US captures Iraqi suspected of smuggling foreign fighters

Agence France-Presse | 1/02/03

[kattracks]

US troops arrested an Iraqi who was believed to be smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq from Syria, and also captured 10 Muslim fundamentalists northeast of Baghdad, the military said.

In the western town of Ar-Rutbah, soldiers from the Third Armoured Cavalry Regiment on Thursday caught a man they suspected of managing the movement of foreign fighters inside Iraq from Syria.

They billed him as a "high-value target" for the coalition's military command, but did not rank where he stood on the US military's most wanted list.

"This afternoon at 12:35 am (0935 GMT), elements of the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment captured Abu Mohammed... a key facilitator operating in the al-Anbar province," the military said in a statement.

"He is believed to be responsible for moving foreign fighters and large sums of cash throughout the area of operations."

The detention of Abu Mohammed resulted in the arrests of three others at "a suspected foreign fighter transit point," the statement said.

Rutbah, 375 kilometres (233 miles) west of Baghdad, lies in the barren Al-Anbar province, considered a main traffic route for Muslim fundamentalists seeking to wage Jihad, or holy war, on US soldiers, after entering Iraq via the porous borders with Syria and Saudi Arabia.

The province, home to the flashpoint towns of Ramadi and Fallujah, is rife with sympathy for Saddam Hussein among its embattled Sunni Muslim population.

Meanwhile, the US 4th Infantry Division conducted a sweep Thursday for Wahhabists, a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam championed by the international al-Qaeda extremist group.

The division's 2nd Combat Brigade team arrested 10 wanted individuals in a raid "targeting Wahhabi terrorists in the area," a US military officer from Baquba told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A large cache of bomb-making materials, including 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of dynamite and 50 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives, were also seized.

[kattracks]

ping

[Cindy]

Well, goooood deal!

[hershey]

Great news!

[EverOnward]

To our US Troops: Thank you. Great job!!!

[doosee]

The noose continues to tighten on the Islamogangsters in Iraq. Even if Wacky Dean thinks we are no safer.

[Coop]

Awesome job by our armed forces! And I imagine the Syrian leadership is even more worried, wondering exactly what documents/information this smuggler has.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"He is believed to be responsible for moving foreign fighters and large sums of cash throughout the area of operations."

Howard Dean wants him free.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

large sums of cash

Is Indiana Jones working on finding all the cash hidden by the Saddamites in Iraq yet? "Pirates of the Carribean" will have nothing on this story.

[SubMareener]

Meanwhile, the US 4th Infantry Division conducted a sweep Thursday for Wahhabists, a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam championed by the international al-Qaeda extremist group.

Apparently AFP does not want to offend the Saudis by pointing out that Wahabists are a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam championed by the House of Saud!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks!

8 HIGH-VALUE TARGETS CAPTURED IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE ~ CENTCOM | 1/02/04

[FreedomPoster]

>>also captured 10 Muslim fundamentalists northeast of Baghdad, the military said.

After we're done questioning them, we should turn them over to the Kurds for safekeeping.

[boxerblues]

Nice catch guys!

[FreeAtlanta]

I thought something similar. Imagine all the future rumors and legends about hidden Saddam gold, jewels and money! We still have legends about lost Confederate gold around here! lol

The thing I worry most about is the future finding of WMDs by the unsuspecting. What a nasty surprise. Even all the hidden conventional weapons are going to be a curse on that land. Saddam's evil legacy will continue for many years.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

After we're done questioning them, we should turn them over to the Kurds for safekeeping.

Good idea!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Agreed.

They should build gulags to house these vermin during questioning and thereafter. The gulags in the north should hold the Bathists and their buddies who "ruled" there. The gulags in the south should house the Bathists who ruled there. Etc.

PS: Happy New Year Ernest!

[findingtruth]

This coup must be considered only the beginning. In fact, millions of foreign terrorists have entered Iraq, masquerading as ordinary Iraqis. Their purpose is to oppose US occupation. They hide their weapons in their homes. These are not ordinary weapons. These are those evil assault rifles which our leader has outlawed in Iraq and is trying to outlaw in the US. Obviously, we need a much more massive crackdown, both in the US and in our conquered territory.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And a Happy New Year to you!

This terrorists stuff is depressing!

[solo gringo]

Thank you our prayers are with you.Stay safe and come home soon great job.