Zarqawi?s communiqu? seems to be directed internally toward insurgent elements and externally toward potential fighter recruits and certain segments of Iraqi society that might serve as support networks for insurgent elements, in an effort redefine and legitimize his jihadist network?s terrorist operations in Iraq as well as to stoke sectarian conflict between Iraq?s Shia and Sunni communities.

Zarqawi is responding to what he describes as the view of ?some? who perceive him as intentionally and indiscriminately attacking regular Iraqis and security forces recruits as part of his terrorist campaign against the Iraqi government and international forces. These tactics and targeting have provoked ire from more nationalist, native Iraqi insurgent elements and societal support networks and from the Iraqi populace in general that perceives the insurgent activities as those of nationalist liberation and defense of those regular Iraqis. These rancorous dynamics threaten to provoke internecine conflict among native nationalist groups and Zarqawi?s foreign fighters, and/or isolate Zarqawi?s network from valuable operational collaboration from such groups and networks, as well as sully the image of foreign fighters among the populace, thus threatening recruitment flows (WAR Report).