Monotheism and Holy War (al-Qaeda in Iraq) Strikes in Jordan

Informed Comment

Jordanian authorities have captured Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, the wife of suicide bomber Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari, who detonated his belt bomb at the Radisson in Amman. She turns out to be the sister of the Anbar leader of the Monotheism and Holy War (al-Qaeda in Iraq), who was killed at some point in Fallujah. His name was Thamir al-Rishawi


So this Amman operation really does seem to have come out of Zarqawi's group, rather than just using that group as a cover, as is so often done inside Iraq.


Ms. al-Rishawi's husband was from the Shamar tribe, the same large and important clan to which vice president Ghazi al-Yawir belongs. Shamar had benefited from the old Baath order, and was deeply entwined with it, and is a major locus of resistance to the new order imposed by the Americans. Reuters reported back in April of 2003, "Some media reports have said members of Saddam's family fled to Syria during the war and were later sent back to Iraq, where they were being sheltered by the Shamar tribe."

It would appear that Zarqawi’s organization Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad is alive and well, whether Zarqawi is or not. The woman's confession betrays nothing we didn't already know about suicide bombers. But it did provide proof of where she came from (Ramadi) and possible motivation for the act (connections with Baathists and relatives lost in Fallujah and the subsequent destruction of their home town and presumably further losses). I suspect she will be treated to one of those torturous interrogations for which the Jordanian authorities are known.
What is interesting is the timing of the attack. Cole talks about the meanderings of the Saddam's family and their period of sanctuary with the Shamar tribe. The Euphrates River valley that flows from Husaybah through Al Qa'im, to Ramadi and Fallujah, has been a major route for supplying the insurgency. Families for generations have traveled across the border into Syria and Jordan. Many family members resettled in the bordering countries. So there is a family and likely tribal basis to the travel across the border. I can't help but wonder if the US/Iraqi military offensive in Husaybah is related to the bombing.