Zarqawi's letter to bin Laden revealed many problems that the former believed al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers would face in the coming years. The Sunni insurgent leader pointed out that as American forces are drawn down or removed from the front lines and indigenous Iraqi forces take their place, attacks perpetrated against security forces will increasingly be seen as anti-Iraqi attacks, rather than anti-occupation ones. Zarqawi confessed that his fighters' freedom of movement has become increasingly restricted and that the "future has become frightening". The local Sunni Iraqi resistance is inexperienced and has been unwilling to sacrifice for the cause, whereas battle-tested foreign mujahideen are too small in number to affect significant change. Zarqawi went on to complain that the Sunni Iraqi masses have "no firm principles" and that "their religion is mercurial".<br /><p><br />Additionally, the letter illuminated a strategic plan for victory, despite these odds. Importantly, Zarqawi highlighted the importance of the information warfare campaign, stating that the "pen and the sword complement each other". He targeted the Shia as the main enemy, hoping to incite sectarian strife and thus provoke the Sunni "silent majority" into armed action in the ultimate battle for the future of Islam.<br /><p><br />In a speech broadcast over the internet on January 23, 2005, Zarqawi denounced the upcoming Iraqi elections, calling candidates "demi-idols" and voters "infidels." Zarqawi's statement, declaring a "fierce war" against democracy, accused the Americans of rigging the election to favor Iraq's Shi'ite population. Increased Sunni Arab participation in Iraq's December 2005 parliamentary elections offered hope to some that support for wider insurgency may be abating. However, violence resumed following a lull in attacks during the election, including attacks by al-Qaeda in the land of the Two Rivers. In January 2006, the group was one of six insurgent organizations to unify under the Mujahideen Shura Council. As of now, all attacks perpetrated by al-Qaeda in Iraq are claimed in the name of the Council. Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike in June 2006, though the impact that this will have on the Iraqi insurgency has yet to be determined. <br />