![](http://www.wnd.com/images2/zarqawicorpse.jpg")
Image of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in death released by U.S. military
Posted on 06/08/2006 1:52:34 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
Image of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in death released by U.S. military |
WASHINGTON – When Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader in Iraq, was killed today by 500-pound bombs dropped by two F-16 fighter jets on a house north of Baghdad, it was the result of intelligence information gathered, in part, by an elite task force of international special operations forces formed just a month ago with the express purpose of taking him out.
The "A-Team" created for the mission drew on the skills and expertise of U.S. Army Green Berets, "Tier 1" of Britain's Special Air Service and the Israeli Mossad, as reported last month in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence newsletter published by the founder of WND.
The decision to form the unit was taken after a top-level conference between U.S. and British defense chiefs in Washington a month ago.
The unit was part of the already-secret Task Force Black run by Britain's MI6 out of coalition forces headquarters in Baghdad. Nicknamed "The Untouchables," it was given a no-holds barred brief in pursuit of Zarqawi in May.
To avoid detection, the team dressed in clothes bought from second-hand stalls in Baghdad's back-street markets. They regularly sprayed themselves with a pungent, sweat-smelling odor known as "souk scent." Each man wore contact lenses that turned their eye color brown or black. The goal was to permit them to look like any other Iraqi peasant as they hunted the most bloodthirsty killer in Iraq.
"The Untouchables" were assured in advance they need fear no investigation into their methods to bring Zarqawi to summary justice.
Though Zarqawi was done in ultimately by massive bombs delivered from high-tech fighters, the unit members were each equipped with L115A-353 sniper rifles that allowed them to kill at 1,000 yards. But the key to the mission was the fact that each made high-risk surveillance operations into normally no-go areas in Iraq.
While officially Israel denies any presence in Iraq, four Mossad assassins were assigned to serve with the unit.
"The Untouchables" also used thermal-imaging equipment to probe the "rat holes" the terror chief used as he flitted around Baghdad and other cities. They also had at their disposal a CIA-operated Predator unmanned aircraft able to provide a real-time video feedback of any area where Zarqawi was spotted.
Zarqawi boasted on his website of beheading innocent victims, including the murders of more than 1,000 British and American soldiers in Iraq over the past two years. Zarqawi also led terrorists that killed thousands of Iraqis through relentless suicide bombings and organized attacks. Many of the bombings were directed at large crowds of Shi'ites under a strategy U.S. and Iraqi officials said was designed to trigger a civil war.
Gen. Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, Britain's vice chief of the defense staff, had told senior officers in Baghdad that "removing this terrorist will be a massive blow against al-Qaida."
Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told a news conference today the big breakthrough that led to Zarqawi's location came while U.S. forces were trailing Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman.
"Through painstaking intelligence efforts we were able to start tracking him, monitoring his movements. ... Last night, he went to meet [Zarqawi] again at 6.15 pm when the decision was made to go ahead and strike that target," he added.
Zarqawi came from humble beginnings – a former street thug from Jordan. But he remained elusive despite several U.S. military offensives, a $25 million bounty on his head and the capture of what officials said were several of his aides.
Caldwell said an Egyptian militant trained in Afghanistan named Abu al-Masari, who established the first al-Qaida cell in Baghdad, may succeed Zarqawi as head of the group in Iraq.
"What everyone needs to understand is the strike last night did not occur in a 24-hour period," he said. "It truly was a very long, painstaking, deliberate exploitation of intelligence, information gathering, human sources, electronics, signal intelligence that was done over a period of time, many, many weeks."
There were six people in the house, including a woman and a child, but only Zarqawi and Abdul-Rahman have been identified.
Caldwell said important information was found at the location that led to 17 simultaneous raids later that night in Baghdad and its outskirts that uncovered a "treasure trove" of information.
But he cautioned against being overly optimistic because Zarqawi's followers still posed a threat.
"It's not the beginning or the end but it is a step forward," said Caldwell. "Ridding Iraq of Zarqawi will not instantaneously stop the violence."
this photo would make a great urinal target to be sold on EBay
On another thread, somebody wondered why we didn't just raid the house and try to get him alive for intel purposes. The answer is that trying to raid the house (rather than bomb it) would have triggered a firefight with the whole neighborhood. After the bomb, the neighborhood was suitably "shocked and awed" and we could go in to pick up the pieces
"....L115A-353....." Any photos of one of these.
Why would every member be equipped with this weapon and how were they concealed when working among the locals?
I don't see that they would be much good if someone fell into a firefight.
bump
Today we get reports that Z-man was set up by somebody in Al Queda. Looks like they felt the "loose cannon" was jeopardizing their relationship with Iran, and any safe haven that Iran might be providingZarqawi Scheduled for Martyrdom
June 7, 2006: The relationship between terrorist leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi and and the mainline al Qaeda leadership continues to deteriorate. Zarqawi's recent audio messages have not only attacked the U.S. and the Shia-dominated government in Iraq, but also Iran. He's even claiming that the U.S., Iran, and Shia in general, are in cahoots to destroy Islam. He has also called for continued attacks against Shia.Except for his verbal attacks on the U.S. and the Iraqi government, he is almost totally distanced himself from the central leadership. Other al Qaeda leaders have been trying to down play anti-Iranian and anti-Shia rhetoric, and have been strongly discouraging attacks on civilians.
Given that Zarqawi has become a loose cannon and that his actions are handicapping Al Qaeda's efforts, it seems reasonable to expect that an accident may befall him at some point in the near future. If handled right it can be made to look like he went out in a blaze of glory fighting American troops or that he was foully murdered. Either way, al Qaeda gets rid of a problem and gains another "martyr."
Mr. T don't need no gun!
(thanks for the photo)
sorry, that caption should have read:
"Mr. T don't need no gun, FOOL!!!"
Oh good. I'm glad we helped kill that bastard.
Regards, Ivan
The unit was part of the already-secret Task Force Black run by Britain's MI6 out of coalition forces headquarters in Baghdad. Nicknamed "The Untouchables," it was given a no-holds barred brief in pursuit of Zarqawi in May.
GOOD! GOOD!
Regards, Ivan
"souk scent" is what one smells like here in 101 degree
north Texas.
yeah, I heard some of that. I think his fatal mistake was that hotel bombng in Jordan. That got a lot of would be supporters really pissed at him.
What a fantastic day. The only thing that could make it sweeter would be if Bush and the GOP got a huge bump in the polls as a result.
"You said you wanted to get Capone. Do you really wanna get him? You see what I'm saying is, what are you prepared to do?"
"Anything and everything in my power."
"And then what are you prepared to do? If you open the can on these worms you must be prepared to go all the way because they're not gonna give up the fight until one of you is dead."
"How do you do it then?"
"You wanna know how you do it? Here's how: They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?"
"I have sworn to capture this man with all legal powers at my disposal and I will do so."
"Well, the Lord hates a coward. Do you know what a blood oath is, Mr. Ness?"
"Yes."
"Good, 'cause you just took one."
--Jim Malone and Eliot Ness (Sir Sean Connery and Kevin Costner), "The Untouchables"
Very good!
Yea, a few things jumped out at me.
"The Untouchables" were assured in advance they need fear no investigation into their methods to bring Zarqawi to summary justice.
LOL Nobody in DOD would believe that.
While officially Israel denies any presence in Iraq, four Mossad assassins were assigned to serve with the unit.
Yea right.
"The Untouchables" also used thermal-imaging equipment to probe the "rat holes" the terror chief used as he flitted around Baghdad and other cities.
Thermal cameras can only see the ambient temperature of the exterior of an object. They can’t look into or through objects. Even clear glass looks like a metal plate because IR only measures the temperature of the outside of the glass and converts it to an image.
But the main reason I suspect the article is that the first rule of Special Forces is no one talks about missions in this detail. It would directly put other units in jeopardy by revealing tactics.
"I hope that bastard suffered before he died. God Bless our Troops!!!".
I'll echo your statement, particularly regarding our troops, who are our GREATEST AMERICANS. We owe them more than we can every repay. Thank you troops - you did beyond belief magnificent!
While officially Israel denies any presence in Iraq, four Mossad assassins were assigned to serve with the unit.
Even if that were true, which we know it's not since it's from WND, the disclosure of that information would not be helpful to our mission.
So, either they are liars, which they are, or they're helping the enemy, which they may still be doing since not everyone knows that WND is a crock.
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