How to have Al Qaeda become protector of sunnis in Iraq

Turks recruited to fight against U.S. in Iraq

Turkey has an Islamic leadership, a growing Islamic clergy as well as powerful investors from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. So, it's not surprising that Turkey should also contain a rising threat from Al Qaida.

This time, the threat is not Al Qaida strikes against Turkey. It is Al Qaida that has been recruiting Turks for the Sunni insurgency war in neighboring Iraq. Al Qaida has been establishing cells in Turkey for operations against the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

Nearly 100 Turks were recruited and fought alongside the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. Most of the Turks were recruited from mosques of Islamic seminaries in Turkey and promised a generous salary and benefits.

Ebu Bekir Yigit took up the call and was sent to Iraq to fight the U.S. military. Yigit was ordered to attack U.S. soldiers in Iraq's Anbar province in October 2006. Before his death, he sent a letter that was published on Al Qaida-aligned websites.

"Allah gave me the opportunity to defend the lands of Muslims," Yigit said. "My holy warrior brothers in Iraq are doing their best in your absence."

Turkey has been tracking the Al Qaida recruitment efforts. Officials said the recruitment appears to mark a deepening involvement by Al Qaida in Turkey, which in 2003 was struck by a wave of suicide bombings.

"We should increase our support for jihad more than ever," Harun Ilhan, an Al Qaida defendant in the Istanbul bombings told a court on Nov. 15. "With God's help, we will be the ones that achieve victory."