Posted on 09/29/2007 7:45:23 AM PDT by jdm
One of the highest-placed leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq, the man responsible for kidnapping and killing American soldiers, has been killed by American-led forces. Abu Usama al-Tunisi had become the "emir" of Yusufiyah and led foreign terrorists in their campaign against US and Iraqi forces:
U.S.-led forces have killed one of the most important leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq, a Tunisian believed connected to the kidnapping and killings last summer of American soldiers, a top commander said Friday.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson said the death of the terrorist in a U.S. airstrike Tuesday south of Baghdad, and recent similar operations against Al Qaeda, have left the organization in Iraq fractured.
"Abu Usama al-Tunisi was one of the most senior leaders ... the emir of foreign terrorists in Iraq and part of the inner leadership circle," Anderson said.
Al-Tunisi was a leader in helping bring foreign terrorists into the country and his death "is a key loss" to Al Qaeda leadership there, Anderson told a Pentagon news conference.
Anderson did not name the soldiers al-Tunisi was thought to have killed, but the timeline suggests Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas Tucker. Terrorists captured the two American soldiers in an ambush, and US forces searched desperately for them. Three days later, their mutilated bodies turned up, booby-trapped and showing gruesome signs of torture.
That made al-Tunisi a high-value target to American troops in Iraq. His senior position made him valuable, but his involvement in the Menchaca and Tucker murders has to give the US command a little more bitter satisfaction at his death. The surge meant to drive al-Tunisi's organization into disarray, and his death will make it even less capable of response.
In fact, CENTCOM has made it clear that successes like the operation against al-Tunisi are not coincidental. Aggressive strategy and tactics have driven AQI cells to the border of Iraq, disjointed and unable to coordinate for large-scale attacks. They have returned to single suicide bomber operations instead of the more massive coordinated attacks with small arms and mortars. They hold almost no territory outside of border districts, and American forces have begun denying them those toeholds now.
The flow of foreign fighters into Iraq has been cut in half. It seems that the message has gotten out to would-be jihadis -- the US and Iraq have toughened up, and only pointless suicide awaits in Iraq. If the Americans don't get them, the Iraqis do. That's the kind of success that Petraeus gave Congress and the American people.
ping.
poing
Dead on!
Whoa. Talk about not taking chances. With this one, I love seeing my tax dollars used like that...
Repeat as necessary; to all soldiers out there, keep safe...from the lawyers.
I regret that they don't get a chance to suffer agonizing pain for days when we do it this way, but seeing pieces of them strewn about the neighborhood warms my heart.
nice to see....
The Libs must be upset. I’ve noticed that the MSM is now more excited about Burma than Iraq!
What a tremendous blast that was. Sure did make the turbans fly!
Ping
Outstanding! That video made my day and it’s only just begun.
Still grinning:)
ping
I have always thought that the temperature in Hell was significantly ABOVE room temperature.
If the right one don't getcha, then the left one will
You load 16 tons, and whadaya get?
Good news!
Great job, fly boys!
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