U.S. Arrests Senior Al - Zarqawi Leader

[Eye and Monkey]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Insurgents-Arrested.html?oref=login

Filed at 1:39 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The U.S. military has arrested a ``senior leader'' in the network run by Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, along with five others during overnight raids in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, officials said Saturday.

American forces have stepped up operations in Fallujah in a bid to root out al-Zarqawi's terror group, Tawhid and Jihad, which is believed to operate from there. The group has been blamed in numerous suicide bombings and beheadings of foreign hostages, including recent twin blasts inside Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses the U.S and Iraqi leadership.
<snip>
Intelligence sources said the man captured was previously thought to be a relatively minor member of the terror network. But because so many of al-Zarqawi's associates have been captured or killed, he moved up to take a more important role.
<snip - not much more>

comment: that's rich, "previously thought to be minor"...

[kokomo]

1. Pentagon says today their number has doubled to 12,000. Winning???

[951]

2. Didnt they Kill al-Zarqawi back in 2002?

:scared:

[gavodotcom]

3. But it won't be who they say it is after a few weeks.

Much like we've killed or captured al-Zarqawi a few times.

Oops, mistaken identity. My bad. Don't let Kerry send you mixed messages.

[ogradda]

4. ssuuurreee you did

yup. uhuh. right. whatever you say.:eyes:

[grasswire]

5. hahahahahahaha!

"Intelligence sources said the man captured was previously thought to be a relatively minor member of the terror network. But because so many of al-Zarqawi's associates have been captured or killed, he moved up to take a more important role."


Or could it be because they need a more important capture before the election?

So transparent.

[The Magistrate]

6. That Is A Good Line, Sir

Previous to his capture, and the need to display a high-value prize, doubtless would be a more accurate formulation....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Eye and Monkey]

7. cheers

:toast:

[acmavm]

8. It's sure not hard to climb the ladder of success and leadership in

these groups, is it? I wonder, and since we capture at least one high value target or 'leader' a day, who's doing the following? Who does the everyday grunt work? The insurgency apparently doesn't understand the normal 'chain of command' thing.

[OutsourceBush]

9. Bush propaganda... claim everyone is 'senior'

[Devils Advocate NZ]

10. Question...

If al-Zarqawi's terror group operates from Fallujah, and Fallujah is surrounded by US (and now British) forces, how exactly are they carrying out strikes in Baghdad's Green Zone and other areas of Iraq?

Could it be that the US' hold on Iraqi territory is far more tenuous than they are willing to admit?

It sure seems to me that the Iraqi resistance groups seem able to go anywhere, any time they wish.

[billyoc]

11. Minor -> Senior promotion

"Intelligence sources said the man captured was previously thought to be a relatively minor member of the terror network. But because so many of al-Zarqawi's associates have been captured or killed, he moved up to take a more important role."

No, it's just that * has been such a successful recruiter for them, that last month's corporals are this month's generals.