U.S. source on Syria raid: We got our man
posted at 2:40 pm on October 27, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Good news but not great news. Clearly they were hoping to take him alive for his intel value or else they wouldn’t have put boots on the ground.
They did nab two people, both of whom were presumably smaller fish.
A U.S. strike on a network of foreign fighters in Syria killed its main target — an Al Qaeda coordinator who was wanted for sending foreign fighters, weapons and cash into Iraq, a U.S. official told FOX News.
Killed in Sunday’s attack by Special Operations Forces was Abu Ghadiyain, Al Qaeda’s senior coordinator operating in Syria who was closely associated with the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Roggio actually ID’d the target before Fox did. How big was this guy? Not a great white, perhaps, but easily a barracuda:
US special operations hunter-killer teams entered Syria in an attempt to capture Abu Ghadiya, a senior al Qaeda leader who has been in charge of the Syrian network since 2005. US intelligence analysts identified Ghadiya as the leader of the Syrian network, The Washington Post reported in July. Ghadiya was identified as a “major target” by the US military in February 2008…
Ghadiya, whose real name is Badran Turki Hishan al Mazidih, is an Iraqi from the northern city of Mosul. Ghadiya succeeded Suleiman Khalid Darwish, a Syrian national and lieutenant of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the former leader of al Qaeda in Iraq who was killed by US forces in June 2006. US forces killed Darwish in a raid in Al Qaim in June 2005.
Several senior intel officials confirm that the raid took place. An interesting footnote: Maj. Gen. Kelly mentioned to U.S. News last week as an example of the cross-border threat from Syria a raid that had killed 11 Iraqi policemen. “We know the guy who did it, AQI guy,” he said, calling him, “Kind of a big dog who works with Syrian intelligence.” Today an Iraqi government spokesman claimed that the Syria raid was aimed at a group that had killed 13 Iraqi police recruits, and that they’d asked Assad at least once before to hand them over. Whether he and Kelly are talking about the same outfit — namely, Ghadiya’s — is hard to tell, but it’s a curious coincidence.
Needless to say, the fact that our intelligence and capabilities were good enough to pinpoint this guy in another country and take him out tells you a lot about the state of AQI right now. Exit question: Has any enterprising journalist thought to query McCain or Obama about this yet? The One is, at the moment, probably the most famous proponent of cross-border raids in America. Is his fondness for them limited to Pakistan or is Syria included too? Maybe we can get someone from the cast of “Saved by the Bell” to ask him.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Thank you, Pres. Bush and our armed forces.
Pasalubong on October 27, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Good job W, we will miss you when you are gone.
Maxx on October 27, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Careful how you use barracuda…that’s a term of endearment now…
Way to go! Our soldiers are the best!
joepub on October 27, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Assad is not pleased. Too F’ing Bad.
BKennedy on October 27, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Odd choice of comparison Allah, given the wide amount of carnivorous fish to choose from ;P I keed, I keed
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 2:44 PM
This thread will need a theme,
Queen’s tune,the terrorists bite the dust!!
canopfor on October 27, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Take out as many as we can before January 20th. Just in case……
J.J. Sefton on October 27, 2008 at 2:45 PM
The media are too busy asking Obama hard-hitting questions like: “Can I have your autograph?” and too busy asking McCain about Sarah Palin’s wardrobe. You know, because sexism is bad.
Montana on October 27, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Heh. I have a feeling Obama will sidetrack the question and talk about bin Laden still being out there. But yeah, its an interesting question…maybe he can have Screech ask him which countries are ok for those raids, and which aren’t.
changer1701 on October 27, 2008 at 2:46 PM
My second favorite part of this is that Russia is upset.
Russia, the country that sends in a battalion of drunks to kill, rape and plunder innocent civilians in Georgia is upset.
Awesome!
Hening on October 27, 2008 at 2:46 PM
God bless our most wonderful military and their families. Thank you President Bush, you have done a good job keeping us safe from the rop.
L
letget on October 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Drudge has a link that villagers near the strike said TWO men were taken out. What gives.
bloggless on October 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM
And another one’s gone
And another one’s gone
Another one bites the dust yeah
Hey, they’re gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Another room temp lunatic!
Bravo and HoooRah!
HoosierCon on October 27, 2008 at 2:49 PM
A great fear I have for our military is; We will someday get an extremly liberal president who will bow to international pressure and allow US military personnel to be tried with Crimes Against Humanity and our president will turn these soldiers over to an international court. If you don’t think this could happen, you need to think again.
Tommy_G on October 27, 2008 at 2:49 PM
I agree with JJ. I think you will see a ton of action the day after election day. W is going to go out in a blaze.
Dirthead on October 27, 2008 at 2:49 PM
THANK YOU W !!
And all of our troops !
Top of the line !! (for now, at least)
pambi on October 27, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Maybe someone should ask Tony Rezko?
Rezko was born in 1955 in Aleppo, Syria
Dr Evil on October 27, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Clinton spent his last hours in office pardoning criminals.
Bush spends his last hours in office bombing criminals.
:)
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Thank you, Pres. Bush and our armed forces.
Pasalubong on October 27, 2008 at 2:42 PM
________________________________________________________
DITTO THAT!!!
christene on October 27, 2008 at 2:52 PM
I think both side need to simmer down
tomas on October 27, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Love the picture of W. Even when he has me wanting to pull my hair out (and this is NOT one of those times) I can’t help liking the man.
Thank you, President Bush, for working so hard, against obstacles foreign and domestic, to keep us safe these past 7 years and counting. Well done!
Heartfelt gratitude and admiration for our men in uniform. God bless you!
pannw on October 27, 2008 at 2:53 PM
What is room temperature this time of year in Syria?
sdd on October 27, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Grue what ya snacking on over there?
Can I have some? Nervous eating isnt good for your health :)
HoosierCon on October 27, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Now, could you nab OBL and do so with pictures and/or video before next Tuesday please?
jp on October 27, 2008 at 2:54 PM
I wonder if AQI sees the pattern? To wit:
1. Abu Musab al Zarqawi – KIA
2. Suleiman Khalid Darwish – KIA(?)
3. Badran Turki Hishan al Mazidih – KIA
Andy in Agoura Hills on October 27, 2008 at 2:54 PM
No. Obama’s only interested in attacking our allies.
nukemhill on October 27, 2008 at 2:55 PM
This is the Bush Doctrine. If you harbor terrorist that are killing Americans, then you are most likely subject to attack.
tdavisjr on October 27, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Meanwhile,overheard at Team Obama,lets listen!
Obama: How can I say this,um ah,I don’t care what
the terrorists do,ah,um,just leave me ah
alone,and ah I will ah leave them alone!
Ah um besides, ah,how could ah,or ah I ah
say this,um,I’m to busy ah trying to ah make
ah America ah an image ah and ah um likeness
ah um of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Snark)haha
canopfor on October 27, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Dude! That just sounds scary.
BadgerHawk on October 27, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Thank you Pres Bush …and thanks for $2.37 gas again, I know you get blamed for every penny it increases, so I just figured it works both ways.
Alden Pyle on October 27, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Clinton spent his last hours in office pardoning criminals.
Bush spends his last hours in office bombing criminals.
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
+1000
pambi on October 27, 2008 at 2:58 PM
GO “W” Take that Oliver Stone – you pathetic movie maker.
Kevin in Washington State on October 27, 2008 at 2:58 PM
And away we go. Conspiracy theories abound.
Cross-border attacks in Syria and Pakistan are not coincidence
Yeah. OK.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on October 27, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Moonbat Ribs in BBQ sauce. Enough for everyone :D
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 2:59 PM
And totally awesome!… which is why they will be sent to The Hague under President Obama.
Pasalubong on October 27, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Have either McCain or Obama said anything about the attack?
I’m pretty sure McCain will back it, but will Obama want to look like a hawk or a peacenik?
uptight on October 27, 2008 at 3:01 PM
*bows*
*then eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 3:01 PM
“Duh, uhhh, errr, ahh, uuhhh, ehhh…”
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
High of 72 today in Damascus, tomorrow chance of rain and high of 69.
Tommy_G on October 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
W, True Grit
faraway on October 27, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Way to go, Mr. President!
Hmmm, Kim Jong Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are both currently in bad health…coincidence?
CP on October 27, 2008 at 3:03 PM
But talking to Assad would have solved this without bloodshed.
What creeps me out the most is not that Obama spews nonsense like this daily, but that his supporters eat it up. Talk about the “reality-based” community. *spits*
VolMagic on October 27, 2008 at 3:03 PM
That thumbs-up photo of W. and the caption “score” underneath, easily my favorite. I get a thrill up my leg everytime I see it.
ThePrez on October 27, 2008 at 3:05 PM
I like Ace’s headline better.
Taliban Leader Dies of Body Dysmorphic Hallucination Syndrome as Well as Predator-Inflicted Geniune Body Dysmorphism, But Mostly Genuine Body Dysmorphism
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on October 27, 2008 at 3:06 PM
hunter killer teams
Dude! That just sounds scary.
BadgerHawk on Oct 27,2008 at 2:56PM.
BadgerHawk:(Hunter Killer Team),Sounds like a Moose hunt!
Haha:)
canopfor on October 27, 2008 at 3:07 PM
grue… moonbat BBQ is best with a draw of Jameson for libation and habanero sauce on the wings… far more palatable, wouldn’t you agree.?
MNDavenotPC on October 27, 2008 at 3:07 PM
High of 72 today in Damascus, tomorrow chance of rain and high of 69.
Tommy_G on October 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
The last day of Bush’s Presidency, both Damascus and Tehran should expect highs of one million degrees with scattered mushroom clouds.
If only. *sigh*
Bishop on October 27, 2008 at 3:08 PM
With Saddam being worm feces by now and these 2 ailing, one might think being a leader in the axis of evil wasn’t healthy or something.
trubble on October 27, 2008 at 3:10 PM
I want to be in charge of a few Special Ops Hunter/Killer Teams!!!!
Man what fun! Just think of how much better your yearly review with your boss would go with a Special Ops Hunter/Killer Team securing the office before you enter!!!!
Bwaaaahhahhhhhaaaaaaa!
HoosierCon on October 27, 2008 at 3:11 PM
To quote Montgomery Burns:
“Excellent”.
As for being killed, not captured, good. Now we won’t have to worry about giving him his Miranda rights or a lawyer.
rbj on October 27, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Prolonged stress can do that to you.
Count to 10 on October 27, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Looks like someone had a bad day and won’t be on the job tomorrow… Well done, War-fighters.
Claypigeon on October 27, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Perhaps they did take him alive…
CliffHanger on October 27, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Semper Fi.
Johan Klaus on October 27, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Nah. Too much collateral damage.
Its more a job for smart weapons.
Count to 10 on October 27, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Ya do what ya gotta do. Good work.
johnnyU on October 27, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Way to go W.
Geronimo on October 27, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Oh indubitably. But they won’t let me have the Jameson at work.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 3:26 PM
… an Al Qaeda coordinator who was wanted for sending foreign fighters, weapons and cash into Iraq …
Is that sorta like a community organizer?
Good work guys! Keep it up, and thankyouthankyouthankyou!
Tony737 on October 27, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Died of coronary artery disease and massive head trauma, but mostly trauma.
moxie_neanderthal on October 27, 2008 at 3:32 PM
…..President Obama declines military commanders repeated requests to cross Syrian border……..
subbottomfeeder on October 27, 2008 at 3:37 PM
BadgerHawk on October 27, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Truth in advertising!
dmann on October 27, 2008 at 3:41 PM
I wonder if Ahmadinejad’s “exhaustion” is code for “hiding in a bunker because he is scared”?
exhelodrvr on October 27, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Intel, schmintel. With the way our laws are regarding these “combatants”, this slimy terrorist would be living in the lap of luxury in Washington DC in no time at all. With relatives, of course, who would keep tabs on him, he could easily become a model citizen. All things considered, room temperature is better.
marybel on October 27, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Innadinnajacket will be taking “not delivery, Dijorno” for a while, it seems :D
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 27, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Obama should be taken into custody.
marklmail on October 27, 2008 at 3:56 PM
While the others are playing in the sand box, W is doing his thing, keeping us and Iraq safe.
I know history will treat him better then he has been treated presently.
right2bright on October 27, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Breaking news:
They found ACORN voter registration material in the compound they raided…ACORN say they are not responsible for their workers, and that the workers overstepped their authority.
right2bright on October 27, 2008 at 4:44 PM
HA! I would love to see the headlines:
U.S. MILITARY TAKES OUT SYRIAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
right2bright on October 27, 2008 at 4:46 PM
That before or after the libs disband the military, to balance the budget of course.
docdave on October 27, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Obama will say it was necessary…that he was not informed of specifics, and until he is in charge we have to hope that the president makes wise decisions. It is best not to comment this close to election, I do not want to make this a campaign issue when we don’t know the facts.
What else can he say, his base gets the nod and wink, and the others will think he is wise.
right2bright on October 27, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Damnit I love Bush. Our forces did a superb job, but without a strong leader to say “f**k it, go in there and get em’” these jihadis would never be killed or brought to justice.
DarkeningCloud on October 27, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Great job, George!
Travis1 on October 27, 2008 at 5:01 PM
R.I.Pieces, terrorists.
Amen, let’s hope he keeps it up until Inauguration day. I believe the message to Syria is simple: BACK OFF!
Hope they get the hint this time.
bryan2369 on October 27, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Only if they’re lookin’ for you.
Oldnuke on October 27, 2008 at 5:55 PM
…kudos…well said….
…in the end, we will see which will prove the more effective….
…if the next president is Mr. McCain, the bombing will continue…if the next president is Mr. Obama, the terrorists will continue….
…then again, who knows…Mr. Obama and terrorists speak the same language….
Puritan1648 on October 27, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I guess they gotta get as many as they can before Obama puts them in his cabinet.
Grafted on October 27, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Sweet!
mindhacker on October 27, 2008 at 6:02 PM
By the way, lets be a bit more restrictive with the term barracuda. >:(
mindhacker on October 27, 2008 at 6:05 PM
“in America”, like, bombing the Pentagon.
Josiah on October 27, 2008 at 6:23 PM
High Fives to both President Bush and all the Special Forces people involved in this very successful Syria mission.
And a special thanks and Golden Bullet Award to whoever was the Special Forces trooper who gave Abu Ghadiya his terminal case of lead poisoning.
DavePa on October 27, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Noted educator William Ayers, when asked for a comment on the violent attack on the sovereign territory on UN member nation Syria, “I highly disapprove of acts of violence, especially if bombs were involved.”
fred5678 on October 27, 2008 at 7:01 PM
This is the difference between targeting with “boots on the ground” and targeting with a few cruise missiles launched from a cruiser out in the Arabian Sea.
I know Mr. McCain knows the difference, but it doesn’t seem like Mr. Obama does. Hopefully, as details emerge, it will become clear even to him.
‘Kudos to the brave guys who did this, as well as their support. Awesome.
unclesmrgol on October 27, 2008 at 7:08 PM
I wonder if Assad wanted to save face, give the nod for the raid, even point to where they are, cry about it afterwards, but it was better than turning them over.
If I was a terrorist leader, that is how I would do it.
WoosterOh on October 27, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Firstly there is no such thing as smart bombs when you and your family are underneath it.
The U.S action’s are destabilising,couterproductive and some times disastrous.To reduce the ‘war on terror’to a deadly random game of bandit’s.
Uni-lateral act of war,no interest in consequences and other countries thoughts.
Syria has established diplomatic relations and rounds of indirect talks with Israel,Turkey being the broker.
Niclas Sarkosy was dealing directly with Assad,who helped to end Lebanon’s prolonged political crisis.
The aim was to woo syria away from Iran,syrian foreign minister is meeting our foreign sec. in London today.Petraeus even praised Syria’s co-operation in reducing violence in Iraq.
There is nothing clinical about this attack,the images of the 3 dead children are available.
‘Who benefit’s from this? Bush? McCain?
It’s Iran that benefit’s the most as joint victim’s which makes any further co-operation unlikely.
Baghdad didn’t know about the attack from their border,which makes them look weak and just puppets for the U.S .
It is sad to see the decline of America, what have you become?
mags on October 27, 2008 at 8:43 PM
It’s about damn time.
But if Hussein wins, he’ll apologize and allow Syria to strike a U.S. city to even the playing field.
madmonkphotog on October 27, 2008 at 9:58 PM
In the meantime, Al Qaeda is reburying Bin Laden’s bones deeper underground. If the world found out UBL is already dead, they’d loose all credibility with their terrorist Muhammedan buddies ’round the world.
desertdweller on October 28, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Oh the timing of it all. Paaalease…
We’re trying to conclude our dealings in Iraq and when we nail some lead terrorist making it harder on us, it gets questioned? This war doesn;t take vacation, and the element of surprise obviously was in play. Chalk up one for our men and women in uniform and the lives they saved down the line for doing what they just did!
johnnyU on October 28, 2008 at 1:12 AM
If the free world took your attitude, and if I were allowed to live, i would be speaking German instead of English.
OldEnglish on October 28, 2008 at 2:13 AM
Countries which willfully allow terrorists to establish bases in their territory with the purpose of supporting attacks against the US or her allies may face consequences.
DarkCurrent on October 28, 2008 at 8:40 AM
DarkCurrent,
If we thought bombing the crap out of everything works then we would be for it.Please listen to other countries experiences and insight into terrorism.
Did you know it didn’t start on 9/11.I.R.A terrorists funded and politically supported by the U.S had been killing British and Irish civilians.
The ‘real’ I.R.A only went on your terrorist list AFTER 9/11.To this day you won’t extradite wanted I.R.A thugs because-wait for it- they won’t get a fair trial.
‘Shoulder to shoulder’,closest allie my arse,drinks were being sold in Boston called ‘kill a brit’ and ‘car bomb’.
Collection’s for the cause.Maybe we should of carpet bombed boston and new york.
So excuse us for questioning America’s belief it can carry out act’s of war ,kill at will depending on who they decide are terrorists.
You don’t give a shit about your allies-whoever you think they are? What allies? Bush has alienated and isolated your country,this is what threaten’s your safety.
mags on October 28, 2008 at 10:16 AM
First of all, our troops do not “bomb the crap out of everything”. Sometimes they are overly cautious to their own great risk. I suggest you read the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.
When you claim that the IRA was funded and supported by the US, you distort the facts. There are individual American citizens that did so, but as a country we did not. Our government didn’t. How many British citizens independently support Al Qaeda? I’m no expert on the conflicts in Northern Ireland, so I won’t pretend to know how and why things have been handled the way they are, but I do know enough to think there is blame enough to go around on both sides of that issue, though I would never condone terrorist tactics targeting innocent civilians which seem to have come from both sides of the conflict. The UVF was omitted from the list as well was it not?
As far as a ‘fair trial’ goes, why on earth could the US government possibly think that a country which to this day discriminates against Catholics by not allowing them to marry a Royal unless said Royal renounces any claims to the throne would not undoubtedly give suspected IRA members a fair trial? /sarc]
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/08/03/royal-marriage.html
So what advice do they give? Appeasement, as with the Spanish following the train bombing prior to their elections in ‘04? Go Socialist and pull out of the war on terror in Iraq?
Maybe if the US does the same, peace will reign down on the world, right? The Muslims will be happy that we western infidels aren’t in ‘their lands’ and all problems solved? Oh, wait, maybe we should just go ahead and pull all our people/business/influences out of France and England already, since Muslims seem to be annexing those places as well.
Enjoy your Sharia law. We don’t want it!
pannw on October 28, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Comment pages: