l****z
发帖数: 29846 | 1 An al-Qaida breakaway group, apparently backed by other Sunni groups and
fighters, has seized a large section of northern Iraq after previously
taking much of northeastern Syria with an eye toward establishing an Islamic
state straddling the two countries. The situation on the ground is changing
rapidly, but some patterns and explanations are now emerging:
Q: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?
A: The group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is taking advantage
of two trends: growing discontent among Iraq's minority Sunnis toward Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government, which they accuse of
discrimination; and the increasingly sectarian dimension of the Syrian civil
war, as mostly Sunni rebels fight to oust a regime dominated by members of
a Shiite sect. Taking advantage of the breakdown of state authority,
militant fighters easily cross the border. The Iraqi territory recently
seized by militants is populated overwhelmingly by Sunnis, many of whom, at
least for now, may see al-Maliki as more of a threat than the Islamic State.
Signs are also emerging that the Islamic State is backed in its current
campaign by former military officers and other members of ousted dictator
Saddam Hussein's regime.
Q: WILL IRAQ BE A DIVIDED STATE?
A: The recent developments have renewed the possibility, much discussed
during the war a decade ago, that Iraq be divided into three separate
regions or even nations — the mostly Shiite section, made up of Baghdad and
much of the south and east bordering Iran; a Sunni area, comprised of
western Iraq and parts of the north; and a Kurdish zone, also in the north
and including the cities of Irbil and Kirkuk, which Saddam tried to populate
with Arabs.
Q: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES? WHY WON'T THEY FIGHT?
A: Corruption and sectarianism are widespread problems in the security
forces, with little sense of professionalism or loyalty to the Baghdad
government. Sunni soldiers tend to serve in Sunni areas like Mosul and Anbar
, where many of them are demoralized by the idea of fighting against members
of their own Muslim sect. Police forces are usually drawn from local
populations so are particularly vulnerable to local pressures like
intimidation. In at least one case, the Islamic militants beheaded an
officer and then distributed a video of the attack.
Q: HOW HAVE THE REBELS BEEN ABLE TO MOVE SO QUICKLY?
A: The Islamic State commands between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters, according
to U.S. intelligence officials. The group's military strategy is still
somewhat of a mystery, but the extremists have cunningly crafted their
tactics and message to meet local considerations. In Syria, they are quite
open about their ideology and goals, imposing their strict brand of Islamic
law, banning music and executing people in the main square of the city of
Raqqa, which they control. In Iraq, they focus on portraying themselves as
the protectors of the Sunni community from al-Maliki's government and have
at least so far overlooked some practices they consider forbidden.
Q: WHAT ROLE ARE THE KURDS PLAYING?
A: Kurdish fighters from the ethnic group's autonomous enclave in the north
are showing signs of taking a greater role in fighting back against the
Islamic State. Their role is a potential point of friction because both
Sunni and Shiite Arabs are wary over Kurdish claims on territory outside
their enclave.
Q: WHAT IS IRAN'S POSITION?
A: Iran's president has blasted the Islamic State as "barbaric," and its
foreign minister offered his country's support to Iraq in its "fight against
terrorism." Iran has halted flights to Baghdad and is beefing up border
security. As a Shiite country, Iran shares an affinity with the current
governments of Iraq and Syria.
Q: WHY DO I SEE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE GROUP?
A: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a literal translation. It's
also sometimes called other names including the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria. The name refers to the group's stated goal of restoring a medieval
Islamic state, or caliphate, in Iraq and Greater Syria, also known as the
Levant — traditional names for a region stretching from southern Turkey to
Egypt on the eastern Mediterranean. | m********8
发帖数: 7463 | 2 Q: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IRAQI SECURITY FORCES? WHY WON'T THEY FIGHT?
问：伪军何在？
答：黄军一撤伪军自散！
哇哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈
搞笑
Islamic
changing
advantage
Prime
civil
【在 l****z 的大作中提到】
: An al-Qaida breakaway group, apparently backed by other Sunni groups and
: fighters, has seized a large section of northern Iraq after previously
: taking much of northeastern Syria with an eye toward establishing an Islamic
: state straddling the two countries. The situation on the ground is changing
: rapidly, but some patterns and explanations are now emerging:
: Q: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?
: A: The group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is taking advantage
: of two trends: growing discontent among Iraq's minority Sunnis toward Prime
: Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government, which they accuse of
: discrimination; and the increasingly sectarian dimension of the Syrian civil
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