Al Qaeda in Iraq
CNN appears to have gotten their hands on a bunch of papers from al Queda in Iraq detailing the command structure and operations from mid to end 2006. It is a very interesting read because it shows that there really was a central structure for the insurgency in the Sunni areas in Iraq. It is also interesting because it shows that there is a real enemy to be fought there, and not just a conglomeration of independent groups. It gives some hope that they might be able to straighten things out some day. I think the most interesting item for me was their internal awareness that the tide had turned against them, long before the US ever figured that out.
It is also worth noting that much of the al Queda in Iraq violence has died down now, but there are plenty of other groups out there. I have to wonder now though if they aren’t similarly run, giving some chance that they could be stopped one day as well.