The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Water Cooler
    • Letters
    • Cartoons
    • Books
  • Sports
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Communities
  • Rebate Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Business

    Toyota's bumpy ride began with race for growth

  • Security

    Chinese see U.S. debt as weapon in Taiwan dispute

  • World

    Obama ratchets up Iran sanctions threat

  • National

    Mid-Atlantic braces for new wallop of snow

  • Business

    European economies facing grim times

  • Politics

    Obama rejects starting over on health care

  • Politics

    Illegal immigration fell sharply in '08

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Iraq arrests Zarqawi's top assassin

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen

More Stories

  • Obama tells GOP it needs to budge
  • Dems seek quick fix on campaign finance
  • 1 million fewer illegals in U.S., study says
  • First lady takes on childhood obesity

By

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.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Stimulus foes see value in seeking cash
  2. Va. Senate OKs ban on sexual orientation bias
  3. Another storm approaches Mid-Atlantic
  4. Obama's bipartisan call hits wall of dissent
  5. Ayatollah: Iran's military will 'punch' West
More Top Stories »
  1. LYNCH: Drug czar should go
  2. Clinton: Islamist terror is No. 1 threat
  3. Md. may fine for piercing minors without parental OK
  4. Army warned about jihadist threat in '08
  5. Inside the Beltway

Most Shared

  1. Stimulus foes see value in seeking cash
  2. BLANKLEY: Palin delivers sparkle, warmth
  3. Army warned about jihadist threat in '08
  4. New federal office for global warming
  5. STEYN: The 'corpseman' cometh
More Top Stories »
  1. Drive down debt, or we will be driven down
  2. Ayatollah: Iran's military will 'punch' West
  3. PRUDEN: Hatching the Silly Bowl
  4. Obama's bipartisan call hits wall of dissent
  5. EDITORIAL: Free the Baptist 10 in Haiti

Most Commented

  1. Obama's bipartisan call hits wall of dissent
  2. Palin: President run may be 'right thing'
  3. New federal office for global warming
  4. Clinton: Islamist terror is No. 1 threat
  5. BLANKLEY: Palin delivers sparkle, warmth
More Top Stories »
  1. Rep. Murtha dies at age 77
  2. Prop. 8 trial stirs questions, emotions
  3. EDITORIAL: Free the Baptist 10 in Haiti
  4. Ayatollah: Iran's military will 'punch' West
  5. Obama rejects starting over on health care

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    White House communications chief to treat Fox differently than ABC, NBC

  • Belief Blog

    Anglican day of reckoning coming

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    (Almost) All about Apple's iPad

  • Redskins 360

    This is goodbye ... for now

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.