Senior terrorist captured in Iraq

[Barrett808]

US forces in Iraq have captured one of the most senior members of Ansar al-Islam, an extremist group suspected of having ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network.

The arrest of Aso Hawleri, also known as Asad Muhammad Hasan, late last week in the northern city of Mosul has not been announced. Larry Di Rita, chief spokesman for Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, told reporters: "I'm not in a position to confirm" Hawleri's capture.

Hawleri was taken by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, a defence official, adding that the capture netted a number of other people besides Hawleri, but there apparently was not a gunfight.

No other details were immediately available.

(more)

http://www.express.co.uk/story.html?story=1&r=1066186415301632

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Watch the Bushies spin this

Let's assume the story is true. Rummy and company will be be saying "terrorist leader" and "Iraq" in the same sentence over and over and over, suggesting (but never coming out and saying) that it justified the invasion.

The problem is that Ansar al-Islam operated in the Kurdish-controlled enclaves beyond Saddam's control. Those who made up Ansar were Saddam's mortal enemies. But no one in the junta will mention that.

And no one in the "liberal media" will ask them about it, either.