals seek ways to make their mark,
to set them apart," the report said. "In many ways, entering jihad gives
sons a way to show themselves unique in a large family."
Officials said Al Qaida orders suicide bombers from recruiters
throughout the Middle East. They said the orders were processed in Damascus
and then relayed to the network in North Africa and Saudi Arabia. Three
months later, the first candidates arrive.
Recruiters usually select candidates from among young people who attend
mosques. The report cited a 26-year-old disfigured Moroccan alienated from
his family and community in Casablanca. The man was transported to Iraq
and locked in a room for six months.
"They were told, 'This is your duty. This is what you can do for the
jihad.You will be a martyr. This is what we need you to do,'" Smith said.
"Ironically they were relieved having been captured by the very Americans
their recruiters said they would kill in Iraq."
Officials said the flow of foreign volunteers in Iraq peaked at 120 per
month in mid-2007. In 2008, the number dropped to about 50 per month.
"The reduction in foreign fighter flow can be attributed to a number of
factors, including coalition and Iraqi security force interdiction of
foreign fighter networks here in Iraq," Smith said.
