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Note: The folllowing text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17319&Itemid=128

Press Release A080227a
February 27, 2008

Coalition forces disrupt Special Groups criminal network, detain one suspect

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained a suspected Special Groups member during operations to disrupt criminal element networks early Wednesday in Baghdad.

Coalition forces were targeting Iranian-backed Special Groups criminal networks involved in attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces.

Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they detained one suspected criminal without incident. The suspect’s identity is still being determined.

“Special Groups that refuse to honor al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr’s cease-fire pledge are a threat to public safety that cannot be tolerated,” said Cmdr. Scott Rye, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition forces will continue to target these rogue elements, disrupt their networks and bring them to justice.”

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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17300&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080226-01
February 26, 2008

MND-B Soldiers capture special groups leader
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers captured a suspected Special Groups commander during an operation in Baghdad’s Sha’ab neighborhood Feb. 24.

The suspect is accused of being involved in multiple improvised explosive device attacks.

Paratroopers with 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, detained the suspect after receiving actionable intelligence on his activities. Several other suspected criminal members were captured with him.

The detainees were captured with components of explosively formed projectiles. The components were allegedly imported from neighboring countries.

“This suspected criminal is allegedly responsible for multiple IED attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces,” said Lt. Col. David Oclander, executive officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. “He is suspected to be associated with the foreign-influenced Special Groups networks that continue to blatantly disobey the cease fire directives from al-Sayyid Maqtada Al-Sadr that have been in place since Aug. 29, 2007.

“Recent tips from locals show they want these criminals off their streets, and the support of the people continues to move toward the legitimate government of Iraq” Oclander said.

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Thanks to RDTF for the ping (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1977006/posts?page=5#5 ) to this thread:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1977006/posts

Imam From Va. Mosque Now Thought to Have Aided Al-Qaeda
The Washington Post ^ | Feb 27, 2008 | Susan Schmidt
Posted on 02/27/2008 5:44:07 AM PST by RDTF

Even before the 2001 terrorist attacks, American-born imam Anwar al-Aulaqi drew the attention of federal authorities because of his possible connections to al-Qaeda. Their interest grew after 9/11, when it turned out that three of the hijackers had spent time at his mosques in California and Falls Church, but he was allowed to leave the country in 2002.

New information later surfaced about his contacts with extremists while in the United States. Now, U.S. officials are saying for the first time that they believe that Aulaqi worked with al-Qaeda networks in the Persian Gulf after leaving Northern Virginia. In mid-2006, Aulaqi was detained in Yemen at the request of the United States. To the dismay of U.S. authorities, Aulaqi was released in December.

“There is good reason to believe Anwar Aulaqi has been involved in very serious terrorist activities since leaving the United States, including plotting attacks against America and our allies,” said a U.S. counterterrorism official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

U.S. authorities were limited in how far they could push Yemen to hold Aulaqi, officials said, because they have no pending legal case against him. The officials said ongoing intelligence-gathering efforts here and abroad prevented them from providing details about Aulaqi’s suspected activities.

Aulaqi, 36, was the spiritual leader in 2001 and 2002 of the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, one of the largest in the country. In a taped interview posted this New Year’s Eve on a British Web site, Aulaqi said that while in prison in Yemen, he had undergone multiple interrogations by the FBI that included questions about his dealings with the Sept. 11 hijackers.

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(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...