More evidence that AQI gravely miscalculated in their decision to take the fight to the Iraqi people:
Information gleaned from 48 foreign fighters detained in Iraq offers insight into al Qaeda’s methods, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman told reporters during a briefing today in Baghdad. “The foreign detainees told similar stories about what happened to them once they were smuggled into Iraq,” said Navy Rear Adm. Greg Smith, director of Multinational Force Iraq’s communication division. “These 48 men told us they were lured here with the promise they would be killing Americans … but they were disappointed that most of the violence they saw was directed at the Iraqi people … fellow Muslims,” Smith said.
It’s intensely satisfying to hear that Iraq has become an unrelenting hellhole…. for insurgents. Hated everywhere they go, and constantly dodging devastating American firepower, it’s no wonder that AQI has to church up the old recruiting pamphlets in order to keep the warm bodies flowing.
Though the detainees described their upbringing as religious, but not extremist, they were drawn in by al Qaeda recruiters after seeing what Smith described as heavily edited videos depicting Americans allegedly abusing Iraqis and al Qaeda attacks on Americans. After harsh treatment at the hands of their al Qaeda handlers in Iraq, and learning that the truth had been shaded, most said they just wanted to go home, Smith said. However, their handlers, who had confiscated their passports and money, pressured them to become suicide bombers. “They were told, ‘This is your duty. This is what you can do for the jihad. You will be a martyr. This is what we need you to do,'” Smith said. “Ironically they were relieved having been captured by the very Americans their recruiters said they would kill in Iraq.”
Though I’m sure it wasn’t deliberate, al Qaeda forgot to include this tidbit in the recruiting pitch:
Smith said the fact remains that about 90 percent of foreign fighters in Iraq become suicide bombers.
That figure smacks of desperation.
