Official: Iraq Freed Al-Zarqawi Last Year

mrpayroll · 12-16-05, 04:35 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/...raq_al_zarqawi

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 4 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi security forces caught terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the Fallujah area last year but released him because they didn't realize who he was, the deputy interior minister said in an interview broadcast Friday.

The deputy minister, Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, told the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp., that Iraqi police "suspected this man" and detained him "along with other members" of his group.

"Afterward, he was released because we did not know the identity of this criminal," Kamal told LBC. The station said the remarks were made Wednesday but were aired Friday.

"He was not armed," Kamal said. "He was like any other citizen who was suspected. There was a simple interrogation with him and he was released."

Kamal said the incident occurred "about a year ago, approximately." U.S. forces overran Fallujah in November 2004, ending domination of the city by insurgents and Islamic extremists, including al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq group.

Thousands of people were rounded up after the city fell. Most were interrogated and released.

CNN broadcast a similar report late Thursday, but it could not be confirmed. But a U.S. official said in Washington that American intelligence believed it was plausible. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in compliance with office policy.

There have been several reports of missed opportunities to capture al-Zarqawi, including an April 28 raid by U.S. forces acting on a tip from local informants that militants reportedly including the terror leader were hiding in a hospital in Ramadi.

Al-Qaida in Iraq and Iraqi officials also denied reports last month that al-Zarqawi was among those killed in a raid and gunfight in the northern city of Mosul.

Al-Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Iraq along with the kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners, has a $25 million bounty on his head.

He also drew criticism in his home country of Jordan after his insurgent group claimed responsibility for the deadly Nov. 9 attacks on hotels in Amman.

Jordan sentenced al-Zarqawi to death in absentia for planning a terror plot that led to the 2002 killing of U.S. aid worker Laurence Foley. He has claimed responsibility for several other plots in Jordan, including a foiled April 2004 chemical attack.
___

Associated Press writer Katherine Shrader in Washington and Sam Ghattas in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed to this report.

Wow, just wow!

Chris

Lateralus · 12-16-05, 04:41 PM

nemein · 12-16-05, 04:43 PM

mrpayroll · 12-16-05, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I like that one. We need an animated one of that here at DVDTalk.

Mods?

Chris

DarkestPhoenix · 12-17-05, 03:30 PM

Yet, the people who bitch about this are the same people who bitch about Guantanamo.

Listen, if anything, if ANYTHING, this should show you how difficult it is keeping douches locked up in Iraq. Taking this story into account, there's obviously a big burden of proof issue. Which means, it's hard as hell to get into Gitmo in the first damn place, which is why I have no problem with it.

Ah, I miss the days when lawyers had no part in the detention process.

hahn · 12-17-05, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkestPhoenix

Ah, I miss the days when lawyers had no part in the detention process.

1940's Germany?

12-16-05, 04:35 PM	#1
mrpayroll Guest Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Glendale, next to L.A. Posts: 18,487	Official: Iraq Freed Al-Zarqawi Last Year http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/...raq_al_zarqawi By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 4 minutes ago BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi security forces caught terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the Fallujah area last year but released him because they didn't realize who he was, the deputy interior minister said in an interview broadcast Friday. The deputy minister, Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, told the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp., that Iraqi police "suspected this man" and detained him "along with other members" of his group. "Afterward, he was released because we did not know the identity of this criminal," Kamal told LBC. The station said the remarks were made Wednesday but were aired Friday. "He was not armed," Kamal said. "He was like any other citizen who was suspected. There was a simple interrogation with him and he was released." Kamal said the incident occurred "about a year ago, approximately." U.S. forces overran Fallujah in November 2004, ending domination of the city by insurgents and Islamic extremists, including al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq group. Thousands of people were rounded up after the city fell. Most were interrogated and released. CNN broadcast a similar report late Thursday, but it could not be confirmed. But a U.S. official said in Washington that American intelligence believed it was plausible. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in compliance with office policy. There have been several reports of missed opportunities to capture al-Zarqawi, including an April 28 raid by U.S. forces acting on a tip from local informants that militants reportedly including the terror leader were hiding in a hospital in Ramadi. Al-Qaida in Iraq and Iraqi officials also denied reports last month that al-Zarqawi was among those killed in a raid and gunfight in the northern city of Mosul. Al-Zarqawi, who has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Iraq along with the kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners, has a $25 million bounty on his head. He also drew criticism in his home country of Jordan after his insurgent group claimed responsibility for the deadly Nov. 9 attacks on hotels in Amman. Jordan sentenced al-Zarqawi to death in absentia for planning a terror plot that led to the 2002 killing of U.S. aid worker Laurence Foley. He has claimed responsibility for several other plots in Jordan, including a foiled April 2004 chemical attack. ___ Associated Press writer Katherine Shrader in Washington and Sam Ghattas in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed to this report. Wow, just wow! Chris

12-16-05, 04:41 PM	#2
Lateralus DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Valley of Megiddo Posts: 9,303	__________________ (Lat's book lists)

12-16-05, 04:43 PM	#3
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 33,284	__________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference. My Countdown Counting down to: End of the countdown clock 2783 days 5 hours 43 minutes

12-17-05, 03:30 PM	#5
DarkestPhoenix DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Cradle Of Life.....And Death Posts: 4,907	Yet, the people who bitch about this are the same people who bitch about Guantanamo. Listen, if anything, if ANYTHING, this should show you how difficult it is keeping douches locked up in Iraq. Taking this story into account, there's obviously a big burden of proof issue. Which means, it's hard as hell to get into Gitmo in the first damn place, which is why I have no problem with it. Ah, I miss the days when lawyers had no part in the detention process. __________________ High School's most likely to be paid to party with others! ~ Gunshy Minor Threat Announced: You've got my vote for literary genius of the year! Derrich's POV: The guy has problems...sounds like a crazy person who follows someone around all the time. The brizz Opinion: You are a remarkably unlikeable person with a mean streak that is really unsettling. DVDSpot Visit the Legend at: www.darkestphoenix.com