Iraqi Leaders hit back at 'weak' bin Laden

New.com.au points out what Iraqi leaders, who Bin Laden singled out as traiters, feel about his recent statements,

IRAQI Sunni tribal and political leaders singled out as "traitors" by Osama bin Laden have hit back, accusing the Al-Qaeda chief of being un-Islamic and mocking him as being weak.

Sheikh Shahudh believes Bin Laden is weak.

"Bin Laden's statement doesn't affect us - he is making these threats from a position of weakness," said Sheikh Khalid Shahudh, a senior member of the Awakening Council in western Anbar province....

He further stated,

"Al-Qaeda has no more power in Anbar province," he said. "The Awakening is now operating all across Iraq and involving all sects. We will continue chasing Al-Qaeda. We have no enemies except Al-Qaeda. The Americans are not our enemy anymore. Our forces will deal exclusively with Al-Qaeda. We will hunt them until we get rid of the last element."

Not only do sheikhs and Al Anbar believe he is weak, but the Awakening Council in central Salaheddin province, made this statement,

"What the loyalists of bin Laden do contradicts Islamic principles and its moral standards," the council said. "Bin Laden should order his followers to stop targeting Iraqis ... he must apologise to Iraqis that have been harmed by Al-Qaeda's heinous crimes."

Finally, Abdul Karim al-Samarraie, a member of parliament for the Islamic Party, stated,

"The party did not wish to respond to bin Laden's comments as it would "give him legitimacy". "The message of Al-Qaeda has collapsed in Iraq because of their terrorist actions. All Iraqi people are turning against them and kicking them out. Iraqis have tasted the pain of their actions."

So, from Sunni's who have had first hand interaction with Al Qaeda, they believe Bin Laden is weak, his movement is illegitimate, its actions contradict Islamic principles and morals, and finally Al Qaeda owes all Iraqis an apology for its heinous crimes in Iraq.

One last thing that really has to hurt, Americans are not the enemy in Iraq anymore, Al Qaeda is and Sheikh Shahudh will use American assistance until every last Al Qaeda in Iraq member is hunted down and Iraq is rid of Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda's movement in Iraq has collapsed. It is collapsing in Afghanistan were the populous has seen it in action. It will collapse in Pakistan due to the Bhutto assassination.

Al Qaeda believes in repression. Americans believe in liberation. As a newly liberated society, Iraqis are finding they want no part of Al Qaeda. They were repressed under Saddam for three decades; they don't want to continue this repression under a different master. All they want now is the freedom to live in security and pursue happiness, which is really what most decent folks want.

From the statements above, I will be the first to say it. Al Qaeda in Iraq is destroyed. Yes, its members are still blowing themselves up and killing innocent victims, but as a movement, it is dead. This destruction in Iraq will have extremely adverse effects on Al Qaeda globally.