1 The Long War Journal: The "Islamic Republic of Qaim"

Written by Bill Roggio on September 9, 2005 5:19 PM to 1 The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2005/09/the_islamic_rep_1.php

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the border city of Qaim was overrun by al Qaeda jihadis, who soon afterward declared it the "Islamic Republic of Qaim" and proceeded to implement Shariah law. These claims have been under no uncertain terms refuted by the Marines:

Maj. Neil Murphy, a spokesman for II Marine Expeditionary Force, told Marine Corps Times that reports detailing an all-out al Qaeda takeover in Qaim were a "crock of crap."

"Sure, anyone can hang up a poster. That does not mean anything," Murphy wrote in an e-mail response to questions. "We have a battalion there. [The insurgents] are continually moving to try and find safety, but we are rooting them out and we'll root them out of Qaim, too."

The security situation in Western Anbar is by no means stable, as the recent combat in Qaim, Husaybah and other towns along the Euphrates River demonstrates. Pro and anti al Qaeda tribes are engaged in open combat. But al Qaeda as been on the receiving end of some devastating air attacks, which cost them three leaders. Their ability to take and hold territory is greatly exaggerated by the media.

The Washington Post had this story right when they referred to al Qaeda's declaration as a show of force, yet proceeded to project an image of al Qaeda strength and command of the city. Perhaps they should have crosschecked the statements of their unidentified sources in Qaim with the battalion of U.S. Marines currently stationed there.