A ceasefire in Iraq between "U.S. enemies" (Sunni insurgency now the "enemy")

[ProSense]

A "Truce" Between U.S. Enemies in Iraq

Wednesday, Jun. 06, 2007 By BOBBY GHOSH/BAGHDAD

A ceasefire agreement between Iraq's leading Sunni insurgent group and al-Qaeda is bad news for the U.S. military, which has been trying hard to drive a wedge between them. A statement by the Islamic Army that appeared on a jihadist website Wednesday says "an agreement has been reached al-Qaeda in Iraq, leading to an immediate cessation of all military operations between the two sides." The statement added that the two groups would form a "judicial committee" to address their differences.

It may be several days before statement is authenticated, but it appears to confirm what some Islamic Army field commanders have conveyed to TIME this week: that despite the recent violence between them, the two groups can still cooperate in operations against U.S. forces. "We disagree on some things, but we agree on the important ones," one commander said. "The most important is that it's our common duty to fight the Americans."

He added that the leaders of both groups see the current "surge" of U.S. troops in and around Baghdad as an opportunity rather than a threat. "The enemy has come to us," he said, "and instead of fighting each other, we should take advantage of their vulnerability."

In the past week, al-Qaeda fighters have exchanged heavy fire with Sunni insurgents — including some from the Islamic Army — in several Baghdad neighborhoods. American and Iraqi officials had hoped that this represented an irreparable rift between homegrown insurgents and foreign jihadis.

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[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t