The Sheik is dead.
Posted on 05/03/2005 9:33:13 AM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S.-led forces have recovered a letter that appeared to be addressed to Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among his followers and the incompetence of leaders in his terror network, the military said Tuesday.
The letter was seized during an April 28 raid in Baghdad, which also yielded an undated document listing targeting information and sketch maps for kidnappings and bombings, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The military said it was written by Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni, whom they identified as a member of Al-Qaida in the Land Between the Two Rivers, one of the former names used by al-Zarqawi's Al-Qaida in Iraq terror group. The letter's authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
The letter advocates jihad, or holy war, and praises "the sheik" for being "a thorn in the mouth of the Americans," the military said. But it also described low morale, weakening support for the insurgency and the incompetence of many militant leaders, the statement said. The author also reportedly admonishes the "the sheik" for abandoning his followers since Fallujah -- an insurgent stronghold that was the subject of a major U.S.-led assault in November.
Five suspected insurgents were killed and three captured during the April raid, the military said. The statement identified one of those killed as Abu Rayyan, the Saudi leader of a Baghdad-based car bombing cell.
This is a a real find! Question: Did any of the suspected insurgents captured have Zarqawi's address or did one of the five killed have it?
Get those reward posters printed and distributed where he was last seen jumping out of that car!
and
Put Al-Zarqawi on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list now!
It's Bush's fault!
I heard somewhere yesterday (probably on Glenn Beck) that a unsuccessful suicide bombing had recently been committed near a US Army checkpoint. The bomber survived and was taken into custody, treated, and interrogated. The would-be bomber said that the Bad Guys had kidnapped his family and had forced him to be a suicide bomber. If this story is true, then Al-Zarquawi (sic?) is in bad shape - suicide bombers have to be volunteers if they are going to be successful (still, it's not a job with a future). If he has to impress suicide bombers, then his insurgency is fast approaching the rocks.
I suspect that the insurgency is going to start petering out (it may take much longer for the MSM to recognize the demise of the insurgency).
sweet!
Impress or empress ;)
If he has to impress suicide bombers, then his insurgency is fast approaching the rocks.
I stand corrected! Sorry!
So was it signed by Howard Dean ???
Ping
This is possibly true, but I believe nothing coming out of the mouths of these people. They are accomplished liars. His story should be fairly easy to verify.
That is Arabic for Senator Edward Kennedy
In a related story in the wake of the letter showing ineffective operations and low paid jihadists the TSA has offered to take over Zarqawi's network so they can be "professionalized"
The Sheik is dead.
While I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the letter, I would submit that the insurgency doesn't HAVE to be wildly successful to erode support for President Bush and the establishment of democracy in Iraq.
All there needs to be are a slow, steady trickle of American deaths, the occasional hostage beheading, a few odd spectacles like Abu Ghraib or the Sgrena incident to fuel dregs of society who cannot understand the concept of sacrifice for the greater good.
It's less a testament to the effectiveness of the terrorists than it is the sickness our nation has succumbed to that each suicide bombing is sensational news and used as evidence that we erred in toppling this tyrant.
I hope this is true, but in view of the increased incidence and ferocity of attacks on the new Iraqi government and a few American military, I'm a little skeptical. Lying is the enemy's forte.
There are evidently enough of those in our nation who are not "sick" to have elected Bush for a second term.
The glass is slightly better than half-full.
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Today: May 03, 2005 at 10:23:09 PDT
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S.-led forces have recovered a letter they believe was addressed to Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi complaining about low morale among his followers and the incompetence of leaders in his terror network, the military said Tuesday.
The Pentagon said it may be an indication of growing weakness and dissension among al Qaida in Iraq, the terrorist organization that al-Zarqawi leads, but warned that the network remained capable of carrying out significant attacks.
The letter was seized during a raid Thursday in Baghdad, which also yielded an undated document listing targeting information and sketch maps for kidnappings and bombings, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The military said it was written by Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni, whom they identified as a member of Al-Qaida in the Land Between the Two Rivers, a former name used by al-Qaida in Iraq.
The letter, dated Wednesday, is addressed to "the sheik," a title used by al-Zarqawi's followers to refer to their leader, the military said.
In Washington, Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said the letter was believed to be authentic.
"The letter gives the indication that his (Zarqawi's) influence and effectiveness are deteriorating," he said. "It describes low morale and weak and incompetent leadership."
But Whitman said Zarqawi's organization can still carry out significant attacks and said this letter should only be regarded as once piece of data suggesting weakness in his organization and dissension in the ranks.
The author, Abu Asim al-Qusayami al Yemeni, was believed to be a close associate of Zarqawi and a veteran of the fighting in Fallujah, Whitman said. The "Sheik Abu Ahmad" referred to Zarqawi.
The letter advocated a jihad, or holy war, and praised "the sheik" for being "a thorn in the mouth of the Americans," the military said. But it also described low morale, weakening support for the insurgency, and the incompetence of many militant leaders, the statement said. The author also reportedly admonished the "the sheik" for abandoning his followers since Fallujah - an insurgent stronghold that was hit hard by a major U.S.-led assault in November.
Five suspected insurgents were killed and three captured during the April raid, the military said. The statement identified one of those killed as Abu Rayyan, the Saudi leader of a Baghdad-based car bombing cell.
Besides the documents, soldiers recovered weapons, ammunition and fake identification cards from the suspects, it said.
The U.S. military has claimed similar finds in the past. In February last year, the military released a letter it claimed was written by al-Zarqawi complaining that if the insurgency failed to prevent the handover of sovereignty, "then there will be no choice but to pack our bags and move to another land where we can once again carry our banner." Postings on a number of Internet Web sites known for their militant content questioned the authenticity of the document.
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Thanks for the ping.
I've never heard of Zarqawi being referred to as Abu Ahmed.
There are a couple of other bad guys known as Abu Ahmed.
- Abdul Aziz Sa’dun Ahmed Hamduniaka Abu Ahmed was one of Zarqawi's thugs and also was the deputy of the top Mosul militant leader identified as Abu Talha. He's been in US custody since December 22, 2004
- Moayed Ahmed Yasseen aka Abu Ahmed. Suspected leader of Mohammed's Army, a group for former intelligence agents, army, security officials and high-ranking members of Saddam Hussein's regime, Yasseen has been in US custody since the fall - his arrest was announced November 14, 2004.
I have just finished the translation of the Zarqawi's message from Friday.
"I have just finished the translation of the Zarqawi's message from
Friday. "
Will we be able to read your translation at Laura Mansfield.com?
Thank you for the info on the names, it is new to me information..
Its a function of Money, and what current million dollar kidnapping just finished with the killing of a security guard?
They just got the funds in the field so it depends on how long the money last to how long till insurgency is done.
Why do we always have to tell the other side what information we have? They have the same access to the news media everyone else has. During the Second World War, we managed to keep secret the fact that we had broken the German and Japanese codes. I think the U.S. and Iraqis are too concerned with broadcasting "good news", to the detriment of using this information effectively.
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