Portrait of a Shadow

if we would have spent all the billions of dollars on iraqis like abu ahmed instead of all the private sector contractors, perhaps we would not be having this discussion now.

Wow....

I think that this just shows that these guys are going to go with the winning side no matter who it is "for now". But, what you can be sure of is that once (or maybe if) we ever do finally get out of Iraq. Things will go right back to the way it was before. Even if the government is changed somewhat, the attitude will be the same. Even those not out to blow us up, still will not like us. There is really no good that can come from being involved over there. They're going to believe what they're going to believe and nothing we can do is going to change that.

al qaedae in iraq -lolz
first it was WMDS
THEN IRAN
THEN THE KURDS
NOW IT IS AL QAEDA
WHAT A MESS OF LYING STUNTS

THE REAL ENEMY RESIDES IN SAUDI ARABIA

The purpose of the war may have been to rid the country of WMD's but I do not think we can compare national homicide form one country with another....Not yet at least....Blacks do not kill other blacks in America because of religious gain or government politics. African-Americans kill each other in America each day because of the lack of education and opportunity. Or as the USA coins the phrase..."ONE DOLLAR"

The purpose of the war may have been to rid the country of WMD's but I do not think we can compare national homicide form one country with another....Not yet at least....Blacks do not kill other blacks in America because of religious gain or government politics. African-Americans kill each other in America each day because of the lack of education and opportunity. Or as the USA coins the phrase..."ONE DOLLAR"

People are ignorant about the reason for the Iraq war. After 9/11 Bush wanted to rid the middle east of WMDs and NUCLEAR WEAPON FACILITIES .The Iraq war was not a question of whether there were or no wmdS IN iRAQ. SADDAM REFUSED THE SEARCH SO THE UN,US,EU AND EVEN THE DEMOCRATS SUPPORTED THE WAR. Our US troops killed thousands of multinational islamic fanatics who went to Iraq. Iraq is on it's way to democracy and safer than Either Chicago or New York. How many black Americans die violently EVERYDAY in these 2 cities.

Excellant article. The Shiek and Abu Ahmed are the tipping point, along with the sons of Iraq, which will enable the U.S. forces to leave Iraq within 16 months. The recognition that they are the architects of their country's destiny, is a powerful incentive to get rid of this plague. The U.S. needs to cooperate and listen to what is being said. We need tolerance that we preach. Everyone will not conform to our ideals. This has enabled the increased troop surge to suceed.

Very interesting article! However, for all the work that Abu Ahmed has done with the Americans, I fear for his life. An article like this could surely blow his cover and the operation entirely. Even though his name has been changed, it would be easy for someone to pick-up on who he is based on some of the details of this story. Father and brothers beheaded and Al Qaeda actually apologizing? My guess is his days are numbered. I think his turnaround by the sheik is commendable and his cooperation with the Americans is invaluable to the US getting the "hell out of Dodge!" I also guess there is probably a Hollywood movie for him on the horizon if he survives and accomplishes his mission.

This story is the most inspiring & hopefull answer to stabilizing that country, or any country that is under the deathly grip of extremist groups like Al Quaida!

I suppose some conservatives will utilize any information to support the Bush led "unneccsary war" (those are the words the President's own press secretary, Scotty McClellan, used to describe the war, now that he is no longer being paid by the administration to say how great an idea it was.) It is this war that led to the empowerment of Al Qaeda in Iraq in the first place, that has cost so many American and Iraqi lives. This war also distracted us from cutting the head ( Bin Laden) from the Al Qaeda octopus, instead of contending with the easily regenerated tentacles. I wonder how many of our American fighting men and his fellow Iraqis this young man, who Mr. Silverwolf applauds, killed before his moment of enlightenment when he realized that Al Queda is a gang of murderers (did he have them beheaded? Dragged through the streets?). I would have thought 9-11 would have convinced any reasonable person of Al Qaeda's true nature. I also wonder how this young man will react to our troops if they are still there after Al Qaeda is removed, and the enemy of his enemy is no longer there- just us, his original enemy.

Yes, it does say that the Saudis were providing funding. Does that surprise you? Osama bin Laden is Saudi. Do you REALLY think that, despite its official stance on him and Al Qaeda, that Saudi Arabia, or at least a number of its wealthiest men, are not providing funding for Al Qaeda and other radical Muslim groups?
I applaud this man for stepping forward, for allowing his mind to be open and for helping to stop an evil far greater than Americans on Iraqi soil. He realizes that, the sooner Iraq is stable and Al Qaeda's presence is minimized (I don't think it will ever be gone), the sooner Americans will leave Iraq. He has seen that terrorism and war are an appalling waste. He's an intelligent young man who wants what is best for his people - not what is best for the rich. Kudos to him.

Nice to see there are actually Iraqis that have enough intelligence to realize the US (and yes, the BUSH administration) is why Saddam isnt still there

A good article

Well, since they use fake names I imagine the risk is minimal, particularly as I think one of the points of the article is that there are a great number of people whose back stories match the one relayed here. I suspect the sources, while not explicitly authorized to talk to the press on the subject, also have an interest in shaping the message of this article, that Al Qaeda is hemorrhaging supporters and maybe its okay for Iraqis to work with American "occupiers." Plus, do you really think that prior to this article Al Qaeda was unaware of the fact that this kind of thing is going on?