Iraq resistance takes on a new face (Asia Times)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EG24Ak03.html

Away from the chaos and anarchy of other parts of Iraq, in relatively peaceful Sulaimaniya, located in lush mountains, experts are assessing the possible consequences of the death of the brothers on the four facets of resistance in the country. The groups are:

# Different groups from among the ranks of the Ba'ath Party who have formed small pockets. They are well coordinated and well equipped, with rocket-propelled grenades and small missile launchers. They are spread all over the north of Iraq (aka the Arabian belt) and target US convoys and installations in particular.
# Small pockets of Arab tribes who have been left out of the current interim setup and who see no hope of ever being represented. They are not well organized and launch random attacks on US forces.
# A few thousand Arabs who arrived in Iraq before the US-led invasion who have joined hands with different resistance groups. They include Afghans.
# Independent groups of gangsters who have taken advantage of the lawless situation in the country to establish fiefdoms, especially in the regions of Khals and Kirkuk in the north. They also randomly attack US troops.

<snip>

The resistance of the Arab tribes in the northern belt, meanwhile, is gradually changing shape. Virtually every day there is a declaration from a new Islamic group calling for jihad against US forces. These groups are, in fact, drawn from the tribes, who are attempting to give their struggle an ideological touch and broaden their influence. Their position, nevertheless, is in a state of flux, and while they are a force at present, they would need to become more organized in the future.

<snip>


Similarly, if the US forces fail to develop a strategy to set up a strong indigenous political system, the gangsters and looters are likely to elevate themselves as warlords - much like in Afghanistan - and they may develop links to militant groups fighting against the US for reasons of expediency.

and there is a whole bunch of trouble left out there.

This administration operates like a old time Medicene Show. They probably had the Saddam tape ready for this event. They probably seized hours of this stuff they can throw in as they go. This is like the old book "Media is the Massage". They knew where the sons were for awhile but waited till the ratings dropped, then Wow!! another Shock and Awe event. Won't you please forgive us they plead (while laughing to themselves)....we killed the bad men.

He doesn't think the Shiites will weigh in on this?