Iraq Withdrawal Results in Increase in Al-Qaeda Violence

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The decrease in violence in Iraq in recent years has been the direct result of the surge by George W. Bush. The gradual decrease of American troops from the region has been made possible by the Bush policies in that region. To pull all of the combat troops out immediately, however, has been considered unwise. Iraq is not able to contain the violence being perpetrated by groups like Al-Qaeda on its own just yet.

Barack Obama, in a rush to capitalize on his promise to get the U.S. out of Iraq has decided that the combat mission is over effective the end of this month. The Obama administration has been rapidly pulling American troops out of the region, content to leave behind only forces designed to continue the training of the Iraqi troops in the hopes that the fragile new government can keep the peace on its own.

According to an Al-Qaeda front group, the Islamic State of Iraq, Al-Qaeda is responsible for the recent increase of violence in Iraq, stating that they are launching a "new earth-shaking wave" in its campaign of violence that is designed to bring Iraq back into the fold of Jihad.

Jihadist web sites boast that the terrorists are targeting "headquarters, centers and security barriers for the army and apostate police."

Just last Wednesday, more than a dozen apparently coordinated car bombs targeting Iraqi police and other attacks blamed on Al-Qaeda in Iraq hit 10 cities and towns around the country, killing 53 people and wounding hundreds.

U.S. Forces and Iraqi officials have disputed reports that August is the “deadliest month in Iraq since 2008,” also challenging reports that 535 people were killed in Iraq during July.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Al-Qaeda violence increases in Iraq as U.S. withdraws - Examiner

Qaeda in Iraq Says It Was Behind Latest Attacks - New York Times