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Posted on 06/15/2006 1:32:52 PM PDT by NeoOldCon
6/14/06
Al-Qaeda's New Leader
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The military said the picture showed Egyptian-born Abu Ayyub al-Masri, believed to have taken over the terror network after the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi last week.
The Defense Intelligence Agency declassified the photograph on Wednesday, said U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell at a news conference in Baghdad, adding that he had no idea how the DIA got the photo. (
In addition to being a senior al Qaeda in Iraq operative and a direct associate of Zarqawi, al-Masri "has been a terrorist since about 1982, beginning with his involvement in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was led by Zawahiri," said Caldwell, referring to al Qaeda's number two leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Caldwell described al-Masri as "an explosives expert, specializing in the construction of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices," and that he went to Afghanistan to receive training before working with al-Zarqawi in Falluja.
Caldwell also noted that a power struggle may still be under way inside al Qaeda in Iraq.
"We're not fully sure who will actually eventually rise and assume the leadership role," Caldwell said. "Our assumption is it will be him," he added, referring to al-Masri.
U.S. intelligence was split Wednesday over whether al-Masri was the same person as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, who was named as al-Zarqawi's successor in a Web message last week.
Caldwell defended the military's release of al-Masri's photograph, saying that "a lot of discussion" occurred on senior levels about whether to release it and "our intent is not to glorify him or make him more important."
A standard $250,000 reward for information leading to al-Masri's death or capture is still in effect and was in force before al-Zarqawi's death caused by a U.S. airstrike last week, said Caldwell.
Iraq reveals 'al Qaeda plans'
The Iraqi government Thursday said that newly discovered documents from al Qaeda in Iraq revealed information that could destroy the terror network.
"We believe that this is the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq," said Iraq's national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, at a press conference in Baghdad.
He said the seized documentation indicates how al Qaeda is using virtually everyone as a pawn in its fight.
The group was planning to exacerbate already hostile tensions between Iran and the United States in order to climb out of a "bleak" situation in Iraq, according to documents al-Rubaie cited.
Such plans included the delivery of threatening messages attributed to Shiite Iranians and the carrying out of attacks under the guise of Iranian collusion, the Iraqi government cited the documents as saying.
Al Qaeda in Iraq also considered planting information that Iran has ties to terror groups, has been in possession of weapons of mass destruction, and is attempting to carry out terror operations in the West, the documents said, according to the Iraqi government.
CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the documents.
The documents were among computer records recovered from a tiny hard drive on terror mastermind al-Zarqawi's computer found at one of his safehouses, said the Iraqi government.
Caldwell said on Thursday the computer hard drive was recovered during an intense three-week operation prior to the June 7 airstrike that killed al-Zarqawi. He said the information from "some kind of computer asset" found in a safe house helped lead forces to al-Zarqawi's hiding place.
In a series of raids carried out since last week's fatal airstrike on al-Zarqawi, U.S. and Iraqi forces have detained 759 "anti-Iraqi elements" and killed over 104, Caldwell added. Of the 452 operations, 143 were conducted by Iraqi forces only, Caldwell said.
Bodies found
Despite a security crackdown in the capital, seven bullet-riddled bodies were found in various Baghdad neighborhoods on Thursday, police told CNN.
The bodies -- the latest corpses found dumped in the capital -- showed signs of torture and couldn't be immediately identified.
Dead bodies have been showing up across Baghdad almost daily since sectarian violence escalated in February.
In the southwest of the capital, gunmen killed a worker at a government-run vegetable oil factory on Thursday.
Other developments
And, unlike the leaky CIA, the DIA isn't going to be telling *anyone* how they got their information.
BOOM, BOOM! Out go the lights!
The twinkle in his eye betrays a wide-ranging sense of humor and a love for a pratical joke...
Perhaps he owns a large collection of Abbott and Costello, Little Rascals, and Three Stooges movies.
Looks like more target practice for our pilots and/or snipers.
Go get him guys and make the Drive By Media and the traitor Rats even more upset!
Yep. Dead man walkin'.
Z Pig, Monster was betrayed by his closest allies (Zarqawi location tipped off by captured deputies) {Why the libs don't want WOT prisoners questioned!} Abu Ayyub al-Masri, which one of your closest allies will turn you in for the money that will be offered for your death?
"Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey...!"
Hi. My name is Abu Boohoo Zarqawi and I'm dead now.
Happy Iraqis celebrate the death of Z Pig:
When the Z Pig entered hell, he found out that his 72 virgins were clones of Helen Thomas. They are having their way with him now.
Abu Ayyub al-Masri, son of a pig wants to be the next Z Pig? Abu Ayyub al-Masri, our warriors will find your "Safe House" after your buddies roll over on you. Then our warriors will send you to hell to be with the original Z pig! Your 72 Helen Thomas Virgins are waiting for you.
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No Problem! Here comes your Bomb!
Abu Ayyub al-Masri and other Z Pig replacements! Enjoy your eternity in hell with your special 72 virgins!
Hang in there beloved Zarkman. I will be joining you in hell soon! Love Cindy!
He looks pretty steeped/stoked on Islamofacism to me.
Don't let the left lie about Saddam's ties to AQ:
From Ikez78's blog; an interview with another freeper who has written five books about Iraq and several about Iraq's relationship with Al Qaeda:
The former Saddam Military Intelligence Officer being considered for the al Qaeda leadership role http://markeichenlaub.blogspot.com/2006/06/former-military-intelligence-official.html
The fact that al Qaeda and the former Saddam Fedayeen are OPENLY in alliance http://markeichenlaub.blogspot.com/2006/06/strategic-relationship-between.html
The list of former well known Baath party members who have been caught working for al Qaeda/Zarqawi in Iraq http://markeichenlaub.blogspot.com/2006/05/former-baathists-found-working-with-al.html
Interview with 5-time author Sam Pender. Pender takes on all of the criticisms used to bolster the "no ties" between al Qaeda and Iraq argument
http://markeichenlaub.blogspot.com/2006/06/question-and-answer-with-author-sam.html
OMG, Helen Thomas!! My eyes, my eyes!! ROFLMAO and crying.
That picture of Helen in her Vicky Secret knockoffs can serve as a birth control method and weight reduction. Post one picture in the bedroom and another on the refrigerator door.
DEAD MAN WALKING!!!!!!
A few slight bits of bull@#$% which have no business being in that article along with the significant story releasing a photo of the latest target for TF 145:
"The number of U.S. service members killed in Iraq has reached 2,500, the Pentagon announced on Thursday."
The Pentagon made no such announcement. It was the media that has turned this statistic into a landmark event, but I can assure you the Pentagon never called a press conference and announced the 2500th casualty.
"A Marine corporal seen in a video singing about killing members of an Iraqi family says the song was a joke. "It's a song that I made up, and it was nothing more than something supposed to be funny, based off a catchy line of a movie," Cpl. Joshua Belile said in Wednesday's Daily News of Jacksonville."
This is a non-story. A US serviceman made up a song in poor taste and THAT is news? But the MSM never seems to have the time and resources to report the positive stories about rebuilding Iraq and installing democracy...
I suspect we probably shouldn't have the troops sing "The Mountaineers Have Hairy Ears" to the MSM, either...
Remember that Hamas guy, Rancidi or something...the so-called physician who took over after the Israelis sent the blind sheik's head rolling down the road? He was top dog at Hamas for maybe two weeks when he got his missile. Let's hope that our task force has this new Al Queda guy's number and similarly send him to his just reward quickly.
What is it with sheiks and blindness. I know there is one in Supermax, there is the one the Israelis wacked, and I believe I read of a third in "Mohammed's Monsters" a pretty good book about radical Islam.
Why to their splittails have to wear burkas with so many of the guys going blind?
You know what they say causes blindness, huh?
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