Iraqis Close to Capturing Al-Zarqawi

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Authorities in Iraq (news - web sites) have arrested three close associates of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, officials said Friday, claiming to be close to capturing the al-Qaida-linked terror mastermind himself two days ahead of historic elections that extremists have vowed to subvert.


The announcements, made days after the arrests, appeared aimed at helping reassure Iraqis about security ahead of Sunday's polls. Still, violence continued: Insurgents, meanwhile, killed two U.S. soldiers, set off a suicide car bomb that killed four policemen in Baghdad and targeted more polling sites across the country.


American troops and insurgents exchanged fire on a major Baghdad thoroughfare. The crackle of gunfire could be heard over the noon call to prayer. U.S. fighter jets thundered through the skies over Baghdad throughout the morning in a show of force against the militants.


The arrested al-Zarqawi associates included Salah Suleiman al-Loheibi, the head of his group's Baghdad operation, who met with al-Zarqawi more than 40 times over three months, said Qassim Dawoud, a top security adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050128/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[SmokingJacket]

1. Well, when they do, I hope they take a picture of his fake leg.

I need this confusing mess straightened out.

But somehow... I take all this "news" with a grain of salt.

[ElectroPrincess]

2. They'll probably trot him out after the failed election so they

can revise history and say "every thing's fine" because something that has a semblance of voting occurred right before this evil terrorist was nabbed. So much easier to modify facts when our keystone cops MSM is chasing another story.

[LynnTheDem]

3. And after he's caught, who will they blame the continued attacks on next??

They're running out of deadenders to blame. They should start creating a new Satan now.

[ElectroPrincess]

6. yeah! I feel let down, we were supposed to all get

"new shoes" as soon as Iraq was liberated from Sadaam.

[Oreo]

4. Al-Jazeera piece on Al-Zarqawi

Hate to share stories from the evil Al-Jazeera... I must be a terrorist !

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9EF53F67-7A94-49EE-AFDF-7C8A323BDD2E.htm

"Al-Zarqawi is probably a pretty significant figure but he is being made into this Usama bin Ladin-type symbol, which seems to be a natural thing for the Americans to do. It seems they like to focus on personalities," Rogers said.

Abd al-Bari Atwan agrees.

"Al-Zarqawi has become the new superpower, the perfect bogeyman. The Americans are just building him up to mask their failure in Iraq and their inability to maintain law and order.

[0007]

21. Why? Aljazeera is probably more creditable than CNN or FAUX

"There is no real proof that he al-Zarqawi is alive. If he is supposedly moving around freely in Iraq why haven't Iraqis spoken about him? He can't be that difficult to recognise with his wooden leg"

[Judi Lynn]

22. Maybe they'll need to hold a séance!

We have heard he had gone to join the choir celestial.

There are rumors that Zarqawi is dead because no sightings of him have been confirmed since 2001. In one report, the conservative newspaper Daily Telegraph described as myth the claim that Zarqawi was the head of the terrorist network in Iraq. According to a U.S. military intelligence source, the Zarqawi myth resulted from faulty intelligence obtained by the payment of substantial sums of money to unreliable and dishonest sources. The faulty intelligence was accepted, however, because it suited US government political goals, according to an unnamed intelligence officer.<6> The Zarqawi myth has also been purported to be the product of U.S. war propaganda designed to promote the image of a demonic enemy figure to help justify continued U.S. military operations in Iraq.<7>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi

[0007]

23. ....it appears that the majority of people in this country just don't

understand the ploy.

I do have a common birthday with Zarqawi. His was on 10/20/66, mine 10/20/33.

Accordingly, "Zarqawi is usually described as somber and unintelligent, with a violent temper." I hope junior doesn't indeed piss Zarqawi off! LOL!

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

25. Ha ha haaaa. He sounds like W's more attractive twin!

Real tough hombre! He's a flying ace, you know!



Tilt-a-whirl aces!

[leesa]

5. Right. What a surprise...right before the alleged elections.

Wonder if it will be the dead one?

[NYC]

26. No, the dead one escaped.

We'll capture the living one this time.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. The same way they "almost captured" Osama?

Is there a convenient mountain range they can bombard nonstop for a few days right at the end of the hunt? Or will they just be content with levelling another city instead?

[underpants]

8. Boy sure hope they don't KILL him first like they did Saddam & ChemicalAli

Some Evidence Suggests Saddam Dead: Bush
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 25, 2003
http://english.people.com.cn/200304/25/eng20030425_115783.shtml
US President Bush said in a television interview Thursday that there is some evidence suggesting Saddam Hussein is either dead or "at the very minimum was severely wounded." Bush also said US troops would remain in Iraq "as long as necessary."

DNA tests after missiles strike 'Saddam convoy'
Sunday June 22, 2003
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,982710,00.html
American specialists were carrying out DNA tests last night on human remains believed by US military sources to be those of Saddam Hussein and one of his sons, The Observer can reveal.

Officials suspect Saddam was killed in bombing
Posted 4/10/2003
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-04-10-saddam-usat_x.htm
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence has no clear information on Saddam Hussein's whereabouts, but the betting in the Pentagon's executive offices is that the Iraqi dictator lies dead under a pile of rubble in Baghdad, according to defense and intelligence officials.

But the theory given most credence is that Saddam died in Monday's bomber attack on a home near a Baghdad restaurant.
"The official take from the Pentagon is that Saddam is 'unfound,' " a senior defense intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. "Most along the E-Ring (the Pentagon's outermost hallway and executive suite) think he's under the rubble."
A Defense Department intelligence official said an abrupt end to an electronic intelligence intercept of Iraqi leadership conversations indicated that Saddam and his sons were at the site at the time of the bombing.
"The signal died when the bombs hit," the official said.
Saddam Captured 'Like a Rat' in Raid
Sunday, December 14, 2003
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105706,00.html

Saddam Hussein arrested in Iraq
Sunday, 14 December, 2003, 17:04 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3317429.stm
______________________________________________________________
Pentagon: 'Chemical Ali' Killed in Attack
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/4/7/204930.shtml

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon believes "Chemical Ali," Saddam Hussein's cousin who ordered a chemical attack on Kurds in northern Iraq in 1988, is dead, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed Monday.

'Chemical Ali' reported dead
Monday, 7 April, 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2925375.stm


Officials: Body of 'Chemical Ali' Found in Basra
Monday, April 07, 2003
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,83383,00.html


'Chemical Ali' Captured in Iraq
Thursday, August 21, 2003
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95314,00.html


'Chemical Ali' in U.S. custody
Thursday, August 21, 2003
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/21/sprj.irq.chemical.ali/
DOHA, Qatar (CNN) -- Ali Hassan al-Majid, the Iraqi general known as "Chemical Ali," is in U.S. custody, military officials tell CNN.

[uppityperson]

9. I thought they'd already captured and/or killed him, several times

or has that always been "almost".

[daleo]

10. An election day propaganda coup!

This will help explain the enormous number of ballots that will be "counted", even though few people will seem to be voting.

[VegasWolf]

20. Exactly! Nail on the head. n/t

[Catfight]

11. BIN LADEN is the target. nt

[Straight Shooter]

12. When they do "capture" him, I want a voice analysis comparison

to the voice of Zarqawi on the beheading of Nick Berg tape.

Of course, they'll remove that possibility of proof of involvement by ensuring that Zarqawi, the mastermind of composite personality, is killed in the capture attempt.

Does anyone else feel like this entire Iraqi debacle reads like the worst kind of putrid novel? It seems an adolescent god is writing the script. Disgusting.

edit because I make mistakes when I'm upset, and I'm still upset by the beheading of Nick Berg (rest in peace) which conveniently derailed the Abu Ghraib scandal

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. And the sun will soon fall out of the sky. Riiiigghhht.

[lanlady]

14. does the US media NEVER learn??

They fall for this shit time and time again.

[leftchick]

16. relentlessly

it is sickening... :puke:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. And in other news; a flying pig was seen heading toward the capital today

The exact intent of the pig is unknown, however it's believe to be carrying a working nuclear weapon it purchased from Pakistan recently. :eyes:

[ebayfool]

42. Flying pigs - duck & cover!

*ush is in create-a-crisis mode, again. As if we need any more.

[dutchdoctor]

17. In other news: Bush close to capturing Bin Laden.. n/t

[pinniped]

18. BS detector alert.

.

[sonicx]

19. wasn't he captured 3 times already?

[louis-t]

24. Another bulls**t alert here

Report: Fired Workers Plot Against Local Iraqi Elections

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20050128/lo_wdiv/2558019&e=3&ncid=

The first votes in Iraq (news - web sites)'s Transitional National Assembly Elections are set to take place on Friday, but some former workers at metro Detroit's polling center have plans to disrupt the voting, according to Local 4 sources.

Sources said the some of the workers who were let go are now plotting to destroy all valid registration forms.


Officials have taken the forms to a secure location, where they are they are under 24-hour watch.

'terrorist plot' + polling center = another reason to count votes in secret. Hello Karl? You in there?

edit: Local 4 is owned by Detroit News, the local right wing rag.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

27. I suppose he will escape in his armored Chevy Blazer again

and out run all those tanks and Bradleys we paid so much for.

[OKNancy]

28. kick

:kick:

[Chicago Democrat]

29. Three Top Zarqawi Lieutenants Arrested

Three Top Zarqawi Lieutenants Arrested
Five U.S. Troops, 10 Iraqis Killed in Violence Aimed at Disprupting Election

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 28, 2005; 4:00 PM

Iraq's interim government today announced the capture of three men it described as top lieutenants of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi, but insurgents continued efforts to disrupt Sunday's elections, killing at least 10 Iraqis and five U.S. troops in a series of attacks.

The announcement of the captures appeared aimed at encouraging Iraqis to vote in the elections despite warnings by Zarqawi's group and others that anyone participating risks being killed.


In continuing insurgent violence in the Iraqi capital, attackers detonated a roadside bomb at about 2 p.m. in southern Baghdad, killing one U.S. soldier and wounding three others, the U.S. military said in a statement. About 15 minutes later, another U.S. soldier was killed by small-arms fire in northern Baghdad, according to military.

Late in the afternoon, three more soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb blew up as they were patrolling in western Baghdad, the military said


rest.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43712-2005Jan28.html

[Chicago Democrat]

30. Who else thinks this is election night propaganda??

I sure do...

[DrWeird]

34. How can anybody believe it?

without having had a lobotomy that is.

[DrBloodmoney]

41. They arrested two earlier in the month...

... and now they trot their prizes out before election night. Come on everyone it's safe to vote. We got the three guys who were doing it all. What a joke!

[uppityperson]

31. oooo oooo oooo, pick me!

Gonna be a long few days of media propaganda.

[Maple]

32. They've arrested so many 'top lieutenants'

of every organization possible,it's a wonder to me there's anyone left to vote.

[central scrutinizer]

36. it's part of the code

If they are arrested, then they are top lieutenants. If they are still at large, they are minor figures. Just like, any dead Iraqi is by definition an insurgent, even if she was a two year old girl.

[Todd B]

40. For that matter they've "arrested"

For that matter they've "arrested" Zarqawi so many times (before they corrected the story of course), who knows what to believe anymore.

Do you think that Allawi has been taking tips from Rove on how to "win" an election? ;)

[cornermouse]

33. Where's the beef?

Unless they have fingerprints and DNA already on file, we don't know that these people are who they say they are.

[Career Prole]

35. Three down!

Only 19,997 left! Y'all come out and vote now, heah?
It's safer'n Sunday School out here... :nuke:

[keopeli]

37. KOOL-AID WARNING!!!

We are going to hear a lot of this for the next couple of days.

Iraq's US installed government has caught tons of bad guys. Things will be ok...just go vote no matter what.

Iraq's election security is much better than predicted - go vote!

Polling places are heavily armored with Americans - go vote!

Democracy in Iraq starts Monday! Hoorah! Go vote!

--

Do you think they will resort to fear?

If you don't vote, American's will not be able to protect you!
If you don't vote, American's will be in Iraq longer!
If you don't vote, we won't be able to ever restore running water and electricity!

[yurbud]

38. Does anybody think this Zarqawi guy is real?

he's just their boogie man of the moment to convince the slack jawed yokels that we're fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq, not Iraqis.

[Matilda]

39. They would say that, wouldn't they?

About as real as the way they shot Zarqawi, twice, and blew his
legs off too.