Iraq Qaeda Chief Seems to Pursue a Lower Profile

[ECH1969]

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian terrorist and the head of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, has sharply lowered his profile in recent months, and his group claims to have submitted itself to the leadership of an Iraqi.

In postings on Web sites used by jihadi groups, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the terrorist network's arm in Iraq, claims to have joined with five other guerrilla groups to form the Mujahedeen Shura, or Council of Holy Warriors. The new group, whose formation was announced in January, is said to be headed by an Iraqi named Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi. Since then, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia has stopped issuing its own proclamations.

The Mujahedeen Shura, which continues to call for attacks against American and Iraqi forces, has stopped taking responsibility for large-scale suicide attacks against civilians. Since the announcement of the Mujahedeen Shura in January, Mr. Zarqawi has stayed largely out of view. His last public statement, released a few days before the announcement, ranted in typical fashion against Americans and Jews.

"Zarqawi wanted to hand over Al Qaeda to the Iraqis so he could move on to the next phase of jihad," said Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Institute, which tracks violent Islamist groups.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/25/international/middleeast/25zarqawi.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[pinniped]

1. They seem to know everything about the mythical guy except for his....

whereabouts. Try Mars.

Is the deadline for him to turn himself in over or what?

They're making the propaganda more complicated now. The average Joe Blow wouldn't know what Mesopotamia is.

--"Propaganda is a critical component of his efforts, and that's what's involved here," said a Merkan intelligence official.--

[rfkrfk]

2. Rule 109

hear everything, believe nothing

would seem to apply here