The good news from MNF-I is that we just caught two very bad guys linked to Al Qaeda in Iraq. But the great news is the level of intelligence we had on them. That means we are seriously penetrating the AQ infrastructure, both in and out of Iraq, including into Syria in this case. That's the heart and soul behind General Petraeus' strategy for combating an insurgency and it's working big time as we roll up more and more big time AQ players in Iraq. Read it all.
BAGHDAD – Iraqi forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two individuals believed to be linked to the al-Qaeda in Iraq criminal network Oct. 2, near Baghdad.
During one of the operations, Soldiers from the 6th Iraqi Army Division detained a suspected al-Qaeda financier in Kindi. The extremist financier is suspected of traveling to foreign countries to acquire financial support for terrorist activities and is suspected of supplying more than $50,000 to al-Qaeda each month. He is believed to have received $100,000,000 this summer from terrorist supporters who cross the Iraq border illegally or fly into Iraq from Italy, Syria and Egypt.
The terrorist is linked to financing cells in Doura, Tarmiyah and Baqubah, and uses a leather merchant business as a front to smuggle weapons and explosives from surrounding countries. Intelligence shows he has stores in Fallujah, Syria and Jordan.
He allegedly employs 40 to 50 extremists who help deliver and emplace improvised explosive devices to attack Iraqi and Coalition Forces. The group allegedly pays cell members $3,000 for each operation.
"Nothing to see here just move along" - MSM
Posted by: Purple Avenger | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Hey wingnuts! There's been another liberal attack on General Petraeus!
http://instaputz.blogspot.com/2007/10/will-right-condemn-american.html
Posted by: blogenfreude | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Pat Buchanan and his librul minions have DARED attack a hero and a patriot. The Decider's yes-man in Iraq may not be questioned. Look at all those shiny buttons on his uniform. How dare you question him.
Amen.
Posted by: chris | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 01:07 PM
Pat Buchanan is a paleocon - of the isolationist stripe ca. December 6th, 1941.
He's got some good idea every now and then, but largely, he has his head buried somewhere in the Calvin Coolidge administration.
Posted by: seekeronos | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 01:56 PM
Too bad the liberals posting the link to "Sycophant Soldier" didn't read the article. They sure wouldn't be giving it attention if they had.
Posted by: w3 | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 04:15 PM
christine
The subject matter of the post is the capture of two more big time AQ players in Iraq . I appreciate that you would find this news hard to bear but did you think referring to this Fortress America paleocon would distract us?
Victory is not yet at hand but it will be abundantly clear well in advance of the 08 election that victory is certain. In the meantime we are enjoying the success of the Surge (and the reaction of leftards like you to the good news it brings us every day.)
Cheering against your own country -and losing. Gawd that must suck.
Posted by: Terry Gain | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS, Terry! I wish you just as much success with the other 49 'insurgent' groups in Iraq.
Posted by: chris | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 04:30 PM
christine
Good to see you finally acknowleging the success of the Surge against al Qaeda. 49 other insurgent groups? Today, October 4, 2007. In your dreams. And how many of those other insurgent groups attacked America on 9/11? And how much damage are they, however many there are, doing today? Not 3 months ago not 6 months ago, but today? Casualty rate cut in half. News so bad (for you) you had to avert your eyes.
You don't get it, and despite my best efforts to educate you, you never will.
The organization that attacked America on 9/11 is being destroyed in Iraq, but you want to walk away from that and concede defeat in Iraq to al Qaeda just so you can put a harridan in the White House. Give your head a shake.
Posted by: Terry Gain | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 05:38 PM
"I wish you just as much success with the other 49 'insurgent' groups in Iraq."
Want to know what would make it more successful?
If there were 50. ...or 60. ...or 128.
Certain realities don't change:
1] paramilitarism takes money
2] unless you are gung-ho capitalists, your supply of money is foreshortened
3] the more groups there are competing for money -- just like "sympathy-overload" here in the enlightened west -- the less there is to go around
4] overhead still has to be paid
5] most of these groups dislike each other for reasons predating competition for funding at least as much as they dislike us
6] if we were to be smart, we'd use the landscape with these features for our benefit.
Be fruitful, panislamists; multiply.
Posted by: rwilymz | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 06:59 PM
I liked the cartoon that went from Petraeus to Betrayus to Youslayus, shown with flag draped coffins. And for Republicans the word is 'sick-o-phant'.
Posted by: Bill Adkins | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 09:09 PM
'--- I liked the cartoon that went from Petraeus to Betrayus to Youslayus, shown with flag draped coffins. And for Republicans the word is 'sick-o-phant'. ---"
That is entirely shameful, and sad that you think that way, B. Adkins.
Posted by: seekeronos | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Hey chris, just because you don't get it, doesn't mean it isn't true. Sorry, but you are on the wrong side of history...your grandchildren will be home from school on GW Bush Day -- GAWD that must suck! (hat tip Terry Gain)
Posted by: ET | Friday, October 05, 2007 at 03:37 AM