RED ON RED: AQ in Iraq Mastermind Reported Dead (Now w/ wet blanket update)
posted at 6:39 am on May 1, 2007 by see-dubya
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Fox is reporting that Zarqawi’s successor as leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Egyptian born Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been killed “near a bridge in Northern Baghdad”, apparently bumped off by his own Al Qaeda crew.
US sources can’t confirm his death for certain yet, so we will update this post as soon as we know more. Obviously, if true, this is huge news and cause for great celebration. There have been some major arrests and deaths in the war on terror this week, but al-Masri would nonetheless be the biggest fish in a long time.
MORE: This looks promising:
“Primary information indicates he was killed, but when you have such a senior figure like Masri you have to do further checks, including a DNA test,” Dabbagh [Maliki's spokesman] told Dubai-based al-Arabiya satellite channel in a telephone interview.
There’s debate on some of the wire reports as to whether the Iraqi government has his body or not, but if they’re talking DNA then they just might.
RED ON RED NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE? PJM’s Richard Miniter thinks Al-Masri was likely killed by Iraqi terrorist hunter groups, not Al-Qaeda. Given the $5 million bounty the Coalition put on him, that sounds quite plausible to me.
BUT LET’S NOT GET DISTRACTED FROM THE REAL QUESTION: What did Alberto Gonzales know and when did he know it?
TELEGRAPH says there was friction between al-Masri and “other Suni insurgent groups” over AQI’s indiscriminate murder of civilians.
12:50 PDT: Not a lot of movement on this story since this morning; it’s still not certain whether anyone has the body, but Al-Qaeda in Iraq says he’s still alive. So here’s a nice Allahpundit-style wet-blanket link pointing out all that bad news and more: AQinI is now so decentralized that decapitation strikes like this aren’t going to slow them down much even when they do work.
Until we hear more either way, I’m going to drop this post down below the next one, because Lorrie Morgan is just a bit easier on the eyes.
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I question the timing!
RightWinged on May 1, 2007 at 6:40 AM
I wonder how long it will take for the Dems to blame Bush for it while taking credit for it themselves.
.
GT on May 1, 2007 at 6:43 AM
Why shouldn’t they? I mean, this is clearly a result of their pork and timetable bill!
RightWinged on May 1, 2007 at 6:45 AM
The Dummiecrats will be so sorry to see this terrorist go. He was doing the party’s dirty work so well for them in Iraq.
lynnv on May 1, 2007 at 7:22 AM
You have no idea how right you are. Well, maybe you do, but most don’t. The Dems have been running PR for this piece of garbage and his ilk, because they need victory for the enemy to win elections for themselves by default. That’s what this is all about. I’m to tired to repeat my points at the moment, but you know there was a collective “damn!” in Democrat offices when this news came in. But don’t get too excited, this won’t change their behavior, and sense the MSM is in their pocket, it won’t change any coverage, etc. But it is important to realize, not just jokingly theorize, that the Dems honestly are pissed about this. They don’t, and can’t, win elections on the issues, so they have to hope for chaos and death. It’s really sad, but the Democrats in this country honestly hope that American soldiers and Iraqi civilians get killed every day. When negativity doesn’t exist, their media creates it. When positive developments occur, they downplay and/or ignore them, and pull out another bogus “scandal” they’ve had in their holster.
RightWinged on May 1, 2007 at 7:30 AM
We shall see what comes of this. No celebrating until the DNA tests come back. In the meanwhile, this is nothing more than “whack-a-mole” warfare. Kill one, and another takes his place.
Still, once confirmed, this is good news.
itzWicks on May 1, 2007 at 7:30 AM
Yeah…haven’t we heard this at least a couple times before? That this guy was supposedly killed? And, as usual, won’t someone else step up to take his place…Of course, how long can al-Q keep this up?
This would be great news if verified…
JetBoy on May 1, 2007 at 7:34 AM
Yeah, I wish they wouldn’t even announce this stuff until they’re sure. But it would be great news if he has been transformed into the only good kind of terrorist.
And if he’s really dead, not only will the Democrats be disappointed, they’ll have to find someone else to surrender to. And root for.
ReubenJCogburn on May 1, 2007 at 7:42 AM
Please be true.
WisCon on May 1, 2007 at 7:44 AM
Infinitely, as long as the Dems and media promise them that if they just hold out “a little longer”, we’ll surrender. This will never end. The Democrats will never be on our side, because they want to win elections and can’t on issues, so they’ll always promise victory to the enemy, thus emboldening the enemy to just kill a few thousand more innocents. If we presented a united front and said “we aren’t leaving until the job is done” it would deal a significant blow, but this isn’t going to happen.
I would predict right now that when the new president takes office in 2009, we’ll pull out, however I don’t think the Dems can win. They’ll nominate Hillary and she’s unelectable. The only thing that we could do that would allow her to win would be to nominate Newt because his general numbers are even worse.
I’m really not sure how I feel about this because the Democrats don’t ever see a time that isn’t election season… so if we don’t take back the majority in either house, we’ll deal with what we’re currently dealing with going forward, which is more emboldening of the enemy. There’s nothing we can do so long as the media and Democratic Party stick to the same game plan.
RightWinged on May 1, 2007 at 7:48 AM
I generally pefer to hear about these bastards getting a GPS guided 1000 pound enema from a fighter or some trooper got one of these bastards lined up in their sights and blew the bastard straight to hell but terrorists killing terrorists makes these bastards just as dead.
Yakko77 on May 1, 2007 at 8:05 AM
Screw that!!!!! Why aren’t you finding out about the CIA’s teleportation machine? Mike Baker disclosed this secret on last night’s O’Reilly Factor, with guest host Michelle Malkin. Richard Perle used said teleportation machine to comment that Iraq needed to pay for 9/11 to CIA chief George Tenet on 9/12 at the White House (because he was really in France until 9/15, and if he didn’t have access to the teleportation machine, because if this isn’t true, then Tenet’s book which mentions this encounter on PAGE 1 isn’t true!!! [Side point: E-mail everyone you know on the Tenet LIE ON PAGE ONE OF HIS BOOK, BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC STILL DOESN'T READ BLOGS AND THE MSM WILL IGNORE THIS!!!])
RightWinged on May 1, 2007 at 8:12 AM
Masri’s dead? Now who will we surrender to? This is very disheartening.
Ringmaster on May 1, 2007 at 8:17 AM
We have BDS, which explains Bush hatred very nicely and the time has come that a catchy phrase or acronymn that conveys the relationship between the terrorists and the dems has come of age.
csdeven on May 1, 2007 at 8:25 AM
I just heard on the radio that it was Sunis that got him.
Drtuddle on May 1, 2007 at 8:32 AM
Been a few good weeks for nabbing/offing terrorists, it seems..
Reaps on May 1, 2007 at 8:32 AM
Please be true. In case it is true, may his 72 virgins all be a perfect mix between Helen Thomas and Rosie O’Donnell.
flutejpl on May 1, 2007 at 8:33 AM
Fox is reporting that the al Anbar Salvation Council is claiming credit for the kill. If this is true, it is better than US troops killing him. This means that Iraqis are stepping up and taking out al Qaeda. This should make everyone happy. Should.
JackStraw on May 1, 2007 at 8:34 AM
If we don’t hurry up and surrender we may accidentally win this thing.
pistolero on May 1, 2007 at 8:37 AM
Jack: “He was a ruthless bastard, I’m glad he’s dead!”
Jaibones on May 1, 2007 at 8:45 AM
Here is an image that will haunt Hillary. Just look how ineffective she APPEARS standing next to the much taller Bill Richardson. Any savvy candidate will exploit her smallness by getting as close as possible in every photo op. It wont mean much to those who are staunch supporters, but there are lots of people who will be swayed by the subliminal image of weakness that presents. If you ever get the chance to watch the Bush/Dukakis debates, there was a video of Bush walking out onto the stage to shake Dukakis’s hand. That image, along with other cartoonish gafs by Dukakis that leave very powerful negative images.
Hillary’s height AND her accent variations are two images she will never overcome and I’m sure there is more to come.
Now, if we can only get some sort of picture that will accent Obama’s ridiculous ears.
csdeven on May 1, 2007 at 8:46 AM
That would be funny if it weren’t true.
csdeven on May 1, 2007 at 8:51 AM
Will al-Qaida in Washington leader Harry Reid be attending the funeral?
JammieWearingFool on May 1, 2007 at 9:08 AM
I know you’re joking :) Funny thing is, the dems are probably seriously saying that — don’t you think?
wytammic on May 1, 2007 at 9:12 AM
It would be great news if its true…meanwhile…
ABC NEWS has this on ABCNEWS.COM -
BREAKING NEWS: SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS THAT REPORTS OF THE DEATH OF HAMZA AL MASRI, LEADER OF AL QAEDA IN IRAQ, ARE UNCONFIRMED AND PART OF A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. DEVELOPING…
CP on May 1, 2007 at 9:21 AM
nah, the dems will spin this…
“see? the iraqis are taking care of their own business, we are free to go byebye now”
flipflopper on May 1, 2007 at 9:26 AM
Fox just reported that the group that killed him will continue their own attacks against americans.
Ouch.
csdeven on May 1, 2007 at 9:31 AM
It isn’t true
tomas on May 1, 2007 at 9:35 AM
If they look anything like Helen or Rosie, it’s a pretty safe bet they’re really virgins!
CurtZHP on May 1, 2007 at 9:48 AM
Rove, you magnificent bastard.
Capturing/killing all these AQ people after the democrats had a vote.
You couldn’t have planned it any better.
I salute you.
lorien1973 on May 1, 2007 at 10:02 AM
ROFLMAO!
csdeven on May 1, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Also expected to continue attacks on Americans…Harry Reid.
CP on May 1, 2007 at 10:09 AM
How many libs cried out “NOOOOOOOooooooo!” when they heard this? When Saddam was captured, lib friend of mine said “Oh great, now Bush is gonna get reelected.” These people would rather lose a war and win an election than win a war and lose an election. Pathetic. Party comes before country.
Tony737 on May 1, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Its the Shiia and the Iranians who are the bigger danger than AQ in Iraq. AQ is mostly a threat to them also.
William Amos on May 1, 2007 at 10:51 AM
But on the other hand, he had a fine singing voice….
ScottG on May 1, 2007 at 11:10 AM
News flash for harry reid: We are NOT losing. IMHO.
tormod on May 1, 2007 at 11:43 AM
I was channeling
RichardHarry Reidpistolero on May 1, 2007 at 12:02 PM
From the Counterterrorism Blog:
CP on May 1, 2007 at 12:04 PM
But this just goes to show that the surge isn’t working. We’ve lost.
(Were’s the sarcasim tag?)
opusrex on May 1, 2007 at 12:05 PM
I hope someone gets a screen capture of ABCNews.com soon. The headline reads: “Al Qaeda Leader in Iraq – Would it Matter if He Were Dead?”
Isn’t this interjecting a Dem talking point into a news story? Then, I thought, “Well, maybe they’re quoting somebody on this…”
Then I read the story. Nope, nary a mention of why it might not matter.
Matticus Finch on May 1, 2007 at 12:07 PM
I’m hoping that they all have penises and he’s the one who is violated….
Tim Burton on May 1, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Well, maybe they don’t have the body, but they have enough of whoever it was to do DNA tests.
I share JackStraw’s hope the Iraqis whacked this tool. It would be a great thing, even if it was mercs, that the Iraqis are willing to face and kill terrorists/insurgents, partiularly leadership. If we’re real lucky, maybe we’ll see Iraqis start to rally a bit to drive out the various vermin in their country.
Bad Candy on May 1, 2007 at 12:11 PM
ABCNEWS lead in headline on the front page: (11:23 CST)
‘Al Queda in Iraq leader killed….will it matter that he is dead?’——
There is nothing we can do. They are invincible. We must accept it.
Limerick on May 1, 2007 at 12:24 PM
You talking the media or al-Qaeda? Or the media’s insistence that al-Qaeda is invincible?
Bad Candy on May 1, 2007 at 12:28 PM
This is the first I have heard of these. It’s great news that our bounties are attracting Sunni’s to hunt down high profile al Qaeda. It means that the desire for a big pay day overcomes the fear of crossing Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.
There has got to be a TV show or a book in Iraqi bounty hunters. The Iraqi equivalent of Dog the bounty hunter.
Bill C on May 1, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Bad Candy….just my Pfffffzzzzzzttttttt to the media for making even GOOD news defeatist. (my skilz ain’t too sharp I kno)
Limerick on May 1, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Let us not jump to conclusions that he is dead until they have confirmation through the DNA tests. If he is dead Nancy Pelosi will require a larger plane to attend his funeral.
robo on May 1, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Of course Al Jazeera is pushing the terrorist winning angle
http://www.aljazeera.net/mritems/images/2007/4/16/1_687070_1_34.jpg
William Amos on May 1, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Again?
crosspatch on May 1, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Bill C–I’m not sure if it’s the money or religion or good social hygiene or what that’s motivating the terrorist hunters. First I had heard of them too, though long ago I linked something about how “death squad” violence is different and actually better than “civil war” violence.
If you look in the trackbacks and follow the link to the Jawa Report, you’ll see that one of the possible whodunnit suspects really is a terrorist group that’s just as happy killing Americans as they are Al-Qaeda.
All this assumes the guy’s really dead, of course. Time for more web recon.
see-dubya on May 1, 2007 at 2:02 PM
Abu Ayyub al-Masri, to Zarquawi “so, dude, how are the virgins?”
Zarquawi “dude, they ran out of them before I got here“.
Scroll down to cartoon number 5 – also, note that the Danish newspaper which ran them, no longer has them available. Dhimmitude and wussitude, the same thing. Good thing that MM captured them for eternity.
Entelechy on May 1, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Well… we DID kill one of the bad guys anyway. If not the kingpin then we’ll get him on the next milkrun. In the end God will judge all so none of these mass murdering Muslims REALLY escapes.
Mojave Mark on May 1, 2007 at 11:00 PM
Same guy under a different name? Or just a typo? Or are there two current stories of dead AQ leader-types?
Freelancer on May 1, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Same guy, different name.
see-dubya on May 1, 2007 at 11:33 PM
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, most of these thugs are opportunists, they change sides more often then Tokyo-Rosie says “google-it” and would (and do) blow up their own mothers and children if it benefits them. The Northern Alliance are a great example of their changing of allegence, they let OBL slip out the back door in Tora Bora by claiming AQ wanted to negotiate a cease fire, it was just a ruse to let OBL get into Pakistan with his life, for a big stack of cash I’m sure.
This is precisely the reason why it never ceases to amaze me that the liberal left even considers attempting to negotiate with these bastards, they never have any intention of living up to their end of any agreements and only use the time to re-arm, re-group, and plan their next move against us!
Reminds me of a song…”smile in your face…all the time they wanna’ take your place…the back stabbers…”
Liberty or Death on May 2, 2007 at 1:30 AM
There’s a very important point touched on there. The U.S. should have learned long ago that while the Koran teaches against lying, many modern islamic clerical types say that making then breaking a deal to gain political, economic or personal advantage is fine if the other party to the deal is an infidel. Since we aren’t really humans to them, their lies aren’t counted against them as sin by those standards.
Consider what happened in Afghanistan. Many locals joined the Taliban when it siezed power, because it was expedient. Many of those same turned against them instantly when the U.S. started clobbering the Taliban. There is no consistency, no loyalty, no alliegance that cannot be betrayed if it saves your skin.
Freelancer on May 2, 2007 at 2:56 AM
But he was such a strong contender for the Time Top 100.
Josephine on May 2, 2007 at 7:19 AM
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