{"id":784,"date":"2005-05-03T21:55:13","date_gmt":"2005-05-04T02:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=784"},"modified":"2005-05-03T21:55:58","modified_gmt":"2005-05-04T02:55:58","slug":"letter-reveals-problems-in-iraq-insurgency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/targetcentermass.net\/?p=784","title":{"rendered":"Letter Reveals Problems in Iraq Insurgency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps my post last night portrayed a tad too negative view<\/a> of the war against Islamist terror, although it looks like I may have been dead on about the trouble the murderers are having recruiting martyrs. A captured letter released today<\/a> shows that the fodder shortage may just be the tip of the terrorists’ troubled iceberg.<\/p>\n

U.S. forces in Iraq have captured what they say is a letter from a key supporter to insurgent leader Abu Musab Zarqawi, indicating that there is a split in the insurgency, which the letter blames on poor leadership.<\/p>\n

The U.S. command in Iraq says troops found the letter during a raid in Baghdad last Friday. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman says experts have confirmed its authenticity as message from senior aide Abu Asim Yemeni to the insurgent leader Abu Musab Zarqawi.<\/p>\n

“The letter is important because it highlights the fact that Zarqawi’s influence and effectiveness may be deteriorating. It describes low morale and weak and incompetent leadership, and goes on to allege to Zarqawi that he has abandoned his followers because he is now a fugitive himself,” he said.<\/p>\n

According to a translation of the letter provided by U.S. forces in Iraq, it describes some trouble between groups of insurgents that the apparent writer, Mr. Yemeni, says “cannot be forgiven.” He reports to his old friend Mr. Zarqawi that “morale has weakened” and “lines have become separated due to some leaders’ actions.” The letter says, “We have leaders that are not capable of being good leaders” It also expresses suspicion about some envoys who claim to speak for Mr. Zarqawi, and warns him not to believe everything his closest aides tell him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The full text of the letter can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Let’s throw this story around the horn, blogosphere-style<\/p>\n