Iraq Developments: Intelligence Leading to Mastermind
The United States believes it has gathered intelligence pointing to the man financing and coordinating attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq, Pentagon sources told CNN Wednesday.
Former Iraqi Gen. Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri is suspected of carrying out the attacks, possibly with help from Iraqi regime loyalists and "foreign fighters," sources said.
However, FBI Director Robert Mueller, whose agency is assisting in the investigation of recent terrorist attacks in Iraq, said it would be "premature" to lay responsibility for a wave of recent bombings "at the feet of any one entity."
Get the rest of this story from CNN.
Matt's Chat
I wonder how many more of these "masterminds" we have left to track down. It is clear that the intelligence capabilities that we are employing are taking their sweet time to wo be effective, but they are delivering. I know our troops will find this guy and whoever else is left and deal with them accordingly. I am still amazed at how far we've come in Iraq with such few casualties, especially considering what they are facing.I am not one of those who makes light of terrorists. I do think they are crafty people bent on destruction. Does that make them more or less dangerous than a standing army? An army can be met on the battlefield, and america has the strongest, best, and brightest military in the world. But when the enemy hides among the populace and strikes unconventionally, I am not so sure that our military advantage comes in to play. Our Special Forces units need to be leading this fight and our intelligence gathering capabilities need to strengthened and enhanced. This is a non-traditional conflict, it is time we start thinking outside of the box. Isn't that what the Rumsfeld memo was all about?
Mark's Remarks
NO, Matt, the Rumsfeld memo was about doubts in Bush, don't you know? Just ask liberals..that is what they think. They encourage Americans to be so squeamish and lacking of fortitude, have encouraged us to view war as a video game, and not be able to understand that we are dealing with real people, and that in REAL war, some people are going to die. It is sad, but those are the facts of war.
As far as terrorists, they are the most dangerous enemy we face, and the ones most necessary and at the forefront of needing to be defeated. However, Matt, you are right in saying we need to think outside of the box. These animals are not bound by rules of engagement, they do not value innocent life, they do not value life itself. They seek only their own ideas of power. While we have been fighting a just and fair campaign (with the few exceptions we have reported on here), these animals have targeted health centers, relief agencies....We need to fight these animals not just in the field but in the world of ideas. We need more than ever, to get the Iraqi people behind us, as well as the rest of the Arab world. These people have been brainwashed by fanatics over the years, and believe that nonsense that God rewards evil actions...Would a just and loving God really reward killing people working in an office building, or people being treated in a health center? That logic falls apart, to me....even taking an agnostic view....though I am a Christian. I find it hard to believe that Allah, Jehovah, or God would justify the murder of innocents for political gain. yet that is what the Osamas, the Ayatollahs, the Saddams of the world do. WE need to tell people that killing is not the answer, that there are other recourses besides torture and murder and car bombings. We need to get the word out, and not bicker among ourselves over this and that.
As far as this mastermind, I do not care if he is behind the latest rash of attacks or not. He is a loyalist, and he must be brought to justice for the hate crimes and crimes against Iraqis that he perpetuated and witnessed and encouraged during Saddam's regime.
