These security operations represent the first step in capturing terrorists and their leaders in particular, because they were targeted. Indeed these operations achieved considerable achievements and killed the leading and most dangerous Al Qaeda leaders, and therefore they have curtailed the expansion of Al Qaeda and shrunk the circle of terrorism in Iraq. Currently, the operations are continuing to hunt down all of the terrorist sleeper cells that may have remained in Iraq, hiding in the different regions and cities. The arrests and the further development of the intelligence activities have been going on for about three months or more, leading to the arrests of suspects belonging to Al Qaeda. Of course, this is evidence that this organization has reached its final stages and that it faces a very difficult situation, which was proved by the confessions of its elements, who confirmed that the organization is suffering internal collapse in its ranks, and it is possible that it will collapse completely at any moment.

I believe that the attacks that the terrorists carry out from time to time against the security forces fire up the security forces’ members with more devotion and strengthen their readiness to sacrifice their souls, and their determination to eliminate the terrorists and members of this rotten organization, which targets the innocent and the security forces. These acts encourage the members of the security forces, raise their morale, and enliven the spirit of accomplishment and devotion to ending the security breaches and terrorist acts. When the security forces’ members lose their colleagues in terrorist attacks, they become more determined to get rid of those criminals by arresting them and bringing them to justice. Those terrorists are killers, and it is unacceptable to leave them alive to wreak havoc on earth, while the security forces just watch them targeting their colleagues in the other security departments, including the soldiers and ranked officers in the army and police. After each terrorist attack, the security forces launch a fierce counterattack against the terrorists, wherever they are, and you find every policeman preparing himself seriously to confront those villains.

Poverty is one of the main causes behind the spread of terrorism in our Arab societies in particular. Many families cannot find food as a result of the wrong policies of the political leaders in the Arab countries, where poverty, hunger, and diseases have become rampant. Therefore, many heads of families find themselves forced to do anything to provide for their families. On the other hand, paying attention to the cultural aspects related to mobilization and raising awareness is also a very important factor. Seeing as governments neglect these important aspects, which make the citizens immune, through knowledge and awareness, to falling into the traps of terrorism or cooperating with those evil people and helping them. These activities also enable the citizen to protect himself and his society, by refraining from joining this organization. On the same level, the wrong practices of the governments and their suppressive bodies, which torture the youth and beat them, have a devastating influence. After the beating such youth leave prisons, and think only about revenge. They find no party to welcome and embrace them, other than terrorist organizations and Al-Qaeda, which rejoices when it finds a young man with the desire to take revenge upon the state, because such a young man is ready to do anything. Many human rights organizations have confirmed that these policies are wrong, calling for the respect for human rights and dignity, even in prisons and under interrogation, to avoid such psychological effects. These are the reasons why terrorism has survived and spread so rapidly.

Certainly Al-Qaeda is doomed to fail in Iraq, sooner or later. In fact, Al-Qaeda failed to fulfill its sick goals in the Iraqi society by spreading the fanatic and sectarian ideology, widening separation among Iraqis and causing them to fight amongst themselves. This terrorist organization adopted despicable methods to reach that goal. However, thanks to their consciousness and unity, the Iraqis broke this despicable planning and defeated the terrorists. Although the Iraqi security forces were not able to fight this organization during the last two years, they succeeded in reducing their threat as much as possible. Terrorists wanted to take advantage of that period to impose control and make Iraqis succumb to their targets. Despite the weakness of the Iraqi security forces of the government, during that period, Al-Qaeda failed to impose itself. So, how about today when we see the Iraqi police forces have significantly improved their capacities? In fact, the police forces have become equipped well enough to fight terrorism, and their numbers have increased. They have strong intelligence services, which are able to gather accurate information and infiltrate the Al-Qaeda terrorist networks in Iraq. In addition, Iraqis have showed solidarity with their central government. Indeed, all the Iraqis helped the police services and provided them with information which helped the arrest of those terrorists. People inform the police about suspected cars and strange persons who conduct suspicious activities in within regions. The capacities of terrorism have been reduced. As the Iraqi forces succeeded in arresting many of its senior leaders throughout Iraq, this destabilized Al-Qaeda and its members, and paved the way for their eradication in Iraq. All these factors came together and were solid proof that Al-Qaeda failed to reach its evil goals in Iraq, and that Iraqis will soon eradicate it to help Iraq and Iraqis regain security.

Every Iraqi greatly rejoices when the Security Forces kill leaders of al-Qaeda every now and then, or capture them and confiscate their weapons hideouts. Joy is the first feeling which overcomes every Iraqi citizen who wants the welfare of his country. Besides, the Security Forces make you feel secure, and I am one of the Iraqis who feel safe when the Security Forces announce the success of these operations, which reduce the crimes of terrorism and eradicate it.

Indeed, what is happening in Iraq and particularly in the recent periods of time, in terms of the Iraqi security forces’ ability to actually impose their authority, arresting many of the leaders of Al-Qaeda and detaining them, reveals the vast security development that these security forces have witnessed. Undoubtedly, this ability does not come by accident. This was the result of the good efforts made by all who are involved with these forces, who want good for Iraq, as well as the result of the ability of the Iraqi government to remove many of those who were involved in it, who used to help the terrorist groups while they wore the military uniform. Also, because the Iraqi military command realized that military work and the use of force alone will not help destroy terrorism and reach its heads that lead the military groups, so they worked on enriching the role of the intelligence forces' work and activating the intelligence agency. In addition to that, there was the growing awareness and the feeling of responsibility of the Iraqi citizens, who began to inform the authorities and the security authorities about any strange thing that they saw or that provoked suspicion, and the unification of all the good efforts that allowed the Iraqi security forces to bear the fruits of their continuous work and the great effort that they made to free Iraq from terrorism, its agents and all who propagate it. The forces managed to arrest the so called “Wali of Baghdad” and his assistants, and many other terrorist leaders besides them. This is what is going to shatter Al-Qaeda and destroy it more, and make it suffer and flounder on the Iraqi territories which are going to be the cemetery for those killing criminals, those whom the time has come to be taken down, one by one, by the hands of the Iraqis, to meet their just punishment and for the Iraqi people to take revenge on through their fair judiciary that will triumph for the victims who fell as results to the cowardly deeds carried out by those groups of terrorists.

Blind terrorism spreading in Iraq, following Iraq’s liberation from the era of darkness and dictatorship, resulted in halting and almost paralyzing life in Iraq, particularly in the governorate of Al-Anbar, as the terrorists considered it a main center and stronghold, due to its extended borders and desert nature, and the alignment of Iraqi borders there with many neighboring Arab countries, in such a way as to make their access and exit across these borders easier. That is why we see that terrorism managed to commit its dirty acts in this governorate in such a horrible manner, aiming at imposing its presence upon Iraqis. Their sabotaging and criminal acts that reach every aspect of life in this governorate lead to a deadlock of life, and significant deterioration.

Although some people say that Al-Qaeda has become more active and that the war against it has been unsuccessful, as proved by the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the reality proves that were it not for the efforts against Al-Qaeda, the terrorists would have succeeded in achieving their objectives, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in many Arab and Muslim countries. In such a case, the world would have been a more dangerous place. The international efforts have succeeded in isolating Al-Qaeda and dissuading some of the enthusiasts who rush to die for what they believe to be sublime principles. The problem with Al-Qaeda is that they are not a coherent organization; otherwise, it would have been dismantled a long time ago. Al-Qaeda is a group of ideas that are adopted by some brainwashed members who have become more extremist. Whenever one of their leaders falls, they find a substitute for him easily, which makes one believe that there is a strong organization.

Recently, the police forces conducted many arrest operations which targeted Al-Qaeda leaders. These operations were successful 100%, because the police forces relied on intelligence gathering to track down the wanted persons till they captured the senior leaders of the organization. This is a token of success for the police forces for they succeeded in maintaining the information secret till they reached the leaders of Al-Qaeda meaning they infiltrated this organization directly. They captured leaders Abu-Omar Al Baghdadi and Abu Ayoub, also known as Abu–Hamza Al Mouhajer. Although they were hiding in the desert, the police forces reached them, killed some of them and arrested all their followers. This operation shocked terrorists, including their leaders, members and collaborators, as it was tough and surprising. It has been the turning point for the terrorist organization and led to its quick collapse. This organization has totally collapsed while police forces continued to conduct simultaneous raids, attacks and proactive operations, to benefit from the confusion of the terrorists, but the organization had lost its leaders then and this had a negative impact on all of those belonging to this organization for Al-Qaeda and terrorism have been in a miserable situation in Iraq. They have been deprived of means and of money, their volunteers cannot sneak into Iraq, and they have been seized, as police forces have become more severe and have imposed control on the whole area. Terrorists could no longer run away or conduct their operations, and Al-Qaeda could no longer restore its status in Iraq.

It‘s well known that the terrorists have tried to exploit sectarianism to sow dissension. They know that Iraq is a “melting pot” society made up of different sects, doctrines and religions. Terrorists tried to exploit this; they killed innocent people from different parties. They assassinated Shiites and Sunni personalities and religious scholars, even non-Muslim religious scholars, as they targeted Christians and Kurds. They aimed to shuffle the cards, to leave the country in chaos in order to weaken Iraq and its government, and to topple it so that they could control the situation and reach their ultimate goal. They wanted to make Iraq their base from which to attack the whole world; but it was only an illusion, because the terrorists were shocked by the bravery of the Iraqis.

There are competent men in Iraq who are able to take responsibility in all positions, take the reins and steer the ship to a safe harbor landing.