September 7, 2004

Baath Party Rebuilding in Iraq

A disturbing article from Knight-Ridder about the resurgence, reconstruction and clandestine operation of Saddam's Baath Party in Iraq. (Hat tip to Laurie Mylroie)

"There are two governments in Iraq," said Mithal al Alusi, director general of the Supreme National Commission for De-Baathification, a group overseen by Iraqi politician and former Pentagon favorite Ahmad Chalabi. "(The Baathists) are like thieves, stealing the power of the new government. Their work is organized and strong."

Ostensibly banned since Saddam's ouster, the Baath Party has rebuilt itself by sending top members of the former regime to safe houses in Jordan and Syria, Iraqi government officials said. The foot soldiers - mainly from the vast ranks of mid-level members - remain in Iraq, where they've started Web sites and formed independent cells and communicate outside the radar of U.S. forces through a word-of-mouth network known in Baathist parlance as "the thread."

Posted by dan at September 7, 2004 10:25 PM