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Al Qaeda Leader's Diary Reveals Organization's Decline
American Forces Press Service ^
| Seaman William Selby, USN
Posted on 02/09/2008 12:26:19 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2008 U.S. troops found a diary belonging to an al Qaeda in Iraq leader that has Coalition forces believing the terrorist organization is on its heels, a senior military official in Baghdad said this morning.
Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Divisions 1st Brigade Combat Team on Nov. 3, 2007, captured a diary belonging to Abu Tariq, an al Qaeda emir in control of five battalions within two sectors, U.S. Air Force Col. Donald J. Bacon, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told online journalists and bloggers during a conference call.
The soldiers found the diary during a patrol conducted about 15 kilometers south of Balad. Bacon said the 16-page diary contains records about man power, operations, weapons, and finances, and it shows that al Qaeda is hurting badly in the belts of Baghdad.
There were 600 al-Qaeda members in this sector, now there (are) 20 or less, said Bacon.
In the diary, Tariq describes each battalions number decline and goes on to describe the 4th battalion as scoundrels, sectarians and nonbelievers. Tariq attributes his terrorist organizations decline in large part to groups of concerned local citizens, who are also known as the Sons of Iraq.
Many high-ranking al Qaeda members, including Osama Bin Laden, have spoken out about the negative impact that the concerned local citizens groups have had on their organization. As a result, the concerned local citizens are being attacked more frequently by the terrorists, Bacon said.
Nevertheless, Bacon said the numbers of concerned local citizens are growing, which indicates that they are less afraid of al-Qaeda.
Right now there (are) approximately 77,500 CLCs with 135 different initiatives, and more and more are being hired, Bacon said.
Bacon said he believes the diary is also in part a will of sorts, in case anything was to happen to Tariq.
He wanted to keep a clear record, Bacon said.
Bacon said he believes the diary is indicative of some other areas in Iraq but not all of Iraq. He cautioned that al Qaeda is still a dangerous enemy.
We still believe they are our number one threat, said Bacon.
There is a 90 percent decline of violence in Anbar but we are still fighting them in Diala, he added. They still have the capacity and the will but we have the momentum.
Bacon noted, however, that overall levels of violence in Iraq are down, and we are seeing positive trends.
(U.S. Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.) |
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 101stairborne; abutariq; alqaeda; alqaedainiraq; decline; diary; frwn; iraq; leader
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1
posted on
02/09/2008 12:26:22 PM PST
by
SandRat
To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.
WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!
2
posted on
02/09/2008 12:27:05 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
Don’t worry. As soon as Hillary or Hussein take over the reins of the US, thanks to anti-McCain conservatives, AL Qaeda can start its renewal again.
3
posted on
02/09/2008 12:34:45 PM PST
by
nwrep
To: SandRat
To: SandRat
In the diary, Tariq describes each battalions number decline and goes on to describe the 4th battalion as scoundrels, sectarians and nonbelievers. Hello Mudder. Hello Fadder. Here I am at...Camp Granada.
To: SandRat; All
WastedYears typing
U.S. Air Force Col. Donald J. Bacon’s name is offensive, I suggest they bring him home immediately because the religion of Islam forbids all pig-products.
6
posted on
02/09/2008 12:41:16 PM PST
by
wiggen
To: Reaganite1984
7
posted on
02/09/2008 12:41:42 PM PST
by
wiggen
To: SandRat
Forward this to Sen. Reid.
8
posted on
02/09/2008 12:44:00 PM PST
by
Rush4U
(unnamed source)
To: nwrep
Wah, you all wanted the liberals now deal with it.
9
posted on
02/09/2008 12:44:44 PM PST
by
Camel Joe
(liberal=socialist=royalist/imperialist pawn=enemy of Freedom)
To: Rush4U
10
posted on
02/09/2008 12:45:35 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
11
posted on
02/09/2008 1:06:05 PM PST
by
Cannoneer No. 4
(Civilian Irregular Information Defense Group http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com)
To: SandRat
Thanks SandRat, for another great post. Very good news indeed...
12
posted on
02/09/2008 1:07:19 PM PST
by
DoughtyOne
(That's right McStain, you'll get my vote when you peel it from my cold dead fingers.)
To: SandRat; Dog; LS; Cap Huff; Allegra
Al Qaeda just *thought* that they had it bad back in November...Iraq has grown substantially more hostile to them since then.
13
posted on
02/09/2008 1:12:18 PM PST
by
Southack
(Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
To: Camel Joe
Wah, you all wanted the liberals now deal with it.BS, The Iraqi's are the ones who had to step up, it's their country and guess what? They are stepping up. Another year, and AQ in Iraq will be a pipe-dream, because of the Iraqi's. It's their tea party now.
14
posted on
02/09/2008 1:16:12 PM PST
by
Rush4U
(unnamed source)
To: jveritas; FARS; Ernest_at_the_Beach; knighthawk; Marine_Uncle; SandRat; Steel Wolf; CAP; ...
15
posted on
02/09/2008 1:44:32 PM PST
by
elhombrelibre
(Al Qaeda: enemy of civilization and humanity.)
To: Rush4U
Dear Diary........if we can just hold out until the election........
16
posted on
02/09/2008 1:50:59 PM PST
by
Recon Dad
(Marine Spec Ops Dad)
To: elhombrelibre
Decline is an understatement, Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq are on the brink of annihilation.
17
posted on
02/09/2008 1:51:34 PM PST
by
jveritas
(God bless our brave troops and President Bush)
To: jveritas
18
posted on
02/09/2008 1:54:25 PM PST
by
elhombrelibre
(Al Qaeda: enemy of civilization and humanity.)
To: nwrep
As soon as Hillary or Hussein take over the reins of the US, thanks to anti-McCain conservatives, AL Qaeda can start its renewal again.I don't think so. It's time the Iraqi's started taking care of there own home-grown terrorism themselves.
I'm sick to death of Americans dying for and at the hands of Muslims. I'm even more sick of conservatives getting blamed because we just don't buy the Bush "Islam is a peaceful religion" crap anymore.
Don't blame conservatives. Blame Muslims.
To: zot; Interesting Times
20
posted on
02/09/2008 2:20:04 PM PST
by
GreyFriar
( 3rd Armored Division - Spearhead)
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