The Washington Post article offers compelling information on the complexion of the insurgency in Iraq that rebuts conventional wisdom on, and provides illuminating insight of, aspects of the disparate groups. Broad conventional wisdom suggested that the insurgency features a robust, central, and influential segment of foreign jihadist terrorists, organized around preeminent al-Qaeda commander Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his terrorist network in Iraq . The involvement of Iraqis in the insurgency was largely minimized and thought to be made up of Hussein loyalists.

However, the Post report suggests that the foreign jihadist elements comprise relatively less prominent dimensions of the overall insurgency compared to the indigenous Iraqi contingent. The foreign fighter elements are thought to conduct large-scale terrorist attacks and mobile training and other operational support for local insurgent cells.