Saturday, September 01, 2007

Jihadis Are Surrendering

A few weeks ago I wondered if reports of capturing jihadis in Iraq were a sign that this enemy is cracking. I asked whether the reports I'd seen reflected something new or whether I was only now reading about captures taking place all along (and so not significant).

General Petraeus said this:

The rise in al-Qaida "kills and captures" had caused the group to lose influence with Sunni Muslims, he said.


More killings isn't surprising given our added troops and our offensive. That is a function of our actions.

But more enemy surrenders are a function of enemy failings. Instead of dying for their cause, they are giving up.

Absent actual numbers to look at, this comment seems to confirm that the jihadis are giving up more than in the past.