DAR AL ISLAM - IRAQ: ABU SHAHED, THE SONG BIRD...OF COURSE IT COULD BE JUST A PACK OF LIES [TAQIYYA]

Terror leader exposes network
By Sara A. Carter and Stephen Dinan

U.S. military officials say that a recently captured top al Qaeda leader in Iraq is fully cooperating with coalition forces and shedding light on the terrorist network.

Khalid Abdul Fatah Da"ud Mahmud al-Mashadani [The length of his 'name' must establish his lineage to Old Mo' himself...LOLOL...ed. A.I.] , also known as Abu Shahed and the top Iraqi member of al Qaeda in Iraq, was taken from his home July 4 in the northern city of Mosul by coalition forces. Al-Mashadani, who has been cooperating with the U.S. forces since his capture two weeks ago, played a crucial role in al Qaeda's propaganda machine, said Rear Adm. Gregory Smith in a telephone call from Iraq yesterday with The Washington Times.

The capture of al-Mashadani was announced yesterday in Baghdad, one day after the administration released declassified portions of a new National Intelligence Estimate on the threat of terrorism, particularly from al Qaeda, against the U.S. homeland.

Al-Mashadani's cooperation with U.S. officials stemmed from his "strong sense of nationalism" and "anger" that foreign al Qaeda operatives were creating a false front and using Iraq as a staging ground for their own gain, said Adm. Smith, who is deputy director of public relations with the U.S.-led coalition forces.

U.S. intelligence officials had long thought that the Islamic State of Iraq, which al Qaeda in Iraq had declared, was "nothing more than a front for foreign al Qaeda operatives," he added.

"One of the greatest weapons of al Qaeda is their propaganda machine," Adm. Smith said. "He was their main propaganda machine. I think his capture has great significance inside Iraq. He was the most senior member with authority and taking him out will have impact."

But his capture doesn't necessarily mean someone else won't take his place.

"Certainly, they've obviously been able to regenerate leadership," Adm. Smith said. "Replacing a top official like al-Mashadani won't be easy. But his capture is a blow to al Qaeda in Iraq. Over the past six months, coalition forces have been gathering intelligence and putting pressure on the insurgents. Al Qaeda in Pakistan is using Iraq to create energy for their broadest jihad movement."

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Pertinent Links:

1) Terror leader exposes network