Bin Laden Left His Mark on Iraq
Bin Laden left his mark on Iraq By HAZIM AL-SHARAA / The Institute for War & Peace Reporting
BAGHDAD -- Iraq, the nation that has seen tens of thousands of its citizens die at the hands of al-Qaida, reacted to the news of Osama bin Laden's death with a mixture of relief, anger and fear of further attacks.
Just four days after President Obama announced that the terrorist leader had been killed in Pakistan, a suicide bomber targeted the directorate of emergency police in Hilla, Babil province, killing 15 and injuring 68. Most of the casualties were police officers, officials said.
"This is al-Qaida's reaction to bin Laden's killing," said Kadhim Toman, chairman of Babil provincial council. "We are expecting an increase in terrorist attacks as a result of bin Laden's killing."
The province was once a stronghold of Sunni militant groups affiliated with al-Qaida during the sectarian violence that engulfed Iraq as far back as 2005.
Iraqi security forces have been on high alert for possible retaliation from Islamic extreme groups since bin Laden's death was announced. Gen. Qassim Atta, a spokesman for Baghdad Operations Command, said that Iraq is taking "precautionary measures," without giving further details.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh told an Iraqi news agency that bin Laden's killing would not affect the security situation in Iraq because the terror organization he inspired has been seriously weakened.
"His death was expected because he had a lot of blood on his hands," Dabagh said. "(Bin Laden) will be a forgotten figure. (But) there are new al-Qaida leaders who belong to a generation after him and are even more blood thirsty and more extreme." While bin Laden himself is not believed to have ever set foot in Iraq, the country became one of his main battlefields.
Following the 2003 invasion, al-Qaida and its affiliates launched massive insurgent operations that targeted U.S. and coalition forces, Iraqi troops and civilians.
Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed by al-Qaida's suicide bombings and targeted killings. Among the most notorious acts was the February 2006 bombing of the Shia al-Askari shrine in Samarra, which ignited a sectarian war that created the worst refugee crisis in Iraq's modern history.
In the streets of Baghdad, a city that has been profoundly impacted by al-Qaida, reactions to bin Laden's death ranged from happiness to anger to conspiracy theories about possible motives behind his death.
"I'm very happy about his death, but it will not bring back my brother's life," said 31-year-old Ahmed Abdul-Qadir, a resident of Baghdad's al-Adhamiya neighborhood. His brother was killed by an al-Qaida affiliated group in 2009.
"If it were up to me, even his supporters should be killed because they are tools for him to commit crimes," he said. "I believe his death is a huge blow to those criminals who were glorifying his name." Others mourned his death.
"The man fought Americans and injustices in the world," said Saad Jabar, 43, a resident of al-Tarmiya neighborhood in north Baghdad. "He is closer to us than America because he is a Muslim. America insulted his body by throwing it into the sea, and that affected many people."
Among conspiracy theorists, some contend that bin Laden was actually an American agent all along.
"He was their son and they supported him in Afghanistan," said Ahmed Lahib, 25, noting that bin Laden's history of fighting the former Soviet Union with American backing in the 1980s. "They had disagreements and decided to kill him."
Independent analysts contend that al-Qaida continues to pose a serious threat to the country.
"Al-Qaida in Iraq operates independently because most of its leaders who were in direct contact with bin Laden have been killed," said Ali Haidar, a security analyst. "The biggest danger is if an Iraqi or Saudi takes the leadership of al-Qaida. At that point, I believe things would change, and Iraq would once again become a battlefield for al-Qaida and its operations."
Ahmed Ali, 24, who lives in Baghdad's Sayidia neighborhood, had a more optimistic outlook.
"Bin Laden's death may not have a significant impact on the security situation, but it's a great morale boost for those who lived in fear of al-Qaida," he said. "There is one fewer extremist in the world."