Painstaking intelligence work led to Zarqawi By Mussab Al-Khairalla
24 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Painstaking intelligence gathering and sources inside Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network enabled U.S. forces to pinpoint his location and kill the al Qaeda leader, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
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Major General William Caldwell told a news conference that it took detailed planning before two F-16 fighter jets dropped two 500-pound (227 kg) bombs on a house in a village north of Baghdad and killed the most wanted man in Iraq.
He said a breakthrough came while U.S. forces were trailing Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman.
"This gentleman was key to our success in finding Zarqawi. He was a top lieutenant of his and was identified several weeks ago by military sources and sources inside Zarqawi's network," Caldwell said.
"Through painstaking intelligence efforts we were able to start tracking him, monitoring his movements ... Last night, he went to meet (Zarqawi) again at 6.15 pm (1415 GMT) when the decision was made to go ahead and strike that target," he added.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi led Iraq's most violent insurgent group which had killed thousands of Iraqis through relentless suicide bombings and organized attacks.
Many of the bombings were directed at large crowds of Shi'ites under a strategy U.S. and Iraqi officials said was designed to trigger a civil war.
"His whole intent was to incite violence between Shi'ites and Sunnis. He wasn't interested in going after coalition forces," said Caldwell.
The former street thug from Jordan remained elusive despite several U.S. military offensives, a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head and the capture of what U.S. officials said were several of his aides.
Caldwell said an Egyptian militant trained in Afghanistan named Abu al-Masari, who established the first al Qaeda cell in Baghdad, may succeed Zarqawi as head of the group in Iraq.
NO QUICK RESULTS
"What everyone needs to understand is the strike last night did not occur in a 24-hour period."
"It truly was a very long, painstaking, deliberate exploitation of intelligence, information gathering, human sources, electronics, signal intelligence that was done over a period of time, many, many weeks," Caldwell said.
There were six people in the house, including a woman and a child, but only Zarqawi and Abdul-Rahman have been identified. Zarqawi's identification was verified at 0330 on Thursday (1130 GMT), Caldwell said.
Forensic experts are conducting a DNA test on Zarqawi and results are expected in 48 hours, he said.
Two photographs of the corpse of the bearded Zarqawi with his eyes shut were displayed at the news conference. His body lay in a pool of blood. His nostrils were filled with blood and there were gashes to his cheek and forehead.
A military video of the strike that killed Zarqawi was also presented.
Caldwell said important information was found at the location that led to 17 simultaneous raids later that night in Baghdad and its outskirts that uncovered a "treasure trove" of information.
But he cautioned against being overly optimistic because Zarqawi's followers still posed a threat.
"It's not the beginning or the end but it is a step forward," said Caldwell. "Ridding Iraq of Zarqawi will not instantaneously stop the violence."
Might I add to the discussion:
What a poignant day for the USS Cole to set sail for the Middle East.
To the families of all who have sacrificed their lives for The United States of America:
We will never, ever forget the price of our freedom; the blood shed for each and everyone of us is the most selfless act anyone can give us. May God bless each and every one.