I NEVER PROMISED YOU A HANGING GARDEN:

Iraq seeing rift among insurgents (HAMZA HENDAWI, 4/11/05, The Associated Press)

There are growing signs of hostility between secular Iraqi insurgents and Muslim extremists — some of them foreigners — fighting under the banner of al-Qaida.

The factions have exchanged threats and are increasingly divided over the strategy of violence, much of it targeting civilians, that aims to undermine the fragile new government.

The increased tension arises at a critical time: The mainstream component of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency — which remains active, vibrant and deadly nearly two years since it began — has opened a campaign designed to reap political gain out of its violent roots.

Post-election realities appear to have forced that tactical change. Majority Shiites and Kurds are consolidating power, and the population is growing increasingly angry over the largely Sunni-driven insurgency that is killing vast numbers of ordinary people and members of the country's fledgling army and police force.

"You see a withering of the insurgents that had a short-term agenda, like preventing the January election. But the insurgency is not unraveling yet," said Peter Khalil, former director of national-security policy for the now-defunct U.S.-led occupation authority in Iraq.

The divide among militants, however, is becoming more noticeable.

That insurgency stuff just isn't as much fun as it was supposed to be.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 11, 2005 1:40 PM