Wild Jihadi--Introduced Species in Iraq

The reality is that the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war - a breeding ground for jihadists. Today there are 16,000 to 20,000 jihadists and the number is growing. The administration has put itself - and, tragically, our troops, who pay the price every day - in a box of its own making. Getting out of this box won't be easy, but we owe it to our soldiers to make our best effort.

--John F. Kerry


Introduced Species:The Threat to Biodiversity & What Can Be Done


The introduction of the Wild Jihadi into the Mesopotamian region of what is today known as Iraq has become a serious ecological concern. The Wild Jihadi, jihadi sub-carnivora, as an introduced species is devastating to the native wildlife. The jihadi may be solely responsible for hundreds of explosive attacks on the native species in Iraq. Several species of endangered market vendors, police recruits and Mosque patrons are currently threatened by the Jihadis presence in Iraq. The Jihadi also contributes to the spread of disease, due to the widespread nature of its range, and its resistance to population control methods.

Control Methods

There have been some attempts at Passive Control using such damp panted techniques as therapy to minimize the aggression of the feral jihadi, but most experts agree because of the species maliciousness, these techniques will only lead to the expansion of the species territory.


There are some substantive control mechanisms currently being used. The newest technology for managing feral jihadis is military ecosystem management, in which the entire ecosystem is subject to a regular treatment (such as infantry coupled with artillery and air support) that tends to favor adapted native species over most exotic invaders. However, these methods are expensive, and despite their success it is not reported on a wide scale, so discouragement and flagging support among the less informed is a common problem.


Conclusion

It is the official opinion of the Institute that if the more aggressive controls currently being used with success in some locations are used on a wider scale, coupled with a liberalization of the rules of engagement, there is every reason to think that most native species and ecosystems can be protected against this threat. If our interest or support falters, the current wave of invaders will surely become a flood, leading to massive habitat change and extinction as much of the earth undergoes a massive biotic homogenization.