Insurgency In Somalia and the Iraqi Breeding Ground

The vast majority of the time, I have nothing good to say about David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com, however I just came across a pretty good analysis there of the increasingly violent situation in Somalia by Steve Schippert.

Reading this article, I was struck by a few similarities between the situation in Iraq and the growing violence in Mogadishu. While the two conflicts are obviously different in many ways, the tactics adopted by the al-Qaeda backed Islamic Courts Union (ICU) are very similar to those used by insurgents in Iraq. Among these tactics are the use of suicide car bombers and scattered attacks on government forces. In keeping with asymmetric warfare doctrine, the ICU is launching attacks throughout Mogadishu and the surrounding area in a relatively random fashion, which heightens perceptions of the violence as omnipresent.

Schippert also points out that the ICU is making use of expertise brought by "...seasoned and well-trained al-Qaeda terrorists from Indonesia, Pakistan and elsewhere." While not surprising on a hawkish site like FrontPageMag.com, the exclusion of Iraq as a source of "seasoned and well-trained" insurgents is definitely notable. Bush supporters have no difficulty recognizing that every other similar conflict throughout the globe provides an excellent means for terrorists to improve their tactics, technology, expertise, and recruitment. When it comes to Iraq, however, they all seem to be in denial of the important role played by the war in the development of militant Islamic extremism throughout the globe.

As I have said in the past, the conflict in Iraq not only draws terrorists from all over the world to fight against American forces (as recognized by proponents of the war), it also serves as a proving ground, networking hub and launching point for terrorist activities both in Iraq and throughout the world. In this respect Iraq is very similar to the conflict in Afghanistan (in the 1980s) between invading Soviet forces and U.S.-backed Islamist mujahideen, the predecessors and founders of al-Qaeda.

Both the Bush administration and countless war supporters have said that the conflict in Iraq lessens the chances of an attack on American soil because it occupies terrorists abroad and also kills many of those who would attack American civilians. While it is certainly true that many violent extremists are killed in Iraq, it is equally important to recognize that the war very likely results in a net increase in extremists -- extremists who are among the most experienced, dedicated, and skilled in the world.