FORCING THE CONTRADICTIONS/KNOWING YOUR ALLIES/EasP:

Iraq's Rebellion Develops Signs of Internal Rift (IAN FISHER and EDWARD WONG, 7/11/04, NY Times)

Tension appears to be rising between the homegrown Iraqi resistance and the foreign Islamist fighters who have entered the country to destroy the American military here. This is one reason, experts speculate, that Iraq has not had the kind of spectacular attack meant to spread terror and defy the American agenda for a long two weeks, even during the transfer of formal sovereignty back to the Iraqis.

Evidence has emerged in sniping between groups on Arabic television and Web sites, and in interviews with Iraqi and American officials, as well as from members of the resistance and people with close ties to it. All speak of rising friction between nationalistic fighters and foreign-led Islamists over goals and tactics, with some Iraqi insurgents indicating a revulsion over the car bombs and suicide attacks in cities that have caused hundreds of civilian deaths.

Once you have your nation back, what's left for the merely nationalist to fight for?

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 11, 2004 8:59 AM