The depravity of terrorists holding out in Iraq never ceases to amaze me. While the sheer act of taking an innocent person hostage to demand ransom, behead them or shoot them is appling enough, they may have possibly reached a new low by taking a child hostage (via The Jawa Report).

Thankfully this child was rescued and returned to his father, but I believe there is a much bigger picture than what we see in this story alone. On election day, terrorists used a child with Down’s Syndrome to launch a suicide attack against Iraqis wishing to let their voices be heard. Through the interrogation of a living suicide bomber, we learn that this man was not told his mission was to kill himself but that a car full of terrorists followed him and detonated his car. No, I don’t feel sorry for this man, however it could not be more clear that the terrorists in Iraq are more desperate than ever before.

Unfortunately there will be more attacks and casualties among Iraqis, however the terrorists in Iraq are operating like they are prey to a boa constricter. Each day the U.S. and Iraqi forces are closing in on their leaders, their finances, their operations and their minions. The almost weekly arrests of high-level terrorists within the past three to four months has taken a toll and will continue to do so. These high-level terrorists are talking, which is leading to more arrests. Simply put, the terrorist groups in Iraq are having to move their area of operations further into the recesses of Iraq.

There is of course another aspect of the insurgency in Iraq; those funded by Saddam Hussein loyalists. Many are believed to be held in Syria despite Syria claiming otherwise. Just yesterday Syria “arrested” Saddam Hussein’s half-brother and 29 other financiers and supporters of the insurgency inside Iraq. Conflicting reports upon the actual detainment of Ibrahim al-Hassan have surfaced. There are reports indicating a group of Kurds snuck into Syria to nab al-Hassan or was apprehended by Syrian Kurds and handed over to Iraqi Kurds.

Regardless of what the exact details are of the capture of al-Hassan, no one doubts he was in Syria directing the insurgency in Iraq. al-Hassan is not alone though as there are many more both directing and financing the Iraqi insurgency from Syrian soil. With the continued pressure on Syria, expect more Saddam loyalists to suddenly spring out of the woodwork and end up in Iraqi prisons.

The noose of the Coallition forces and U.S. diplomacy is starting to squeeze the terrorists and insurgents out from the rocks they dwell under. Watching the eventsover the past two months as they transpire is a truly eye-opening experience. Each time a Big Fish is caught, the Iraqis grow more and more bold in determining their own fate. It is with appalling acts such as taking a child hostage among others in which emboldens Iraqis to resist such extremism.