May 3, 2007

U.S. Says Senior Al Qaeda Leader Killed

Key Propagandist Has Been Linked To Kidnappings Of Jill Carroll, Tom Fox And Others

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  • A soldier stands next to a picture of Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jubouri displayed at a news conference in Baghdad given by U.S. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, spokesman of the Multi-National Force Iraq, on May 3, 2007.

    A soldier stands next to a picture of Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jubouri displayed at a news conference in Baghdad given by U.S. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, spokesman of the Multi-National Force Iraq, on May 3, 2007.  (AP)

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(CBS/AP)  U.S.-led forces killed a top al Qaeda figure linked to kidnappings of Westerners, including a U.S. journalist and a slain peace activist from Virginia, the military said Thursday. Mourners gathered at his home in a Sunni insurgent stronghold north of Baghdad.

In political developments, Sunni politicians accused Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of refusing to share power, as Iraq came under pressure from its neighbors to include all factions in decision-making.

The strongly worded statement by the National Accordance Front, which has 44 of parliament's 275 seats, did not issue a direct ultimatum but was issued on the opening day of a major international conference on Iraq in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik in a bid to remind the world of what the group sees as the gross failings of al-Maliki's government.

The announcement of the death of al Qaeda propagandist Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jubouri came after days of conflicting government reports that the top leaders of the terror group and its front organization — the Islamic State of Iraq — had been killed.

In other developments:

  • The military is putting already-strained troops at greater risk of mental health problems because of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, a Pentagon panel said Thursday in warning of an overburdened health system.

  • The U.S. should not shirk its responsibilities as a global leader or withdraw from the fight against terrorists just because Americans are weary of the fight, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. Two days after President Bush vetoed legislation setting a deadline for a troop withdrawal from Iraq, Gates said there is no end in sight to the long war against violent extremists. "Our country is troubled and divided by a long and difficult war, a war whose end is not yet in sight," Gates said in remarks prepared for delivery to the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

  • Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Syria's foreign minister Thursday during a regional conference on Iraq in the first high-level talks between the two countries in years. The main topic of discussion will be Syria's border with Iraq, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar. The United States has long accused Syria of allowing foreign insurgents to enter Iraq through its borders.

  • Nearly 4,000 American soldiers are pouring into Baghdad this week, the fourth of five brigades being sent to strengthen an 11-week-old crackdown aimed at quelling sectarian violence, the U.S. military said Wednesday.

  • Four Filipino contractors working for the U.S. government were killed in a rocket attack on the heavily fortified Green Zone, the American Embassy said Thursday. It was the third straight day that the U.S.-controlled area in central Baghdad was hit by rockets or mortars, heightening concerns about security in the area that is home to the U.S. and British embassies and thousands of American troops.

    Chief spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the military did not have the bodies of al Qaeda boss Abu Ayyub al-Masri or Islamic State leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and did not know "of anybody that does."

    He said the confusion apparently stemmed from misunderstandings by Iraqi security forces as al-Jubouri's body was being transported in Baghdad after it was released to his tribe. But he played down implications that it was a symptom of a broader problem of communication between U.S. and Iraqi forces, saying instead it showed that the Iraqis were doing their jobs.

    "They at least knew that they had somebody who was very significant," he said, adding that was "a very positive thing.”"

    The Islamic State of Iraq confirmed in an Internet statement that al-Jubouri, whom it called its official spokesman, had been killed, but it denied the death of al-Baghdadi.

    Continued



    © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
    Add a Comment See all 153 Comments
    by sharncedar May 6, 2007 10:59 AM EDT
    "Senior propagandist" means exactly what. I would guess it means a journalist, nes pas? Good to know the CIA got another journalist, not the first one they've killed in this "war on America".
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 May 4, 2007 1:39 AM EDT
    Re: "Key Propagandist Has Been Linked To Kidnappings Of Jill Carroll"

    How ironic that CBS would "link" this "propagandist" for us, by way of this unsupported article, by some unnamed and unknown author.

    As far as I can tell, "al Qaeda-in-Iraq" is probably little more than a CIA/Mossad, black-bag-psy-ops campaign, aimed at managing public opinion using dirty tricks.

    Anyone who "believes" all of the Bush regime successes over the past week, a week where Resident Bu$h vetoed the war of terror spending bill- anyone that swallows these successes without question, must be a coincidence theorist.
    Reply to this comment
    by king77shaw May 4, 2007 1:21 AM EDT
    nice to see we're getting our billions worth
    Reply to this comment
    by king77shaw May 4, 2007 1:18 AM EDT
    things are looking up !
    Reply to this comment
    by opfor311 May 3, 2007 10:38 PM EDT
    Did we kill another "Number Two"?
    Posted by incog-nito

    Looks like it....Mr. Lizard's gonna need another Timmy.....
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 3, 2007 9:35 PM EDT
    Catch ya later, my sister just pulled into town.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 3, 2007 9:34 PM EDT
    badaxmofo,,, We'll see... But don't put much stock in it.. Everyone of Bush's appointees have been incompetent.
    Reply to this comment
    by bluestardad May 3, 2007 9:31 PM EDT
    BUSH CHENEY HAS GOT TO GO! hey bush is sending al Qaeda money in northern Lebanon!


    According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted in June, 52 percent of Americans now believe the President deliberately distorted intelligence to make a case for war. In an Ipsos Public Affairs poll, commissioned by AfterDowningStreet.org and completed October 9, 50 percent said that if Bush lied about his reasons for going to war Congress should consider impeaching him. The President's deceit is not only an abuse of power; it is a federal crime. Specifically, it is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States.

    http://www.democrats.com/node

    /12313

    http://www.thenation.com/doc
    /2
    0051114/delavega

    If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

    Th

    e House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

    info@go

    p.com Here is the Republican Party email address too!

    democraticparty@democrats.org Here is the Democratic Party email address also!
    Reply to this comment
    by radiob-2009 May 3, 2007 9:29 PM EDT
    Chief spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the military did not have the bodies of al Qaeda boss Abu Ayyub al-Masri or Islamic State leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and did not know %u201Cof anybody that does.%u201D


    Masri is in a Eygptian jail and has been for over 5 years and Baghadi is a much of a shadow to the US or Iraqi intel.Shadows do not have bodies.He is a creation of the Al Queda with only a voice that is the most that is really known.


    IN OTHER NEWS BOYCOTT OF ALL FUEL PURCHASES FOR EVERYONE IN THE US IS 5-5 TO 5-9. EMAILS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THOUSANDS OF TRUCKERS AT MAJOR TRUCKING COMPANIES. JOIN THE FIGHT.
    Reply to this comment
    by incog-nito May 3, 2007 9:28 PM EDT
    Did we kill another "Number Two"?
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 3, 2007 9:27 PM EDT
    badaxmofo,,, We're in agreement,, I'm no expert, but I have been there a few times. Enlighten me on the appropriation..
    . Not much has changed over the past 35 years... Kind of like Homeland Security, tons of bucks went into that & they are still struggling for money & are still dysfunctional.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 3, 2007 9:16 PM EDT
    badaxmofo,,, You've said that before, then the scandal at Walter Reed broke out --- They (Bush Loyalists) are getting up to $ 33,000 each in bonuses,,
    , Money was included for them in the funding bill Bush Veto'd..... They still have a 1 billion dollar shortfall.
    Reply to this comment
    by iceman_1960 May 3, 2007 8:59 PM EDT
    We The People:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=nnHkWfIAyHE
    Reply to this comment
    by bobnjersey May 3, 2007 8:39 PM EDT
    [PNAC made possible only because Clintoon wouldn't give the KILL order on OBL...]

    pnac exists because bush senior lost the election in '92 ... they were even upset w/ him cause he didn't 'go on to baghdad'
    Reply to this comment
    by toldyouso21 May 3, 2007 8:33 PM EDT
    I'm noticing a lot of trolling by GOPers and neo cons-- Even Clinton is still being brought up as if all Bush has done was because of Clinton and not because of his own incompetent and stupid azz and the ignorant people who supported him. Somehow very little about the actual subject subject at hand comes up in their posts--now why is that? nothing to say? No defense? Rush and Sean haven't told you guys what to think about Iraqis "flyin' while American GIs are dyin' and Bush keeps on lyin'? " YET? PATHETIC. ROTFLMAO.

    Reply to this comment
    by toldyouso21 May 3, 2007 8:26 PM EDT
    toldyouso21 - she can tell you who's #1 on the rap chart, but when it comes to worldly events, stop getting your info from the Dan Rather's and Rosie O'Donnels of the world.
    Posted by badaxmofo at 05:11 PM : May 03, 2007

    LOL. Do you mean the GOP criminal rap sheets? (www.armchairsubversive.com)--sorry it is soooo long now, I can no longer keep up--but maybe you might want to get back to the REAL topic--about how Iraq is taking time off since you and your ilk have practically promised them all the time in the world.....
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman May 3, 2007 8:23 PM EDT
    Iraq gets a 2 month vacation while Bush loyalist get $ 33,000 dollar bonuses with a $ 1 billion dollar shortfall & neglects our Old Soldiers home & our returing wounded vetrans --
    --- Something's very wrong with this picture --
    Reply to this comment
    by toldyouso21 May 3, 2007 8:20 PM EDT
    nice diversion, now back to the topic--If Republicans do not have timetables or meaningful benchmarks with consequences, how do they ensure progress? or is progress not actually what we want? After all, since Bush vetoed the timetables, Iraqis feel comfortable in taking a 2 month vacation while AMericans fight and die for them and America pays them--just how long do Republicans propose continuing this state of affairs and how will they ever convince the Iraqis to do more since 4 years of "Iraqis standing up as we stand down" has not worked? Stay the course indeed.
    Reply to this comment
    by irishmail42 May 3, 2007 8:20 PM EDT
    Iraq Lawmakers are considering a long summer break.

    Now you know why we need bench marks with teeth in them.
    Reply to this comment
    by toldyouso21 May 3, 2007 8:17 PM EDT
    PNAC made possible only because Clintoon wouldn't give the KILL order on OBL?
    Posted by badaxmofo at 05:04 PM : May 03, 2007

    What could you possibly know of reality? Of course--the reason your party is full of fvcked up meglomaniacs must be Clinton's fault. Sorry, I do not believe or respect people who do not take responsibility for the actions they personally take. The GOP is responsible for the war in Iraq, the continuation of that war, for ignoring and consequently having to reject the Geneva Conventions, for all the deaths, Iraqi, allies and American in Iraq, for the breach of FISA, for outing an agent, , for part of the failures of Katrina, for the failure to have a real plan or even listen to others before invading Iraq, for the DOJ debacle including the intent to influence or stack the courts in favor of GOP candidates, for rubberstamping Bush's plans and failing to vet or properly investigate or oversee what the Executive branch was doing, for sanctioning torture and concentration camps, for the numerous lies and misinformation (misspeak is another word for LIES) for rampant cronyism, The GOP is now a slur--its members, pariahs and if this continues, they may implode as a party, Nothing is more sickening than saying you would destroy another people and their country--to keep from fighting your own war on our home ground. "We fight them there...so we don't have to fight them here" That is like using someone's else's toothbrush to clean your own toilet.
    Reply to this comment
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