From adnkronosinternational (AKI) we learn that the Iraqi Baathists, led by Saddam’s former righthand man Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, have decided to “disown al-Qaeda.” It is in an interesting development in the insurgency since Saddam’s Baathists have fought alongside al Qaeda since the beginning of this war. I don’t know if this latest development is a result of the “surge” or not. It may be that al-Douri has realized that being on al Qaeda’s team is a losing proposition given the success American-led forces have had in routing al Qaeda in places like Anbar. We’ll wait to see if the new schism is temporary or more permanent. But in the meantime I’ll just note that the Iraqi Baathists had to be working with al Qaeda in the first place in order to now “disown” them. (See Mark Eichenlaub’s Regime of Terror web site for a handy list of Baathists who have been working with al Qaeda.) Here is AKI’s report: