We're Winning, Part XXXIV

First we captured his computer; now we're reading his mail:

The U.S. military said Tuesday it has seized a letter from Iraqi insurgents believed to be intended for Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among followers and weakening support for the insurgency.

The authenticity of the letter -- which the military said American troops found Thursday in a raid in Baghdad -- could not be independently verified.

The letter -- which never refers to al-Zarqawi by name -- is written to Sheik Abu Ahmad, a name not known to be used by the militant leader or his followers. But supporters often call al-Zarqawi the Sheik or Sheik Abu Musab in letters and on Web sites.

"What has happened to myself and my brothers is an unforgivable crime, but God will punish the oppressor," the letter reads. "I swear by God that you will be asked about what happened to us because you have not asked about the situation of the migrants. Morale is down and there is fatigue among mujahedeen ranks. . .

The author of the letter also "admonishes 'the Sheik' for abandoning his followers" after last year's U.S. siege on Falluja, west of Baghdad.

Reuters says the letter links losing Falluja with Allah's favor:

It is unlike the case in Falluja where you used to come and visit us, and we enjoyed your party. The situation has changed dramatically and that is not acceptable to God.

Sounds good, right? Not to Moonbats at DU--who are convinced the letter's fake, possibly from Karl Rove:

• leesa: I can't believe people actually swallow this nonsense!



• ast_liberal2008: I'll say it once and be done with this story: BULLS**T!!



• Roland99: What was the return address? Pennsylvania Ave.?



• Frederik: Oh give me a break[.] I understand that psychological warfare is an integral part of the 21st century battlefield and all that, but are they really not capable of doing better than this? With $450 billion a year? It should at least be possible to produce a fake Zarqawi videotape.

Alone among the loonies, Frederik's probably right. But why would a phony letter omit Zarqawi's name? A "genuine fake" wouldn't include ambiguities--suggesting the letter's authentic.

Meanwhile, Sunday's Al Hayat Al Jadida -- the Palestinian Authority's official newspaper -- printed an ad offering birthday greetings to Saddam Hussein. Headed "Blessings to the leader of the masses, Saddam Hussein the faithful, the legal President of the Iraqi Republic on the occasion of his 68th birthday," the translated text said:

Two members of the leadership of the Fatah Movement, Bader Tewfik Hassan "Abu Yunis" and Fuzi Kamel Shahrur, express to the leader of the nation and her warrior knight Saddam Hussein, the president of the Iraqi Republic best wishes on the occasion of his 68th birthday, and bless all of the faithful among the Iraqi and Arab nations, who support and defend justice. We wish him long life for the sake of Iraq and to free the Arab nation from the enslavement of foreign imperialism. Oh, the glory of victory, with the help of Allah.

Ahh the ever-peaceful poor, poor Palestinians--as the late Israeli diplomat Abba Eban famously observed, "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

(via LGF)

More:

The Jawa Report prescribes Wellbutrin.

Still More:

Former Army rocket repair-man and war game designer Jim Dunnigan agrees in a Strategy Page year 2004 review titled "Moslems Killing Moslems Is Not a winning Tactic":

Iraq remained the center of the war on terror, with most of the attacks being directed at Iraqis. This turned the population, including many Sunni Arabs, against the terrorists. While there were still plenty of volunteers for suicide bombings, and plenty of cash and explosives handy to pay for it, the al Qaeda campaign in Iraq had become a losing proposition. Even outside of Iraq, many Sunni Arabs were getting disenchanted with al Qaeda terrorism. In a war of symbols, blowing up Moslem women and children is not a winning tactic.

Another major difference between 2003 and 2004, was the shifting of al Qaeda support from people in Moslem countries to expatriate Moslems in Europe. Many al Qaeda members had fled their native countries, because of the increasingly hostile atmosphere, for the relative sanctuary of Europe. Going into 2005, al Qaeda is dying in Iraq and plotting in Europe.