According to the internal al Qaeda correspondence in the files, Iraqis have taken to, and effectively run, al Qaeda in Iraq. Foreign fighters' roles seem mostly relegated to the canon [sic]fodder of suicide attacks.
Though the upper tiers of the organization are still dominated by non-Iraqis, in Anbar, at least, all the princes and brigade and battalion commanders are homegrown.
They do try, though, to ignore this. This says Iraqis run the organization then the next sentence says foreigners run the organization.
And yes, Iraqis began joining al Qaeda. As the Baathists and nationalists starting losing, the more jihadi-friendly types started to migrate to al Qaeda. This is known. It may be news to CNN but it is not new.
It is fortunate that the media now sees that al Qaeda in Iraq is no neocon myth and more than just a minor nuisance lost in the sea of a "national resistance" against our "occupation."
Because that cannon fodder (or maybe they really meant canon fodder given the religious fanaticism involved) is staying home:
"Foreign suicide bombers have fallen off in 2008 compared to 2007 rather significantly," Gen. Keane said. "Motivation to come to Iraq is down in the Sunnis Arab states because many believe the [al Qaeda] operation in Iraq is a lost cause. Also it is well known that it is far more likely they will not accomplish the mission because [al Qaeda's] capacity to receive them and protect them is diminished greatly."
We are beating al Qaeda on their chosen battlefield in Iraq and the loss is affecting recruiting.
Remember, only ineffective military action creates more terrorists. As I've repeatedly argued, killing the jihadis and, more importantly, depriving them of any hope of victory, really does discourage jihadis from joining up.
