Iraqi security forces captured the most wanted terrorist suspect in the country last year, but released him because they didn't know who he was, the Iraqi deputy minister of interior said Thursday. A U.S. official could not confirm the report, but said he would not dismiss it. "It is plausible," he said. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- the al Qaeda in Iraq leader -- has a $25 million bounty on his head, and is accused of being behind many insurgency bombings and kidnappings. From CNN.ComThis is from CNN.Com:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi security forces caught the most wanted man in the country last year, but released him because they didn't know who he was, the Iraqi deputy minister of interior said Thursday.
Hussain Kamal confirmed that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- the al Qaeda in Iraq leader who has a $25 million bounty on his head -- was in custody at some point last year, but he wouldn't provide further details.
A U.S. official couldn't confirm the report, but said he wouldn't dismiss it.
"It is plausible," he said.
Thursday's news tops a list of reports of missed opportunities to capture the 39-year-old terrorist mastermind. An official said the military receives frequent reports of al-Zarqawi sightings, all of which are investigated.
I shake my head at the incompetence of this Bush White House in conducting this war in Iraq. This is just another example of the incompetence and stupidity of the White House--we had Al-Zarqawi, and he was released because of...what? Nobody knew who or what he was?
This whole war has been an unmitigated disaster! It was so poorly planned, and executed with not enough forces on the ground to maintain order in Iraq, once the war was finished. Oh yes, the U.S. military certainly did defeat the Iraqi military, once the war started. But then again, that's like pitting a Superbowl-winning NFL team against a high school junior varsity football team! There's no contest. Now take into account that we didn't have enough troops to guard all the Iraqi ammo depots and bases filled with weapons and munitions, or maintain order when the looting started, or even maintain control of cities and territory that American forces captured from insurgents, once this insurgency started. That's the incompetence and stupidity of this war--it all goes back to the shoddy White House planning.
And now we learn that Al-Zarqawi was caught by Iraqi authorities, and then released because nobody knew who he was. I just have to shake my head and laugh at the absurdity of this disaster.
Hey dip stick- the Iraqis had him- why does it all end up back to "Bush is incompetent"? Your argument is a complete waste of text.
ReplyDeleteQuit printing Dem press releases and think for yourself for a change.
I think it's fair to pin the blame for this on Bush and his administration.
ReplyDeleteIf it not for them, we would probably neither know nor care who al-Zarqwai is. Also this blogger does seem to be thinking for himself as nowhere in the press release does it suggest that bush is to blame. That would be his original opinion/thought.
My original opinion is that a man takes credit for his words.
Anonymous: Why does it end up to being "Bush is incompetent?" Because George Bush got us into this war in Iraq that we should have never gotten into. Bush is responsible for this debacle, and its consequences. He lied to the American public, saying that Iraq was building WMDs, then when no WMDs were found, Bush continued his lying by saying Saddam was a brutal dictator, a bad man, and more lies. Even now, Bush is continuing to lie. He first admits that the intelligence for going to war was wrong, then lies by saying it was still right for us to invade Iraq (Saddam is a brutal dictator). We didn't have enough troops to invade Iraq or secure the country--how about guarding the ammo dumps that are now providing the explosives that insurgents are using to make the roadside bombs. The entire post-war reconstruction is a disaster, the disbanding of the Iraqi army was a mistake, the chaos and looting in Iraq after the invasion is a result of few American troops to police order. How many more examples of White House incompetence do you want? Of course, we haven't even gotten to the incompetence of the White House trying to cover up their intelligence failings, or even the Valerie Plame affair. Anonymous, if you can't seem to open your eyes to the corruption, incompetence, stupidity, and criminality that has taken control of the Republican Party and our federal government, then you're worthless. Go back to your Faux News and your Republican mouthpiece, where your own mind is wasted on hatreds of gay marriages and phobias of liberal "wars on Christmas!"
ReplyDeleteLawfirmgeek: I'm not sure if this is really "breaking news." A part of me is somewhat surprised that the Iraqi authorities had taken Al-Zarqawi, then released him. And another part of me is not surprised at this story. In some ways, it is sort of a non-story. But the story provides another example of the absurdity that exists within this Iraq war. That's what amazes me. It is how many things that have gone wrong in making Iraq a complete disaster, and yet the Bush White House continues to claim we're nearing victory in Iraq. Everything that could go wrong in Iraq, has gone wrong, and yet we keep hearing how we're still marching towards victory in Iraq. That's the absurdity. That's the story.