Transcript Regime change - UC Irvine OpenCourseWare

Insurgency and Militias (irregular or
para- military forces)
The sources of instability in Iraq
Security vacuum led to two (related)
problems
 An insurgency;
 A failed state.
Major insurgent groups in Iraq (in addition to
al-Qaeda of Mesopotamia):
 1. Ansar Al Islam;
 2. Ansar Al Sunna;
 3. Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq (1920
Revolution Brigades);
 4. Iraqi Resistance Islamic Front (JAMI);
 5. Islamic Army in Iraq.
Slow start in dealing with insurgency
(loss of momentum):
 Lack of focus on the police;
 Insufficient number of advisers;
 Poor coordination.
Major militia groups in Iraq
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The Mahdi Army;
The Badr Brigade.
Sunni militias;
Kurdish peshmerga.