Michael Yon : Feasting on the Moveable Beast Michael Yon : Feasting on the Moveable Beast

Michael Yon in: Al-Qaeda on the Run: Feasting on the Moveable Beast again brings us the reality of our war in Iraq. Here, he describes a meeting with a leader of the 1920s Revolution Brigades (1920s) who goes by the name Abu Ali. Six months ago, his group was fairly effectively fighting our troops, as well as those of Iraqi government. But then, in April, he came to us and asked for help in fighting al Qaeda. We were more than willing to accept his change of allegance and do some of the heavy lifting. As a result, Burhiz is being rapidly cleaned out of al Qaeda. Some of Yon's blog:

Before the tape was running, I asked Abu Ali why he and the 1920s turned against al Qaeda in Buhriz. Speaking through LT David Wallach, a native Arabic speaker, Abu Ali said that “al Qaeda is an abomination of Islam: cutting off heads, stealing people’s money, kidnapping . . . every type of torture they have done.”

The recent stories of baked children came to mind. I asked if Abu Ali had heard about children being baked. Ali said no, he had not heard such a story, but he would not be surprised if it were true because al Qaeda had done so many crimes, such as cutting off a man’s head, putting it up on a stick and parading it around town.

Ali said people had been afraid in their own homes because of al Qaeda. I asked if he had fought Americans and Ali laughed and said through Wallach, “What kind of question is that?” I chuckled. Unfortunately, we had to go to other meetings, so the time for taping was short. In closing, I asked Abu Ali if there was something he would like to say to Americans. The markets that had been closed under al Qaeda were bustling around us.

Ali thought for a moment as some local people tried to interrupt him with greetings, and he said, “I ask one thing,” and now I paraphrase Ali’s words: “After the Iraqi Army and Police take hold and the security forces are ready, we want a schedule for the leaving of the American forces.”

I have no doubt that the Administration agrees completely with this later sentiment, as do I.