A major capture in Iraq?
Right now, all we have are statements from intelligence officials, but if this pans out, this would be big.
What does it say that they had the guy for weeks and didn't know who he was?
Later: More from an official press conference, AP, Reuters, BBC, NYTimes, WaPo.
Unfortunately, the facts on this one may get lost within the questions of the past overstatements by the military regarding Iran.
(Many of the reports seem intentionally skeptical. Was Bergner one of those at the now discredited Iraq/Iran press conference?
And, funny, Michael Gordon who wote the most friendly piece on the original Iran in Iraq press conference was also the most credulous on this briefing.)
A top special operations officer from Lebanon's Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah has been captured in Iraq, where U.S. officials say he played a key role in a January attack that killed five Americans.
Ali Mussa Daqduq, an explosives expert, was captured in March in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, where he was helping train and lead Shiite militias fighting coalition troops, U.S. intelligence officials told CNN.
What does it say that they had the guy for weeks and didn't know who he was?
Later: More from an official press conference, AP, Reuters, BBC, NYTimes, WaPo.
Unfortunately, the facts on this one may get lost within the questions of the past overstatements by the military regarding Iran.
(Many of the reports seem intentionally skeptical. Was Bergner one of those at the now discredited Iraq/Iran press conference?
And, funny, Michael Gordon who wote the most friendly piece on the original Iran in Iraq press conference was also the most credulous on this briefing.)
posted by mikevotes at
9:02 PM
4 Comments:
Given the dynamics of these violent networks -- be they "insurgents" or "terrorists" -- I'm wondering if there's any such thing as a major character we could capture or kill that would make any positive difference in cauldron of Iraq. I'm wording it awkwardly, but my point is the insurgent/terrorist movement is a beyond the model of a top-down, singular organization, making the elimination of a single so-called mastermind, nearly moot... though I suppose it helps to sell propaganda, er papers.
By
-epm, at 1:00 PM
I don' think this guy was hugely tactically important by himself. In other words, he is replacable. Hezbullah has many other individuals who could do this sort of work, and it sounds like he's already done alot of the organizational stuff and set up the framework.
This could be significant (if it's as being presented) because this guy would mark significant coordinated cooperation between Hezbullah and Shia groups.
This would imply an Iranian edict from somewhere in their command structure because Hezbullah has served itself well keeping itself limited to Lebanon. They're opening themselves to exposure if they're caught operating in Iraq.
So, I would say if it's as presented, small deal tactically, big deal in the broader politics.
By
mikevotes, at 1:47 PM
I was trying to make a larger point beyond this particular event. I'm suggesting the entire notion that taking out ANY single enemy "leader" makes little or no positive change on the ground.
This is not a game of capture-the-generals-and-win. As we've said all along, it's a game of winning hearts and minds... So far we've been doing the opposite of that.
By
-epm, at 2:23 PM
In this conflict, definitely.
The movements largely operate without a single motivating leader, unless you go way up to a Sadr, and that level is untouchable.
The Sunni movement operates without any significant motivational leader at all which is pretty amazing when you think about it. There are "generals" but there is real inspirational leader driving them.
(Which shows just how deep and "natural" their fight is.)
By
mikevotes, at 4:02 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home