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

  • Play CBS Video Video Seeking Answers At Iraq Summit

    Many members of the international community is meeting in Egypt to try to come up with solutions for war-torn Iraq. As Charlie D'Agata reports, consensus seems a long way off.

  • Video U.S. To Meet With Syria

    At a diplomatic conference in Egypt, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet with Syria to discuss security issues on its border with Iraq. Sheila MacVicar reports.

  • 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)

  • Interactive Battle For Iraq

    The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.

  • Photo Essay Iraq In Pictures

    A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.

(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.
    Share:
    • Share
    • Yahoo! Buzz
    • Mixx
    • CBSNews.com on Digg
    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
    See all 153 Comments
  • Exclusive Webshow

    Does dad need a nursing home? Dr. LaPook talks with a geriatrician about navigating a difficult decision.
    Watch Now

    • MOST POPULAR
    Latest News
    News in Pictures
    Scroll Left Scroll Right
    Connect with CBS News

    Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: