From guest blogger Corinne Reilly, Merced Sun-Star:
Short answer: Who knows?
On April 23, Iraqi security officials announced they had arrested Abu Omar al Baghdadi, who they claim is the head of al Qaida in Iraq. As Iraqi officials tell it, he is the elusive mastermind behind scores of attacks against innocent civilians here, and his capture severly undermines al Qaida's ability to kill. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki called Baghdadi "the head of evil."
But it's uncertain whether the man in custody is actually Baghdadi, and there are even questions over whether Baghdadi is real.
Iraqi officials have claimed to have captured or killed Baghdadi several times before, and they've been wrong every time. U.S. military officials have said in the past that they that think Baghdadi may be a fictional character meant to give a local face to a foreign-led terrorist organization.
So far this time, the Iraqis haven't backtracked. But they also have yet to provide any proof they have him, except for one grainy headshot broadcast on state television this week. It's anyone's guess as to how officials might prove Baghdadi is who they say he is, however.
American officials aren't offering any more answers. Maj. Gen. David Perkins, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, told reporters here Friday that the Americans have yet to see Baghdadi.
"We have not had any access to him," Perkins said. "We are in discussions with the Iraqis to determine how we can confirm or deny who he is."
Adding to doubts that the true head of al Qaida in Iraq is behind bars is the fact that Iraqi officials stand to gain by fibbing about his arrest. They may be using it to try to bolster confidence in Iraq's security forces ahead of an upcoming drawdown in U.S. troops here. There's widespread fear among Iraqis that violence will increase when Americans leave Iraqi cities at the end of June, a timeline mandated by the Iraqi government.
So for now, reporters and the public are waiting for more information, which Iraqi officials have promised to provide. No word on when it might come.
But it's uncertain whether the man in custody is actually Baghdadi, and there are even questions over whether Baghdadi is real.
Iraqi officials have claimed to have captured or killed Baghdadi several times before, and they've been wrong every time. U.S. military officials have said in the past that they that think Baghdadi may be a fictional character meant to give a local face to a foreign-led terrorist organization.
So far this time, the Iraqis haven't backtracked. But they also have yet to provide any proof they have him, except for one grainy headshot broadcast on state television this week. It's anyone's guess as to how officials might prove Baghdadi is who they say he is, however.
American officials aren't offering any more answers. Maj. Gen. David Perkins, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, told reporters here Friday that the Americans have yet to see Baghdadi.
"We have not had any access to him," Perkins said. "We are in discussions with the Iraqis to determine how we can confirm or deny who he is."
Adding to doubts that the true head of al Qaida in Iraq is behind bars is the fact that Iraqi officials stand to gain by fibbing about his arrest. They may be using it to try to bolster confidence in Iraq's security forces ahead of an upcoming drawdown in U.S. troops here. There's widespread fear among Iraqis that violence will increase when Americans leave Iraqi cities at the end of June, a timeline mandated by the Iraqi government.
So for now, reporters and the public are waiting for more information, which Iraqi officials have promised to provide. No word on when it might come.
AQI? That's the only group opposing the US in Iraq I assume since it is the only one I ever read about- and it is the only one Americans have ever heard about in their media. The same guys who attacked the US on 9/11 right?
I mean only fanatics from an evil group of terrorists like AQI could possibly oppose the noble good selfless Paladins of the US military in Iraq who are just there to help everyone.
Great reporting. Keep it up.
Posted by: Chris Dowd | May 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM