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To: elhombrelibre

For what it's worth
From the Fourth Rail

Report: Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of Islamic State of Iraq, captured
http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/03/report_abu_omar_alba.php


Unconfirmed report indicates Bagdadi captured in Salahadin province



Iraqi security forces are reporting that Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of al-Qaeda's political front organization the Islamic State of Iraq, has been captured in the northern city of Duluiya in Salahadin province, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The report has not been confirmed by the U.S. military at this time. The mid February news that Abu Musab al-Masri was wounded and subsequently captured by Iraqi security forces turned out to be a false report from the Interior Ministry. However today's report of al-Baghdadi's capture was issued by the Salahadin provincial administration.

Al-Baghdadi's real name is reported as Muharib Mohammed Abdullah, and he is “a former legal expert from the city of Balad.” Baghdadi's capture would be a largely symbolic victory, as al-Masri is the real power behind al-Qaeda and its Islamic State.

However, his arrest would signal that U.S. and Iraqi intelligence is penetrating al-Qaeda in Iraq's security. And Baghdadi may have information on the whereabouts of senior or mid-level al-Qaeda leaders and members of the Islamic State's Shura (or execute council).

Al-Qaeda established the Islamic State in Iraq in October of 2006 to put an Iraqi face on al-Qaeda's operations in Iraq and unite the Sunni disparate elements of the insurgency. Al-Qaeda claims the Islamic State of Iraq is comprised of “Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Ninawa, and in other parts of the governorate of Babel.” The declaration of the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq followed the creation of the "Mutayibeen Coalition," which includes six Anbar tribes, as well as three smaller insurgent groups.

But not all Sunni insurgent groups have united under the banner of al-Qaeda's Islamic State. Sunni tribes and elements of insurgent groups such as the 1920s Revolution Brigade and the Islamic Army in Iraq in Anbar province have formed the Anbar Salvation Council and have fought pitched battles against al-Qaeda, the most recent in Amiriya.


73 posted on 03/04/2007 5:48:03 PM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
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To: Valin
Well, if Bill Roggio were saying it, there'd be very high credibility. As is, he's reporting that the Iraqis are saying it. This is a big catch, and my guess (speculation) is that HQ MNC-I would have preferred to sit on this information for awhile and see if they can get any actionable Intel out of Mr. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. But, again speculating, it's awfully hard to sit on a story like this if you care about the outcome in Iraq. Only the MSM can ignore it.
76 posted on 03/04/2007 6:06:48 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Hagel, Obama, Voinovich and Biden making the world safe for Iranian terrorists.)
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