Thursday, April 23, 2009

Iraqi officials say al-Qaida-linked chief Abu Omar al-Baghdadi arrested

From NY Daily News:

BAGHDAD - The suspected leader of an al-Qaida-linked militant network was captured Thursday by Iraqi military forces, security officials said, in what could mark a significant blow against Sunni insurgents as they step up attacks.

Two separate suicide bombings, meanwhile, killed at least 42 people.Abu Omar al-Baghdadi has been a key target for U.S. and Iraqi forces for years as the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of Sunni militant factions that is believed dominated by al-Qaida in Iraq.

But little is known about his origins or real influence over insurgent groups, which have staged a series of high-profile attacks in recent weeks, including, apparently, the two suicide blasts Thursday in Baghdad and north of the capital in Diyala province.

The U.S. military has even said al-Baghdadi could be a fictitious character used to give an Iraqi face to an organization dominated by foreign al-Qaida fighters.

But Iraqi security forces said he was in custody. (more)

2 comments:

Euripides said...

Al-Qaida and the Taliban should never have been allowed to gain power in Afghanistan in the first place. Chalk that one up to failed policies in the Clinton Administration. Bush inherited the mess but neglected to wipe out the Taliban and al-Qaida when it had the chance in Afghanistan. Now Pakistan may give in to the Taliban. What a mess.

eutychus said...

You are right. It has been a long series of failure. When the Taliban gets it's hands on Pakistan's nukes it will take decisions and all out war that I don't think this administration is capable of.