More Inauspiciousness: Your Rent-a-Sheikh Gets Killed

by emptywheel

As many of you have pointed out, the guy I called Bush's Rent-a-Thuggish-Sheikh last week died in a bomb blast today.

The leader of local Sunni tribes in Iraq who have joined American and Iraqi forces in fighting extremist Sunni militants was killed by a bomb today, Iraqi police officials said, potentially undermining what has become a new thrust of United States policy in the country.

[snip]

It could be a significant setback for American efforts to work more closely with local tribes against Al Qaeda. Recently the council had begun to reach out to other tribes to bring them into closer cooperation with the American and Iraqi government, and had met recently with southern Shia leaders.Authorities imposed a state of emergency in Anbar Province following his assassination, police officials said. At least one other person escorting him was also killed in the explosion.

So Bush's big debut for Magical September just got further clouded. First the oil compromise collapses on the eve of his presentation. And now the guy Bush was parading around last week as the symbol of great promise in Anbar just got blown to bits. But don't worry. I'm sure Bush won't ... um ... dwell on these depressing details.

Mark Lynch has more on the meaning of Risha's death, including the speculation that Risha was not killed by Al Qaeda.

Nothing could have been more predictable than the murder of Abu Risha, the man most closely identified with America's Anbar strategy. He was the public face of the turn against al-Qaeda, and Petraeus immediately said that "it shows Al Qaeda in Iraq remains a very dangerous and barbaric enemy."  But there's no reason to assume that al-Qaeda killed him - I'd guess that one of the nationalist insurgency groups, the ones which current American rhetoric pretends don't exist - is a more likely suspect.  Other tribes deeply resented him.  The major nationalist insurgency groups had recently issued a series of statements denouncing people who would illegitimately seize the fruits of their victorious jihad - of whom he was the prime example.  All those photographs which swamped the Arab media showing him shaking hands with President Bush made him even more a marked man than before.

His murder graphically demonstrates that the other groups threatened by the American Anbar strategy were never going to just sit back passively and allow it to succeed - an obvious strategic point which has always seemed to elude surge advocates.  The Sunni strategy as presented by surge advocates has always rested not only on a whole series of dubious claims about Iraqi Sunni politics, but also relies on a whole series of best-case scenarios in which nothing could go wrong.  In Iraq, something always goes wrong.    

That "something always goes wrong" bit? I'm guessing that won't make it into Bush's speech tonight, either.

Comments

[scribe]

Here's hoping Edwards can work some sort of reference (preferably sarcastic and snarky, but in a refined, Presidential way) into his rebuttal speech tonight.

[Mimikatz]

The Sunnis are probably the most anti-American faction (by toppling Saddam we cost them their power position; we then supported the elections that brought the Shi'a to power), so it isn't surprising that, on top of all the resentment against him for greed and opportunism, some Sunnis would also resent him for collaborating with the US, even if the reason for that was to strengthen their position in the post-US landscape. Besides, it is really an in-your-face to Bush.

What will the man who wanted Fallujah razed in response to the killing of the 4 contractors in April, 2004 (and then didn't) do now that they killed his chief prop in Anbar? And will BFF and brownnoser Petraeus go along?

[Sally]

Bush must be glad he planned to spend all day on his "speech." At this rate, he'll have to postpone it indefinitely.

[bmaz]

"relies on a whole series of best-case scenarios in which nothing could go wrong. In Iraq, something always goes wrong." But not to BushCo; oh no, its always sunny in some province of Iraq. From the start, they have run this war, and indeed the entire US foreign policy, like a bunch of booze addled gambling addicts at the horse track. Always shooting for the stars; yet always flat and lead footed when the inevitable and fully predicted rotting chunk of falling Skylab lands on their head. Rinse and repeat.

[emptywheel]

Sally

I kind of assumed they could just ignore this and the oil deal failure by saying they didn't have time to get it in the speech, what with recycling the material that Petraeus himself recycled from old Bush speeches.

[bmaz]

Thats ok EW, maybe they can draft Crash Davis, the Kevin Costner character in Bull Durham, to teach Nuke La Boosh, a few glittering generalities to spew out tonight. Then Hannity, Lieberman and Kristol etc. can say how strong he was and how it shows he is the right man to lead us in more war.

[Dismayed]

Dear George,

Wake the fuck up, they want us gone - all of them, and they aren't going to do a damn thing you say - ever.

Right not you are a thorn in the side of an eventuality you created.

This will never be someone elses problem. Every day you pretend it will, you kill a few more American Servicemen.

There. Is that easy enough for you to understand?

[EvilPoet]

Thought this might be of interest.

Pentagon calls sheikh's assassination a "tragic loss"

[Sally]

ew, if the king dares mention the dead oil deal or the dead sheik, we can rest assured it will have a happy glow. He's never failed us in the past with his up-is-down happy talk.

[albert fall]

Vegas line on speech:

Referring to deaths of NYT op-ed soldiers: 100-1

Mentioning death of sheikh in sentence that includes "notwithstanding" or similar term: 1-1

Mentioning oil deal collapse in sentence that includes "notwithstanding" or similar term: 1-1

Calling oil deal, sheikh, or anything else a failure: 1,000,000-1

[Sally]

Not our fault, says the Pentagon press secretary Morrell:

"The sheikh initially was protected by US forces who parked an M-1 tank in front of his house and trained his bodyguards and security forces. But Morrell said responsibility for his security had passed to his own people."

[Jodi]

Well, I have to say I am surprised.

The US Military has a little success and people on this Blog, treat it with suspicion and outrage, and then an Iraqi who was helping with this success is killed by a bomb, and the event is met with glee, and satisfaction.

Oh, I guess it is Sept 13, a full two days after Sept 11, and there has been time for Patriotic Fervor, such as it was, to die back down.

[radiofreewill]

Brava! Brava! Oh, the snark!

He's got nuthin' for tonight. Everything that Petraeus used to establish any credibility for Bush to say the Surge is working - blown-up!

I read earlier that Bush's speech was running 20 minutes long. I'll bet it's down to 5 at the moment.

Let's watch him sing 'Victory is Still Possible' while he dances though a decisive refutation of his War and Occupation.

Tonight! Will the Magic be gone?

[bmaz]

I see the inner ignorant shit stain in you has bubbled to the surface once again Jodi. Nobody here is gleeful over any death, much less someone that might help end this godawful war. What is going on here is observance of the irony in the inevitable fact that everything your boy Boosh touches turns to shit; a concept you are clearly familiar with.

[sailmaker]

"Not our fault, says the Pentagon press secretary Morrell:

"The sheikh initially was protected by US forces who parked an M-1 tank in front of his house and trained his bodyguards and security forces. But Morrell said responsibility for his security had passed to his own people."

Sally at 13:55

Sadly shows that there is little hope for training Iraqi security forces adequately to 'standup so we can stand down'.

[Shit Stain Remover]

Well, I have to say I am surprised. Posted by: Jodi | September 13, 2007 at 13:56

How can you claim to be surprised? You have the same criticisms every time you post.

I see no suspicion, glee or satisfaction, I see a group of people disgusted with what passess for presidential leardership and decision-making. Everything Bush touches turns to shit and we pay for it. His arrogance knows no bounds. His judgement is not tied to reality.

No one is stopping you from waving your flag. Wave away, and while you're at it, explain what have you've done to bring America together?

I will note that your emphatic call for patriotism rests on the biggest national defense catastrophy to have occurred since Pearl Harbor, over half a century ago. Why do Republicans think progressives find this anniversary to be one to celebrate?

9/11 has never justified the Iraq war, Bush and Cheney's claims to the contrary notwithstanding. Only by using 9/11 and the shock doctrine to take advantage of the American people was 9/11 missappropriated justification for the US war in Iraq.

Who will be the last soldier to die for the Bush Cheney oil grab?

[randiego]

"From the start, they have run this war, and indeed the entire US foreign policy, like a bunch of booze addled gambling addicts at the horse track. Always shooting for the stars; yet always flat and lead footed when the inevitable and fully predicted rotting chunk of falling Skylab lands on their head."

bmaz, I think you're finding your inner poet.

[Tom in AZ]

There can only be so many exits for the sheikh to take from his house or compound. IEDs on all exit routes will make it a simple matter of waiting for him to drive by.That goes for anybody there, sadly.

[Chris]

I'm surprised that no one has speculated on how this death could be positively spun in tonite's speech. My personal bet is that the Prez will declare that we have classified evidence - EVIDENCE, I tell you - that the bombing was done by Iranian agents, thus PROVING that they're conducting active operations against US forces. (If I sink just a bit further into paranoia, I imagine that the next sentence is "Therefore, I have just ordered US forces to commence combat operations against these enemies of freedom and the United States.") If you don't have to prove any assertion, then all evidence supports your position.

[Katie Jensen]

Albert Fall, loved it!! shite stain remover, lovely!!

I am saddened by every single loss of life in war. Most of all, I am saddened by the fact that Bush/co caused it by going to war over oil, with the cover story of regime change. I am saddened because Bush/co caused it by not taking into account the fact that these warring factions would fall apart and attack each other if we did cause a regime change. Narrow sightedness is no excuse to kill people.

It makes me sick.

[Prabhata]

The death of the Risha is not surprising. Anyone who gets involved with Bush will suffer dire consequences. Just look at the leader of Italy, Spain, and UK, all kicked out of office. The last one to survive, Howard (Australia), is close to losing. But the bribe money is good and sometimes worth a chance.

According to the UK Times Online:

"AMERICAN forces are paying Sunni insurgents hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to switch sides and help them to defeat Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The tactic has boosted the efforts of American forces to restore some order to war-torn provinces around Baghdad in the run-up to a report by General David Petraeus..."

snip

"The Sunday Times has witnessed at first hand the enormous sums of cash changing hands. One sheikh in a town south of Baghdad was given $38,000 (£19,000) and promised a further $189,000 over three months to drive Al-Qaeda fighters from a nearby camp."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2413200.ece

[bmaz]

Randiego - I'm no poet; and I know it. Heh heh; got lots of old cliches though. Hey where did you see Zep in 1977 ? don't know if you saw later reply to you yesterday, but I saw same tour in Tempe.

[JohnJ]

Yikes! I have recently sent a few friends here to see what open intellectual and informed discussion of politics look like and to prove that the "liberal hate blogs" are anything but. True to my luck, shitstain shows its ugly head.

For those who don't understand, jodi is a troll. The normally civil and thoughtful commentors here like to mark jodi's appearance with uncivil and rude treatment it deserves. I personally think you will find it works from the RNC or Whitehouse servers.

Without jodi's provocation, the worst disagreements I have seen here have been entirely intellectual or just basic misunderstandings or mis-speaks.

EW, please, I'd like to do SOMETHING other than read this blog today. I do have other things to do. (Not really, I love it!)

[Jodi]

I am sick over this war, for more personal reasons than most here have. And I have made clear my opinion of the megalomaniac George Bush.

But I don't begrudge any success we can wring out of the war. And those of you who call yourselves Democrats had better hope that we can get more successes and soon, because it looks like the Democrats will soon have the sole responsibilty for Iraq, and if you think you can just retreat back across the water to Fortress America, you are being incredibly shortsighted.

[Boo Radley]

JohnJ, yeah, I think there are a few people who post under Jodi's handle. I think the main one, while a paid troll, is pretty much who she says she is, a brother in Iraq.

Jodi, the "U.S. Military" isn't making any progress (but it's certainly not their fault). First Bush decided to blow up Henry Kissinger's Sunni block to Iranian (Shia) expansion. That's what Saddam was. We put him there. When Bush finally figured out that making Iran more dominant in the region was a bad idea, he went back to the Sunni's and is now trying to rebuild what he destroyed. Where is the progress?