southsider2k5 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 So if 4000 are dead, how many are there fighting? http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/0.../ap3052156.html Al-Qaida in Iraq: 4,000 Insurgents Dead 09.28.2006, 10:41 AM The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq said in an audio message posted on a Web site Thursday that more than 4,000 foreign insurgent fighters have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. It was believed to be the first major statement from insurgents in Iraq about their losses. "The blood has been spilled in Iraq of more than 4,000 foreigners who came to fight," said the man, who identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir - also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri - the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. The voice could not be independently identified. The Arabic word he used indicated he was speaking about foreigners who joined the insurgency in Iraq, not coalition troops. Al-Masri is believed to have succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who died in a U.S. airstrike north of Baghdad in June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Wow. That tells me that there are more over there then we even think... which explains a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted September 28, 2006 Author Share Posted September 28, 2006 QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 10:35 AM) Wow. That tells me that there are more over there then we even think... which explains a lot. Also realize if they are claiming 4000 dead, odds are the actual number is way higher than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenksismyhero Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 10:40 AM) Also realize if they are claiming 4000 dead, odds are the actual number is way higher than that. I was thinking the same thing. Why would they tell the world the truth? They'd have to low-ball the number to try and sell people that they're winning the fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Given the tone of the statement, I'd say its equally likely they actually INFLATED the number. Its a recruiting thing. Remember, the ones they are recruiting will be motivated by more deaths caused by Americans, and further, seeing these "martyrs" in action will only further embolden them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted September 28, 2006 Author Share Posted September 28, 2006 QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 12:40 PM) Given the tone of the statement, I'd say its equally likely they actually INFLATED the number. Its a recruiting thing. Remember, the ones they are recruiting will be motivated by more deaths caused by Americans, and further, seeing these "martyrs" in action will only further embolden them. I think for their purposes it would be good to inflate the number of fighters there, but to inflate the number of deaths can't be good for recruiting. Sure making it sound like there a bunch more people there fighting would help, but not more people dying IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 12:43 PM) I think for their purposes it would be good to inflate the number of fighters there, but to inflate the number of deaths can't be good for recruiting. Sure making it sound like there a bunch more people there fighting would help, but not more people dying IMO. Under most circumstances, I would agree. But these are not people looking just for the chance to beat up the U.S. They are also brainwashed by some crazy extremist cleric into thinking that this is an opportunity to take American lives and go to Eden after the fact. If you've ever seen some of the tapes the suicide bombers make... they believe hard. Death in this fashion is not seen as a negative - it is something to aspire to. I'm sticking with inflation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted September 28, 2006 Author Share Posted September 28, 2006 QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 12:56 PM) Under most circumstances, I would agree. But these are not people looking just for the chance to beat up the U.S. They are also brainwashed by some crazy extremist cleric into thinking that this is an opportunity to take American lives and go to Eden after the fact. If you've ever seen some of the tapes the suicide bombers make... they believe hard. Death in this fashion is not seen as a negative - it is something to aspire to. I'm sticking with inflation. good point, I just think it would be more conducive to recruiting to be saying We have 100,000 people there and only 10 have died vs We have 10,000 people there and 4000 have died (granted I have no idea exactly what the numbers are, or how truthful their numbers are, just a theoretical for discussions sake) And it could very well be a cultural divide here that I can't get past. It wouldn't be the first time for me, and I'll admit it probably won't be the last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackie hayes Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 01:56 PM) Under most circumstances, I would agree. But these are not people looking just for the chance to beat up the U.S. They are also brainwashed by some crazy extremist cleric into thinking that this is an opportunity to take American lives and go to Eden after the fact. If you've ever seen some of the tapes the suicide bombers make... they believe hard. Death in this fashion is not seen as a negative - it is something to aspire to. I'm sticking with inflation. I agree with you on this. /so ashamed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Sep 29, 2006 -> 12:20 AM) I agree with you on this. /so ashamed <_ src="%7B___base_url___%7D/uploads/emoticons/default_tongue.png" alt=":P"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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