U.S.: Zarqawi's Terror Network Growing

[tocqueville]

By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
Sat Oct 22, 5:51 PM ET

WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence officials say Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has expanded his terrorism campaign in Iraq to extremists in two dozen terror groups scattered across almost 40 countries, creating a network that rivals Osama bin Laden's.

In interviews, U.S. government officials said the threat to U.S. interests from al-Zarqawi compared with that from bin Laden, whom al-Zarqawi pledged his loyalty to one year ago.

The director of the National Counterterrorism Center considers bin Laden a strategic plotter who is deep in hiding and out of regular contact with his followers, while al-Zarqawi is involved broadly in planning of scores of brutal attacks in Iraq.

"He is very much a daily, operational threat," said Scott Redd, who is in charge of the government's counterterrorism strategy and analysis.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051022/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/hunting_zarqawi

[hedda_foil]

1. Booga booga!

[Cults4Bush]

2. Oh here is the "no shit!" news item of the day.

If Zarqawi is real that is... anyway you cut it AQ in Iraq has had a number of combatants completely trained as any terrorist can be by the most powerful military on earth. Anyone who thinks they are just styaing in Iraq till they get killed still doesn't understand how terrorist networks operate on the most basic of levels.

Hint: (they do tours and then go somewhere else and become instructors and cell leaders sort of like every military org on the planet)

[madrchsod]

3. gee whiz! the same guy who writes letters to himself

and uses the wrong words in his muslim greatings...

[Eugene]

4. Al-Zarqawi bigger than Osama bin Forgotten? Suuure.

I shouldn't but...

:rofl:

These al-Zarqawi tales get taller with every retelling.
Of course this assessment makes it more important
than ever to "finish the job" in Iraq.