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Capture of Iraq Al-Qaeda leader imminent
AFP ^ | 10/01/06

Posted on 10/01/2006 5:29:50 AM PDT by TexKat

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The Iraqi government has showed first-ever video images of Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, and said his capture was imminent.

"I can say we are very close to Abu Ayyub al-Masri and we say to him your days are numbered," said Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie Sunday.

The insurgent training video, screened at a media conference broadcast live on state television, showed the bespectacled successor of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi describing how to make a bomb.

Rubaie cited Iraqi security operations around the country for his optimism the Al-Qaeda chief will imminently be snared.

He singled out the tribes of western province of Anbar for their efforts against Al-Qaeda.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abuayyubalmasri
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Iraqi forces closing in on terror leader

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Security forces are closing in on the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, a senior Iraqi official said Sunday, showing a video of the terror chief teaching followers how to build a car bomb.

The video, displayed to journalists, showed Abu Ayyub al-Masri — his face exposed — going through what appeared to be a storage bunker, pointing out different elements of a car bomb in what National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie called an instructional CD.

"My message to Iraqis in Ramadan, God willing, is that in a very short time, we will bring you the good news of Abu Ayyub al-Masri either killed or handcuffed to be brought before the Iraqi justice system," al-Rubaie said.

Al-Rubaie did not say why he believed security forces were close to catching al-Masri, who was named as leader of Iraq's most feared terror group after the death of his predecessor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in a U.S. airstrike north of Baghdad in June.

Al-Rubaie said the video was found in Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad, a few days ago, and that al-Qaida in Iraq had been distributing it to followers.

"My message to Abu Ayyub al-Masri is that we are closer to you than you can imagine — your days are numbered and you will face your fate very soon," al-Rubaie said.

In the video, al-Masri, wearing a white T-shirt, talks to the camera as he moves beside boxes and coils of wire. His hair was cut short and he wore glasses and had a mustache but no beard. No one else appeared in the video.

"He is copying this video for distribution to the killers and criminals to spread murder and sabotage among Iraqis," al-Rubaie said. "We are displaying this tape to let Iraqis recognize him easily and make it hard for him to hide."

It was the first time al-Masri — also known by the pseudonym Abu Hamza al-Muhajer — has appeared showing his face in a video, though U.S. and Iraqi military officials have shown photos of him.

Al-Masri has released two audiotapes since being named head of al-Qaida in Iraq. In the latest, posted on the Internet on Sept. 28, he called for nuclear scientists to join his group's holy war and urged insurgents to kidnap Westerners so they could be traded for a blind Egyptian sheik who is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.

Separately, the U.S. military command said Sunday that a U.S. soldier died in a Humvee accident in northern Iraq.

The soldier, assigned to Task Force Lightning, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, died Saturday in the northwest city of Mosul, the command said. No name was released.

Iraq switched to winter time early Sunday, moving its clocks one hour back.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061001/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061001104849;_ylt=AhOf1l7Iw4_i6vUesJgWicVn.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw--

1 posted on 10/01/2006 5:29:51 AM PDT by TexKat
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Dog; MEG33; SunkenCiv; SE Mom; Coop; pissant; Allegra; mystery-ak

Capture of Iraq Al-Qaeda leader imminent ping!


2 posted on 10/01/2006 5:32:37 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat

the pudding man, the pudding


proof is always in the pudding



;-)


3 posted on 10/01/2006 5:33:34 AM PDT by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: TexKat

If this capture really happens, it's probably safe to say that one of the contributing factors to the capture is that the Iraqi security forces don't follow the John-McCain-Nancy-Pelosi-let-them-eat-pastry interrogation protocols.


4 posted on 10/01/2006 5:35:46 AM PDT by samtheman (The Democrats are Instituting their own Guest Voter Program.)
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To: TexKat

The heck with capturing him....let's waste the vermin.


5 posted on 10/01/2006 5:35:48 AM PDT by Allegra (I'm baaaack....in Iraaaaaq...)
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To: TexKat

Hopefully true but - why broadcast this info, unless if they already have him?


6 posted on 10/01/2006 5:35:50 AM PDT by capydick (Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse.)
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To: TexKat

"pointing out different elements of a car bomb in what National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie called an instructional CD."



Sounds like al Qaeda's number one job is to teach recruits how to make car bombs.

Sort of reminds me of the Japanese kamikazi pilots, and suicidal infantrymen. They were fearsome, but single use weapons. Not the kind of strategy you need to win a war.


7 posted on 10/01/2006 5:36:52 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Allegra

"Iraq switched to winter time early Sunday, moving its clocks one hour back."




Thanks for that important bit of information.


8 posted on 10/01/2006 5:38:32 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: TexKat

Shouldn't they keep their mouths zipped until they've actually caught him?


9 posted on 10/01/2006 5:40:25 AM PDT by WashingtonSource
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To: Brilliant

...and its year back to the stoneage


10 posted on 10/01/2006 5:40:30 AM PDT by Napoleon Solo
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To: WashingtonSource; Southack; Cap Huff
No....this will force his hand...hehehe

See the beauty of this is he doesn't know who has given him up....someone just as hell did...we got his CD..

Quail hunting anyone.

11 posted on 10/01/2006 5:43:55 AM PDT by Dog
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To: TexKat

Nonsense! Everyone knows there are no AlQaeda in Iraq!
eeeEEEEaaaRRRGHH!!!!!

12 posted on 10/01/2006 5:44:27 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: Brilliant; TexKat

Tex...is there a video of the guy or a screen capture?


13 posted on 10/01/2006 5:44:39 AM PDT by Dog
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To: TexKat

Isn't this the same Iraqi Military that cannot handle matters on their own?

/sarcasm


14 posted on 10/01/2006 5:44:42 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (The Democratic Party will not exist in a few years....we are watching history unfold before us.)
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To: Dog
No....this will force his hand...hehehe

That's what I'm thinking. They're probably monitoring some location(s) or cell phone or something along those lines. As soon as the jackass shows his face, he's history, one way or the other.

15 posted on 10/01/2006 5:47:36 AM PDT by csvset (Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil & inhumane)
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To: csvset

Yeppers..


16 posted on 10/01/2006 5:49:40 AM PDT by Dog
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To: TexKat

Excellent news!!


17 posted on 10/01/2006 5:54:03 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: Brilliant
Thanks for that important bit of information.

I didn't post that little factlet.

Perhaps the author thinks this morning's time change is instrumental in the capture. LOL

18 posted on 10/01/2006 5:55:54 AM PDT by Allegra (I'm baaaack....in Iraaaaaq...)
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To: TexKat

Zarqawi released a self-promoting narcissist video.

Days later, the outtakes from this video were found by our side and broadcast throughout the world (e.g., he couldn't cock the weapon and needed help).

And days after that, he was dead.

I'd like to believe that American, Iraqi, and Brit operators have a similar line on Masri.


19 posted on 10/01/2006 5:57:22 AM PDT by angkor
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To: Allegra

What kind of vibes is Baghdad giving out right now...is the city tense or is it business as usual?


20 posted on 10/01/2006 5:58:07 AM PDT by Dog
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