NY Times: Q & A session with Edward Wong reporting from Iraq

[La_Serpiente]

Questions for Edward Wong Reporting From Iraq

If, in Iraq, the attacks on our troops and others continue without diminishing in frequency, will that demonstrate that there are other forces instigating those attacks besides Hussein loyalists, like Al Qaeda or Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia? — Richard Rich, Wexford, Pa.

A. At this point, very little is known about the nature of the guerilla fighters. If attacks continue at the current rate and scale despite the capture of Saddam Hussein, then that could indicate any number of things about the insurgency. Some of the fighters might be people from outside the country who see Iraq as the latest rallying point for jihad, much as Afghanistan was in the 1980's, when the Soviet Union invaded that country. There may be Iraqi fighters who have taken up arms because they simply do not want a foreign occupier in their country. Some fighters might be angry at the unstable economic condition in the country. There may be Sunni Muslims who were once in favor under Mr. Hussein and now feel disenfranchised under the new government. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of American ground forces in Iraq, has said that he does not expect the attacks to stop immediately. On Monday, attackers proved him right by trying to drive powerful car bombs into two police stations near Baghdad.

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Edward Wong

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