al-Zarqawi raid provided ‘huge treasure’
Iraq’s government claims advantage; lull in Coalition casualties
Iraq’s national security adviser said Thursday a “huge treasure” of documents and computer records was seized after the raid on terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s hideout, giving the Iraqi government the upper hand in its fight against al-Qaeda in Iraq. National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie also said he believed the security situation in the country would improve enough to allow a large number of U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq by the end of this year, and a majority to depart by the end of next year. “And maybe the last soldier will leave Iraq by mid-2008,” he said.
Mr. al-Rubaie said a laptop, flashdrive and other documents were found in the debris after the air strike that killed the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader last week outside Baqouba, and more information has been uncovered in raids of other insurgent hideouts since then.
He called it a “huge treasure … a huge amount of information.”
When asked how he could be sure the information was authentic, al-Rubaie said “there is nothing more authentic than finding a thumbdrive in his pocket.”
How significant these finds will be remains to be seen. For a highly centralized organization like al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), such a blow could be lethal. But for a diverse, loosely organized group, less so. While the terrorist insurgency extends beyond the oft-mentioned foreign fighters, it does seem likely that that group shold be damaged. Foreign fighters need local contacts and support once they arrive. AQI provided that. If AQI is broken up, as this information suggests, that should greatly reduce the impact of foreign fighters.
By the way, has anyone noticed that there have been no Coalition casualties reported for five days, i.e. since June 9? This is the longest stretch with no Coalition fatalities since the war started. I am sincerely sure such an absolute lull is largely coincidental and temporary, but Zarqawi was killed on June 8.
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