Posted on 03/09/2007 1:49:07 PM PST by MikeA
BAGHDAD (AP) -- The leader of the al-Qaida-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq has been captured in a raid west of Baghdad, an Iraqi military spokesman said Friday. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was captured Friday in a raid in Abu Ghraib on the western outskirts of Baghdad, said Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, spokesman of the Baghdad security operation. U.S. officials had no confirmation of the capture.
"One of the terrorists who was arrested with him confessed that the one in our hands is al-Baghdadi," al-Moussawi said.
Al-Baghdadi has been identified in statements posted on Islamic extremist Web sites as the head of the Islamic State, which was proclaimed last year after the death of the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Al-Baghdadi was said to have headed the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an alliance of al-Qaida and other jihadist organizations, which was set up last year to downplay the role of foreigners in the Iraqi insurgency. The name first surfaced after al-Zarqawi's death, when the Mujahedeen Shura Council posted a condolence message on a militant Web site.
"As for you the slaves of the cross (U.S.-led coalition forces), the grandsons of Ibn al-Alqami (Shiites), and every infidel of the Sunnis, we can't wait to sever your necks with our swords," the message read.
It was signed by Abdullah bin Rashid al-Baghdadi, who was identified as the council leader.
In a tape released last November, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq called on Sunni Muslims to pledge their allegiance to a new state that militants have said they created in Iraq, and said al-Baghdadi was its ruler.
"I vow allegiance to you," Abu Hamza al-Muhajir said in the tape. He addressed al-Baghdadi as the "ruler of believers" and placed al-Qaida in Iraq fighters under his command.
On Friday, the Islamic State of Iraq announced it would soon release a video on the death of a U.S. Air Force pilot whose F-16 jet crashed Nov. 27 north of Baghdad, according to IntelCenter, which monitors insurgent Web sites.
The pilot, Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, was listed officially as "whereabouts unknown" but then reported by the U.S. military as dead following DNA tests from remains at the scene. IntelCenter said it was unclear what the video would show.
Redeploy!
Yes, this is proof the US is losing in Iraq and need to retreat with their tails between their legs at once. The Dems. are so right.
"A Surrendercrat party representative declined comment"
Speaker Pelosi said, "We've got to quickly stop the surge before it works!"
Funny - we knew this a week ago, and they're just getting around to confirming it in the press...
((( ping )))
Tonight NBC News will lead with anti-Bush protests in Brazil then to other negatives until a touchy-feely story on Hitlery.
If our boys were on Okinawa we wouldn't be having these problems.
He was in the prison? All kidding aside this is great news.
Excuse me, but the media resents the implication that somehow they are partial to Hillary Clinton. That is totally unfair. It is very well known that they're in fact shilling for Barak Obama. You owe the MSM an apology. The GOP presidential contenders will be called on to repudiate your smear.
Ive been listening for this news to show up on ABC radio when the hour hits. Not a peep. They lead with the Patriot Act abuse story and the Chavez "gringo" item. No mention of this at all.
This is the eighth time he has been captured this week. Maybe this time they can hang on to him.
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