Iraq arrests Zarqawi's top assassin

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The top assassin for terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi has been captured in Iraq, as the U.S. military ratchets up pre-election raids to find and destroy the insurgency's ability to make its main weapon -- deadly improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Iraqi government yesterday announced the Jan. 15 arrest of Abu Omar al-Kurdi (also known as Sami Mohammed Ali Said al-Jaaf), a member of Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq terror operation that specializes in suicide car bombings.

The government thinks al-Kurdi, a skilled bomb maker, executed some of the most deadly assassinations and mass killings across the country.

A Pentagon adviser said that although it is difficult to judge whether the capture disrupts the Zarqawi organization, it does provide intelligence benefits.

"A very important side benefit from capturing that senior fellow is that it lights up the Christmas tree," the adviser said. "What that means is, it starts them talking. They start communicating with each other, and it increases the chances of electronic intercepts. Plus, he knows names. He knows people. He knows contacts. He knows sources. It could be very damaging."

Added a Special Forces soldier who has been overseas hunting terrorists, "These dirtbags have been used to the thought that they are anonymous and invulnerable."

But "when caught, they squeal like pigs and give up their 'brothers.' It demoralizes those that take their place. To many of them, being caught and humiliated is worse than death/martyrdom," he said.

With the Iraq war approaching the two-year mark, the Bush administration will ask Congress today for a new supplemental budget of $80 billion for 2005. It will cover costs in Afghanistan, as well as Iraq, bringing the combined cost for both wars to more than $300 billion.

A regular fiscal defense budget for 2006 of more than $400 billion will be presented to Congress next month.

An Iraqi government spokesman said al-Kurdi admitted to conducting 32 of the bloodiest bombings in Iraq. He had been personally ordered by Zarqawi to unleash more bloodshed to disrupt Sunday's national elections.