FROM THE PEOPLE WHO PROMISED US THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES. Found this story at Fox News, but no sign of it on the Washington Times website yet.

Muslim extremists and Saddam loyalists (search), despite their dislike for each other, are now joining forces in Iraq for what one former Iraqi brigadier general calls a "spectacular" act against coalition troops.

The Washington Times says leaflets and papers circulating in Baghdad call for "either victory or martyrdom" in a cooperative effort that will go well beyond the shootings in the past few weeks.

But it's apparently not just mutual hatred of the United States that's bringing these groups together. The brigadier general says he agreed to join the Islamist extremists because "otherwise they'll come tomorrow and throw hand grenades into my house and at my wife and kids."

Thugs.