Iranian tip-off may have led Americans to al-Qaeda leader

[cal04]

Source: Observer

A major in Saddam's army, believed to have masterminded the London bombings, could have been betrayed in Tehran, reports Jason Burke

British diplomats are checking secret reports that elements within Iran, normally hostile to the West, helped the American secret services to capture Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, the Kurdish-born senior al-Qaeda militant who was revealed last week to have been arrested on the border between Iran and Iraq late last year.

Abdul Hadi, 45, a former Iraqi army officer who speaks five languages and is a key link between the al-Qaeda leadership in western Pakistan and militants in Iraq, had 'met with al-Qaeda leaders in Iran' and had urged them to support efforts in Iraq and to cause 'problems within Iran', US military sources told The Observer

Elements within the complex matrix of interest groups that make up the Iranian regime, who have co-operated with Western intelligence services before when it has served their purposes, provided crucial elements of information, possibly through intermediaries, allowing Abdul Hadi to be captured. 'They may have felt he posed an equal threat to them,' said one Paris-based Middle Eastern diplomat yesterday. 'One of Tehran's biggest fears is of an alliance between Kurdish ethnic separatists in the northwest and al-Qaeda.'

Any such help would have been highly secret, given the tense relations between the Iranian regime and Western nations which came to a head with last month's detention of British naval personnel, allegations that Tehran is supporting Shia militants in Iraq and fierce recriminations over Iran's continued pursuit of nuclear technology.



Read more: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2067962,00.html

[Kagemusha]

1. What about allegations that Tehran is supporting Sunni militants?

Just because educated DU's think it's bull doesn't mean it isn't part of the story why people should act surprised by this, right?

[MADem]

2. It's the "Enemy of My Enemy" theory at work.

The Kurds had best step carefully--it always seems they get the shaft around this phase of the game...

[yava]

5. Thank you Germany and the UK!!!

If a terr'ist leader is captured with a tip from the Germany or the Brits, the media say thanks.
If the tip comes from Russia, Brazil or Iran, they say it was in their own interest.
Is anyone out there actually interested in "possibly improving" some of these relations?
May be THAT would not be agaist national interests?

[ohio2007]

3. An Iranian was released from Iraq a week or so ago.....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/04/03/iraq.main/index.html


just saying. Unless his release was part of the British boarding party swap of course

[BrklynLiberal]

4. hmmmm. Much too complicated for Pres Shit-for-Brains to figure out.

[jmc247]

6. Abdul Hadi was a real monster

He was behind the 7/7 attacks and he was the man tasked with sending messages back and forth from Zarqawi to Bin Laden and vice versa.

Good job Iran.