Why is Al-Qaeda more interested in Iraq than Afghanistan?

Question

I have noticed there is some confusion as to why Al-Qaeda has chosen to put much more emphasis on Iraq and only exerts minimal attention to supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Many Americans have suggested we should just focus on Afghanistan, because AQ wouldn't be in Iraq if we weren't. Could this be true or are there bigger reasons why they travel so much further to Iraq where we are stronger?
I have examined this in my latest article: "The Abbasid Caliphate: Al-Qaeda in Iraq."

If you are willing to look into the minds of the serial killers we call our enemy. If you are willing to accept the truth.

Or if you just want to see our wars, through the eyes of a combat veteran that has been to both fronts of this war on terror, unpoliticized, objective and backed by indepedent research, read my blog:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-DfkctJU7dK5B7LcNROoyVQ--?cq=1

Truth Gal: You are correct that AQ has expressed a renewed interest in Afghanistan.

You are also correct that certain techniques used and improved in Iraq are showing up in Afghanistan. This however does demonstrate a connection between the two wars.

While 15% may be accurate (I'll have to recheck the numbers) of the number of estimated foreign fighters compared to Iraqi insurgents, it is by far not repesentative of the violence directly resulting from those organizations. Nor does that account for the support given to the local terrorists by foreign fighters in the means of weapons, explosives nor the reactions by the other side to the supply and actions attributed to them.

AQ's initial goals were to stir up the historic hatreds of Sunni and Shi'a. While they have continued in that effort, they have also maintained an active role.

Canctu: name calling and errantly calling the research flawed does not negate it's accuracy.

I have not addressed stateside politics. Our national security supercedes political platforms, hence I leave that out in order to focus on the threat.

Does anyone here know what the Abbasid Caliphate was? or even desire to know how it relates to the war on terror?

Joseph, you have just quoted CNN, which acts as both an intelligence and propaganda arm of Al-Qaeda.

If you read the blog, you'll understand what CNN does not report.

If you consider (and CNN and Al-Jazeera) would report the atrocities of the enemy to the extent they report the few minor indiscretions (out of context and without rebuttal when proven false), we'd have a 24/7 news channel devoted to the everyday atrocities committed by the enemy against muslims.

If you listen to the Soldiers and Marines, more and more Iraqis are supporting us and more are taking up arms against our enemies.

Truth Girl: International Crisis Group estimates there to be 1000 foreign fighters in Iraq and 5000-15000 insurgents in Iraq, which would correspond to your estimate of 15%, but of the fighters rather than the violence.

The US military estimates 40-60 jihadists cross the Syrian border daily and that 96 to 100% of suicide bombers are foreign.

From Jan-May 2007, 100 of 244 bombs were suicide bombs which represents 40.98%. We do not know how many of those firing rifles were nor how many of the other bombs were set by foreigners.

Though we do not have figures on how many people were killed by suicide versus other bombs, we do know that they are more deadly.

Hence, we can presume that while foreign jihadists may make up only 15% of the insurgents, they are both more active and deadly than the Iraqis they sponsor. In fact Zarqawi expressed his disdain for the Iraqis he supported, while he was leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2004.

Source: Brookings Institute report dated 31 May 2007 (most of the above information) derived from multiple sources.

Al-Qaeda does indeed have a grander plan than merely killing Iraqis, Afghanis and Americans. The means to that plan does include recruitment.

If you want to see more of that plan, read the blog. There is no way to explain it all here.

Answer 1

I think Al Qaeda focuses on Iraq for several reasons. One is because if they can gain control of the government their, it boosts their organization. Another is any small successes for them their can really boost propaganda and morale for their cause. Yes another is just to embarrass the US, or strain its partisan politics to get it to tear it apart from inside (on that point that have had some success).

Answer 2

I think you may be underestimating Al Qaeda’s interest in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda recently named Abu al-Yazid as Al Qaeda’s leader in Afghanistan. There is reason to believe that Al Qaeda is renewing its efforts to help the Taliban.

Last fall, reports from the CIA and defense intelligence indicated that Al Qaeda operatives were using techniques in Afghanistan that had been learned in Iraq. The CIA director stated that the Taliban had gained momentum in Afghanistan, aided by Al Qaeda.

In addition, there is reason to believe that Al Qaeda in Iraq may be largely autonomous and consists primarily of Iraqis. It is unclear how much direct influence there is between Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda in Iraq. Although the groups share goals and ideology, there is little evidence of tactical guidance from bin Laden or his colleagues.

Also, in Iraq, Al Qaeda only accounts for a fraction of the violence. Some estimates are that in the first half of 2007, Al Qaeda only accounted for 15% of the violent attacks.

It’s an interesting premise that you present but Al Qaeda seems to be interested in a bigger picture. The idea of the US presence in Iraq has helped Al Qaeda to garner support from extremists in other areas of the world. I think that Al Qaeda hopes to be able to keep these two battlefronts going and to continue to gain recruits to establish semi-independent Al Qaedas elsewhere.

Answer 3

Because WE'VE allowed them a NEW "training ground" -to recruit & train more Terrorists -in Iraq!. We've provided them with money (by dumping MILLIONS of dollars into a corrupt Iraqi Government); disaffected people (who'll do ANYTHING to get us OUT of Iraq); challenging "targets" to practice upon (American Soldiers); and Propaganda material (like Abu Grabe, killing Iraqi civilians, etc.) to use against us across the Arab World. Why on EARTH would they want to do that in Afganistan- when all they have to do, is teach the remaining Taliban fighters how to do it- themselves?! :0

Answer 4

"In the 21st century, Al-Qaeda sees the weakened state of Iraq as their best chance to obtain a national status, as opposed to their current stateless status. It is their desire to recover some sense of a “home base” that was lost following their miscalculations over the US and world response to 9/11."

But there are greater reasons to their focus on Iraq, particularly since they dropped focus on fighting us in Afghanistan. The first thing to realize is that despite the Koran teaching that all Muslims are equal, it is not practiced. It’s easy to see that women are treated as lesser Muslims, as the Koran requires that the testimony of two women to provide equal weight of testimony as a man, along with various other discrimination's, in practice and in the writings of the Koran."

HUH??????

Independent research that is flawed!

Al Qaeda was not even in Iraq until after we got there! Most are stateless because the are radicals who no state would embrace, including Saddam Hussein!

And if you haven't noticed it is Iraqi killing Iraqi, some using any means necessary!

Idiot Bush tried to link those in Iraq with 9/11 again yesterday! Those in Iraq didn't even exist on 9/11!

Your premise is fatally flawed and unscientific!

Answer 5

The war brings a couple of things, particularly locally..
It brings CIA.. and Alquaida wants to know who the coverts are FIRST AND FOREMOST. I warned CIA. they didnt believe me.. until it was too late
the War brings a stir in the economy, like you get paid to DO things for the military and the contractors.
The presence of AMERICANS in a forgein country, forgeiners think of opportunity and also the arms as well.
its like bringing the circus to the middle east.. and the Soliders and their toys are a big attraction that some of those terrorists would like to possess themselves.
And favors to and from americans to better their way of life.

Answer 6

Accepted but no space.

Regards

Answer 7

Its the Oil!!!