[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Distinguishing friend from foe in Baghdad

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Distinguishing friend from foe in Baghdad
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1174752739.shtml


   At Moderate Risk, Patrick Lasswell asks [1]"Is Petraeus Being Played?"

     At a late night meeting with senior political players in Iraq,
     concerns were raised about General Petraeus' ability to distinguish
     friend from foe in Baghdad. The heart of the problem lies with the
     importance of the former Ba'ath party members and their involvement
     in the Islamic Party of Iraq. My sources claim to hold documents
     from April 2003 from Saddam's Headquarters directing Ba'ath
     loyalists to join the Islamic Party and gain control of it. They
     are also very experienced in the brutal political realities of
     Iraq. Of significant concern to my hosts was the movement from
     Mosul to Baghdad of the leader of the Islamic Party that Petraeus
     worked with when he was in command of the 101st Airborne Division
     (Air Assault). My hosts also worked with General Petraeus during
     that time and had met him repeatedly. They assessed him as very
     smart and quite well organized and had nothing disparaging to say
     about his character or leadership, however, his political savvy in
     tumultuous Iraq was questioned.

     This is a difficult post for me to write, both because I am a
     junior member of the active reserves and because of my personal
     admiration for Gen. Petraeus...

   [2]More...

References

   1. http://www.moderaterisk.net/2007/03/is_petraeus_being_played.php
   2. http://www.moderaterisk.net/2007/03/is_petraeus_being_played.php