Insurgent Alliance Is Fraying In Fallujah
Local insurgents in the city of Fallujah are turning against the foreign fighters who have been their allies in the rebellion that has held the U.S. military at bay in parts of Iraq’s Sunni Muslim heartland, according to Fallujah residents, insurgent leaders and Iraqi and U.S. officials.Relations are deteriorating as local fighters negotiate to avoid a U.S.-led military offensive against Fallujah, while foreign fighters press to attack Americans and their Iraqi supporters. The disputes have spilled over into harsh words and sporadic violence, with Fallujans killing at least five foreign Arabs in recent weeks, according to witnesses.
What a shame.
At any rate, if true, this underscores how a substantial portion of the anti-coalition violence is not be perpetrated by Iraqi nationals, meaning that it isn’t a classic insurgency. It also is a significant difference with Viet Nam.