Friday, December 26, 2003
Interesting Washington Post article on the Maffia-like network of families behind much of the Iraqi "resistance." There is a basically positive message here. We're untangling the knots of family connections, isolating the leadership, and depriving them of resources.
Hunt for Hussein Led U.S. to Insurgent Hub (washingtonpost.com)
At the heart of this tightly woven network is Auja, Hussein's birthplace, which U.S. commanders say is the intelligence and communications hub of the insurgency. The village is where many of the former president's key confidants have their most lavish homes and their favorite wives.
When U.S. forces sealed off Auja in late October, they separated the leaders of the insurgency from their guerrilla forces, dealing the anti-occupation campaign a major blow, said Lt. Col. Steve Russell of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, which is responsible for the Tikrit area.
"It's amazing that all roads lead to this region," Russell said. "It's amazing who lives in that town. It's a who's who of families and a who's who of Saddam's former staff."...