Posted on 05/06/2005 9:27:36 PM PDT by Wiz
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces have captured or killed hundreds of followers of Iraq's most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in recent months, including 20 top lieutenants and other senior members, the U.S. military said Friday.
U.S. forces believe they just missed capturing al-Zarqawi himself during a Feb. 20 raid that netted two of his associates and a computer believed to belong to him.
The claim came amid a surge in insurgent attacks that have taken more than 270 lives since Iraq's first democratically elected government was sworn in April 28.
The February raid took place west of the capital, between Hit and Haditha, near the Euphrates river, according to Friday's statement. Al-Zarqawi managed to escape as coalition forces closed in on his vehicle, but an aide who sometimes acted as his driver was apprehended, the military said.
The Iraqi government previously identified the driver as Ahmad Khalid Marad Ismail al-Rawi, also known as Abu Uthman. But the U.S. military said that driver was captured in an earlier raid and identified the one seized Feb. 20 as Mahir Sabah Injil Hinaydis al-Unayzi, also known as Abu Usama.
The U.S. military quoted al-Unayzi as saying during questioning: "Zarqawi became hysterical. Zarqawi did not know where he was because he demanded repeatedly 'Who lives in this area? What sub-tribe is here?'"
The U.S. military said the degradation of al-Zarqawi's network in the northern city of Mosul, Baghdad and western Iraq had reduced its effectiveness in targeting Iraqi and coalition forces in February and March. It argued a recent escalation of deadly car bombings was an attempt to demonstrate control. The military provided no figures to back its claim.
"Although Zarqawi's network has been diminished, his followers can still muster forces for attacks," said Brig. Gen. Don Alston, spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq. "While these attacks have targeted ISF (Iraqi security forces), coalition forces and Iraqi citizens, they have resulted most often in killing numerous innocent Iraqi civilians."
Those arrested or killed include terror-cell leaders, propaganda chiefs, bomb makers and drivers, the military said in a statement.
In the February raid, Al-Zarqawi grabbed his American-made rifle and an unknown amount of U.S. dollars and fled, according to the driver's account.
Zarqawi left behind his computer, pistols and more ammunition, which were seized, the U.S. military said. It said it believed al-Zarqawi returned to Haditha, 140 miles northwest of Baghdad, and hid with local tribes who have been providing him support and sanctuary.
The U.S. military said al-Zarqawi relies heavily on the head of his operations in Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. The terrorist commander known as Abu Talha finances his operations by kidnapping, killing and steeling cars from the local population, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Friday. His methods have alienated key members of the network, the U.S. military said, citing interviews with detainees.
The Iraqi government claimed in a separate statement that its security forces were closing in on Abu Talha, saying he "is not able to move freely any more because of security forces pressure."
Ping!
Wait a minute, dejavu? Different title same content what Dog posted before?
Never mind. It was similar but slightly different.
Good news, but of course, as military effectiveness of Zarqawi's organization declines (and it was never very high to begin with), they will increasingly go after soft targets and civilians. We're seeing that now. Many innocents will die for no other reason than Zarqawi's warped worldview and lack of understanding (not to mention his bloodlust).
I think that Zarqawi himself (much like UBL at this point) is more of a symbol. He runs around so much it is unlikely he exercises much control over his network. However, if we can bag him, it will be a huge blow to the morale of the terrorists. It might be enough for them to lay down their bomb belts and melt quietly away. Then again, insurgencies rarely come to an end all at once, but instead taper out. We'll see; I just get irate at what those monsters do to innocents. They kill so many every day that I (and I'm sure others) have become inured to it. A headline such as 10 Iraqis killed at bazaar has become the "usual," and that's deplorable.
The Iraqi gov. can solve many of it's foreign fighter problem with a simple "SPY TRIAL." The start with bringing all men captured with foreign passports, they ask why are they trying to overthrow the elected government of Iraq? Then they execute ON TV for Al Jazeera to broadcast - all of the people found guilty of spying or attempting to overthrow the government and for not wearing a uniform. All legal under Geneva Conventions. /rant off
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