Dreams Into Lightning

Imad Mughniyeh

Imad Mughniyeh, the top Hezbollah man in Syria, was sent to meet his virgins by a car bomb in Damascus on February 12, 2008. Dreams Into Lightning is pleased to welcome Mughniyeh to the growing (but with plenty of room for more) list of dead terrorists.

Wikipedia: Imad Mughniyeh.

Imad Fayez Mughniyah (December 7, 1962 - February 12, 2008), also transcribed Mughniyya, Mogniyah, Moughnie, (Arabic: عماد فايز مغنية‎), alias Hajj Radwan, was a senior member of the Hezbollah organization, a militant Shia Islamist group in Lebanon. He was alternatively described as the head of its security section, a senior intelligence official and as a founder of the organization. Sometimes described as a "master terrorist", Mugniyah had been implicated in the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy, and U.S. Marine and French peacekeeping barracks, which killed over 350, as well as the 1992 bombings of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the kidnapping of dozens of foreigners in Lebanon in the 1980s.

Limited information is known about him. He used the alias of Hajj. Mughniyah is included in the European Union's list of wanted terrorists. and had a US$5 million bounty on the U.S. Most Wanted Terrorist list.

According to his Lebanese passport application, Mughniyah was born in Tayr Dibba, a poor village in southern Lebanon. CIA South Group records state that he lived in Ayn Al-Dilbah; a ghetto in South Beirut. His father was a vegetable seller and during the civil war, his house was on the Green Line.

Little is known about his adolescence, but he is thought to have joined Yasser Arafat's Force 17 in 1976. His role at that time was as a sniper, targeting Christians across the Green Line.[8] At some point, he studied engineering at the American University of Beirut.

Mughniyah has been implicated in many of terrorist attacks in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily American and Israeli targets. These include the April 18, 1983 bombing of the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed 63 people including 17 Americans. He was later blamed for the October 23, 1983 simultaneous truck bombings against French paratroopers and the U.S. Marine barracks. The attacks killed 58 French soldiers and 241 Marines. On September 20, 1984, he attacked the US embassy annex building. The United States indicted him (and his collaborator, Hassan Izz al-Din) for the June 14, 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which resulted in the death of U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem. He was also linked to numerous kidnappings of Westerners in Beirut through the 1980s, most notably that of Terry Anderson. Some of these individuals were later killed, such as U.S. Army Colonel William Francis Buckley. The remainder were released at various times until the last one, Terry Anderson was released in 1991.

He had been described as "tall, slender, well-dressed and handsome ... penetrating eyes," speaking some English but better French.

Meir Javendafar at Pajamas Media: Another setback for Iranian intelligence.

The assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, Iran’s top man in Syria and Lebanon, should set off alarm bells in Tehran. His assassination, according to Iranian media sources, took place in the Kafarsoose neighborhood of Damascus, close to an Iranian school and the headquarters of the Syrian Mukhabarat (intelligence agency). At first glance, the elimination of such a highly valuable Iranian asset, under the very noses of the Syrians, could be taken as a sign that Western intelligence agencies have managed to infiltrate the once seemingly impenetrable walls of Iran’s intelligence operations abroad. ...

The assassination of Mughniyeh is likely to lead to a major restructuring of Iran’s intelligence operations abroad, and even at home. Mughniyeh was a man who traveled frequently between Tehran and Damascus. Therefore it is very possible that his assassins were tracking his movements inside Iran as well. The worst case scenario for Tehran would be if he was compromised by someone inside Iran, a scenario which Iran’s intelligence agency, known by its Farsi acronym as VAVAK, would quite likely be looking into.

Andrew Cochran at Counterterrorism Blog: Mughniyeh, as remembered by CTB.

It was a fitting end for someone who planned and executed numerous deadly terrorist attacks, including the 1983 bombings of the U.S Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires, Argentina Jewish center. Mugniyah was indicted in the U.S. for his role in planning and executing the 1985, hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which resulted in the murder of one U.S. citizen.

Mughniyeh was also implicated in Hezbollah's kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers in 2006, which led to Israel's incursion into Lebanon. Contributing Experts posted several analyses at that time about his role in that conflict, including:

"Imad Mugniyah likely behind the capture of Israeli soldiers," by Bill Roggio, July 12: "The sophistication of this attack indicates Imad Fayez Mugniyah, Hezbollah's chief of military operations was directly involved. Mugniyah has a long history of successful military and terrorist operations across the globe. Mugniyah has a history of conducting similar snatch and grab operations against the Israelis."

"Inside Hizballah’s decision-making," by Magnus Ranstorp, July 14: "The file for handling special operations of this kind is usually left to Imad Mughniyeh, the elusive terrorist mastermind for Hizballah, who stands with one foot within Hizballah (reporting to Naserallah directly) and with one foot in Iran inside the architectures of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the al-Qods unit within the Iranian Pasdaran.

See original for links.

The Belmont Club: Mughniyeh killed in Damascus.

[Hezbollah] had recently been resupplied with rockets, shipped under the label of civilian supplies, past the UN Peacekeeping force. Hezbollah was also supposed to have sent reconnaissance teams disguised as journalist to the Lebanese/Israeli border to obtain video footage of certain areas. The strike on Mughniyeh suggests that parallel counterpreparations mirroring those of Hezbollah were simultaneously in progress. Mughaniyeh was regarded as a particularly difficult target. Wikipedia quotes Robert Baer, a former CIA officer as saying, "Mugniyah is probably the most intelligent, most capable operative we’ve ever run across, including the KGB or anybody else. He enters by one door, exits by another, changes his cars daily, never makes appointments on a telephone, never is predictable. He only uses people that are related to him that he can trust. He doesn’t just recruit people."

Across the Bay: Mughniyeh assassinated in Damascus.

To say that Mughniyeh was an Iranian asset is to understate his relationship with the Iranians. He was much more than an asset. He was an organic part of the Iranian regime, answering directly to Khamenei. Just like Hezbollah is itself an organic extension of the Islamic Revolution -- an Iranian ministry as one Iranian analyst told me -- Mughniyeh is like one step above that, answering directly to Khamenei according to some analysts.

As such, this is a big loss for the Iranians. It was perhaps best encapsulated in the statement by Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, who declared that "the march of Jihad against the enemy has lost an essential pillar." Operationally, this adds to the losses suffered by Hezbollah in 2006, which, unlike stockpiles of Katyushas, is much more difficult to replace.

But it's also a huge embarrassment for Syria. As Michael Rubin noted at NRO's Corner, "as important as who was killed is where." Not that we needed this, or Mughniyeh's aunt Fayza for that matter, to know that Damascus is terror central.

Coming a few months after the Sept. 6 hit on their nuclear facility in Deir el-Zor, this hit on a most-wanted terrorist, harbored in a joint Iranian-Syrian location in the heart of Damascus is a major embarrassment for Assad. Regardless who did it, it reflects quite badly on Assad, not long after his secret nuke facility was pulverized. Speculation over who did it only adds to the embarrassment no matter how you cut it, and whether Israel did it or not, the suspicion that it did would once again make a mockery of Assad's and Hezbollah's proclamations regarding the "loss of deterrence" after the 2006 war.

Thomas Joscelyn at The Weekly Standard: A master terrorist is killed.

But here is something that none of the press accounts I’ve read today have reported: Imad Mugniyah played an instrumental role in al Qaeda’s rise. I detailed Mugniyah’s role in al Qaeda’s terror in Iran’s Proxy War Against America, a short book published by the Claremont Institute last year. I won’t go into all of the details again in this post, but here is a quick summary of the relationship:

• Mugniyah met with Osama bin Laden in Sudan in the early 1990’s. The two agreed to work together against their common enemies, including America. Al Qaeda operatives were then trained by Mugniyah and other Hezbollah trainers, as well as Iranian personnel, in Sudan, Lebanon, and Iran. Both the Clinton administration, in its first two indictments of al Qaeda and bin Laden, and the 9/11 Commission found significant evidence of this early collaboration.

• According to Bob Baer, a long-time CIA operative who tracked Mugniyah for years, one of Mugniyah’s goons facilitated the travel of an al Qaeda operative en route to the November 19, 1995, bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. The bombing was among al Qaeda’s earliest operations.

• There is no real doubt that Iran and Mugniyah’s Hezbollah were primarily responsible for the June 1996 Khobar Towers bombing. But the 9/11 Commission also found evidence that al Qaeda may have played some role. Intelligence indicates that al Qaeda was planning a similar operation in the months prior. And afterwards, in telephone conversations that were evidently intercepted, Osama bin Laden received congratulations from his fellow terrorists, including Ayman al Zawahiri.

• Al Qaeda’s August 7, 1998, embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania were modeled after Mugniyah’s bombings in Lebanon in 1983. According to the 9/11 Commission, bin Laden asked Mugniyah for help in executing such attacks and Mugniyah agreed to provide his assistance. Thereafter, al Qaeda adopted Hezbollah’s modus operandi: simultaneous attacks by suicide bombers. Al Qaeda’s August 7, 1998, bombings directly mirrored Hezbollah’s simultaneous strike against the U.S. Marine barracks and a headquarters for French paratroopers on October 23, 1983. In fact, the 9/11 Commission found that some of the terrorists responsible for the embassy bombings were trained by Hezbollah. This is a crucial point: al Qaeda’s most successful attack prior to 9/11--the August 7, 1998, embassy bombings--was modeled after Hezbollah’s operations.

• After the 9/11 attacks, Bob Baer immediately suspected that Mugniyah and his masters had played some role. (I also discussed this in a previous article, "Sy Hersh’s Overactive Imagination".) Amazingly, the 9/11 Commission found that senior Hezbollah operatives were aware of and facilitated the travel of many of the 9/11 hijackers. This evidence was so “disturbing” that the Commission called for a further investigation into the matter. Although he was not named by the Commission directly, Mugniyah was reportedly one of the senior Hezbollah terrorists involved.

Douglas Farah at Counterterrorism Blog: The importance of Imad Mughniyeh.

The assassination of top Shite militant Imad Mughniyeh is important for many reasons, not the least of which was his long-standing ties to Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda network and his crucial role as a link between the Iranian special forces and Hezbollah.

It is also interesting to note that Hezbollah, where Mughniyeh was a top strategist for many years, claimed him as their own immediately upon his death, despite denying responsibility in several of the actions for which he is most famous.

Michael Ledeen: Mughniyah.

Hezbollah was a joint Iranian-Syrian operation in which the Iranians ran the organization and Syria provided the base, and logistical support. As I was the first to report, he flew with Iranian President Ahmadi-Nezhad to Damascus for high-level meetings with Bashar Assad and key Syrian military and intelligence officers a while back. So he had very high standing among the terror masters.

Neocon Express: Imad Mughniyeh, the man behind the Beirut Marine barracks bombing killed.

What truly amazes me is that US media are far more fixated today on whether Roger Clemens was injected with steroids years ago, then they seem to be in this huge story involving the mysterious targeted assassination of a man responsible for hundreds of American lives.

Debka: Tehran, Damascus, Hizballah leadership believed coordinating retaliation for Mughniyeh’s death.

Iran, Syria and Hizballah are certain that the bomb planted in the master terrorist’s Mitsubishi Pajero in the heart of the Syrian capital was rigged by the Israeli Mossad. They are therefore most certainly setting up a major reprisal in the form of a terrorist hit or a military assault.

Wednesday night, all Hizballah’s top leaders went to ground. They even gave the mourning tent set up in the Shiite district of Beirut for their dead leader a wide berth.

Our sources report that the long-sought terrorist was finally despatched by a small explosive inserted between the driver’s seat and the back seats, which destroyed only one part of the vehicle. The front and rear remained intact. Mughniyeh was driving alone to a reception marking Islamic Revolution Day at the Iranian embassy in the Romana district.

DEBKAfile’s counter-terror experts note that the way the explosion was set up recalled the method used by the hit team which killed the Jihad Islami senior operative Ghaleb Ghali in Damascus in October 2004. Then, too, Syria held Israel responsible.

In from the Cold: Justice served.

Mughniyeh’s death represents a major blow for Hizballah. Along with his skills in organizing terrorist operations, Mughniyeh was credited with organizing the group’s defenses during the 2006 war with Israel. He also served as a primary liaison between the group and its patrons in Iran. In fact, Mughniyeh also held a position in the Iranian Quods Force, which provides extensive training and support for Hizballah.

Tuesday’s car bombing is also an embarrassment for Damascus, at least officially. A number of terror groups maintain offices in the Syrian capital, and operate there with relative impunity. As the Washington Post observed, the successful effort to eliminate Mughniyeh represents a “major breach” in Syria’s police-state security apparatus.

Remarks. The embarassment to the Syrian regime can hardly be overstated. As I commented on the recent Israeli airstrike on Syria, the message here seems to be "Syria, you are our bitches."

If sources like Stratfor are to be believed, back-channel negotiations between the US and Iran, centering on Iraq, may now be thrown into chaos or scrapped. This doesn't strike me as altogether a bad thing.

237 dead terrorists.

And other good news, via Gateway Pundit.

From Azzaman on 8/30/07:

237 insurgents killed in Diyala
By Salah Abdullah

Iraqi and U.S. forces have killed 237 insurgents and arrested more than 300 suspects in military operations to pacify the restive Province of Diyala.

The operations started on June 19 and are reported to be still continuing. The pressure on anti-U.S. rebels and Qaeda elements in the province is reported to have forced them to flee to other areas.

Lt. Gen. Abdul Rubaie, the Iraqi commander of the operation, said more than 7,000 troops are taking part in the fighting and that there have been ‘good gains on the ground.’ ...

Read the rest at the link.

Allahu akbar!

Happy birthday to Tammy Bruce!

Attention shoppers!

We're having a blue-light special on dead terrorists!

The Fourth Rail: 26 Iranian agents killed in Sadr City. 'Multinational Forces Iraq is pressing on with operations against the Iranian-backed “Secret Cells” of the Qazali Network. Coalition forces conducted two major raids inside Sadr City against the Qazali Network early Saturday morning. After encountering heavy resistance during both operations, which included “significant small arms fire and multiple improvised explosive device (IED) attacks” and “attacks with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs),” Coalition forces counterattacked with armored vehicles. Twenty-six Secret Cell members were killed and 17 captured.'

MNF-Iraq: Three terrorists killed in Anbar Province.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 26 suspected terrorists during operations Friday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and bombing networks.

East of Fallujah, Coalition Forces continued operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader network during a raid on several buildings east of Fallujah. As they approached the target, the ground forces saw a man holding a grenade. In response to the hostile threat, Coalition Forces took appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed man, killing him.

As the ground forces moved to the next building, they encountered a man wearing a suicide vest. Coalition Forces responded appropriately to the hostile threat and engaged the man in self-defense, killing him. Another man associated with the terrorist in the suicide vest ran outside into a patch of reeds. After the man repeatedly ignored a translator’s instructions to come out, ground forces took appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the man, killing him.

Arutz Sheva: Israel Air Force kills six terrorists in Gaza, seventh dies of wounds in hospital. 'Israel Air Force jets conducted two raids over Gaza on Shabbat. At least six terrorists were killed. Three terrorists involved in the manufacture of Kassam rockets in a Gaza refugee camp were hit Saturday night. Earlier, three Islamic Jihad terrorists on their way to conduct a terror act were killed in a car while they were driving near Khan Yunis. The three were known to have been involved in a number of terror acts against IDF soldiers on the Philadelphia Route.' 'According to Gaza doctors, a terrorist died of his wounds early on Sunday morning. The man had been critically wounded in an IAF strike on a Gaza weapons manufacturing plant earlier in the day.'

Farfur the Mouse gets his virgins. 'Palestinian children who have been entertained and indoctrinated on television by a Mickey Mouse-knockoff who teaches them to fight for Israel's destruction and Islam's domination over the entire world will have to seek a new leader: the character has been martyred. Al-Aqsa TV, run by the Palestinian Territories ruling party Hamas, has featured a squeaky-voiced Mickey Mouse look-alike named Farfur in the weekly children's program "Tomorrow's Pioneers." However, the show's final episode had the character being beaten to death.' Arutz Sheva: 'A terrorist version of Disney's Mickey Mouse, who has been used in Hamas-controlled PA TV to agitate against Israel, was “martyred” on Friday when he was killed by an Israeli. In the final episode of the now canceled program, Farfour was killed by an actor posing as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfour's land. "Farfour was martyred while defending his land," his sidekick said. He was killed "by the killers of children," she said. Hamas officials said the show had been canceled to make way for new programs. However, rumors have been rife that Disney was planning to sue Hamas for copyright violation, and some legal experts said that Hamas, which has been sued in U.S. courts before, decided that it didn't need another legal headache.'

FARFUR UPDATE: Aussie Dave has a full analysis.

"The Lebanese army has crushed those terrorists."

Lebanon says Fatah Islam has been crushed. 'Lebanon's defense minister said Thursday that Islamic militants holed up in a north Lebanon refugee camp have been defeated and that the month-long "military operation is over," except for mopping up. "The Lebanese army has crushed those terrorists," Defense Minister Elias Murr said in a television interview late Thursday. "I can notify the Lebanese that the military operation is over," he said. "What is happening now is some cleanup ... and dismantling some mines." The Lebanese army "has destroyed all Fatah Islam positions," Murr declared on the private Lebanese Broadcasting Television. "The army is combing the area," he said. ...'

Sa'id Hamza aka Kamal Jalil Bakr ‘Uthman - Al-Qaeda Honcho in Mosul

MNF-Iraq:

Coalition Forces killed a senior terrorist leader during an operation Tuesday morning targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Mosul.

Kamal Jalil Bakr ‘Uthman, also known as Sa’id Hamza, was known to be the al-Qaeda in IraqMosul. Intelligence reports indicate he planned, coordinated and facilitated suicide bombings in the Mosul area. Additionally, he facilitated the movement of more than 100 foreign fighters through safe houses in the area, and orchestrated attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. military emir of

Coalition Forces targeted ‘Uthman Tuesday as part of their operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq Mosul. As they entered his residence, ‘Uthman rushed into another room and reached under a mattress. Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged ‘Uthman, killing him. The ground force later found a suicide vest under the mattress. senior leader network in

Coalition Forces had detained ‘Uthman during an operation in August 2006. He was released from the Iraqi judicial system in April 2007, and intelligence reports indicate he was planning a six-vehicle suicide bomb attack to avenge his detention.

“We have taken another very dangerous terrorist off the streets of Iraq, and we will continue to deplete the senior leadership of al-Qaeda in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

How many dead terrorists?

A lot.

6,550 killed since January 1, 2006, to be exact.

(HT: Gay Patriot.)

Full data at Terrorist Death Watch
.

Abu Abdullah Gets His Virgins

MNF-Iraq:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed a terrorist leader and detained three other suspected terrorists during an operation in Baghdad June 5 to disrupt a bombing network in the city.

Intelligence reports indicated the targeted building in the raid was a residence known to be a safe house for the targeted individual. As Coalition Forces were securing the targeted building, numerous suspected terrorists attempted to flee and were detained by ground forces. One terrorist made continuous hostile attempts to evade the ground forces and refused to listen to instructions given by the interpreter with Coalition Forces. Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense, engaged the terrorist, killing him. Three suspected terrorists were also detained during the raid.

Muhammad Mahmud ‘Abd Kazim Husayn al-Mashadani, also known as Abu Abdullah, was the terrorist killed during the raid. He was a known al-Qaeda emir in the Hay al-Jamah area of Baghdad and part of a deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell. He was positively identified as Muhammad Mahmud ‘Abd Kazim Husayn al-Mashadani by associates and individuals detained during the raid.

“A key link in the VBIED network has been removed,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue to assault the VBIED network in order to stop their indiscriminate attacks against the people of Iraq.”

US Attack Kills Eight Terrorists in Somalia

Fox News: 'At least eight foreign and an unspecified number of Somali Islamic militants — including at least one American — were killed in fighting with Somali government forces and during bombardment from a U.S. warship on a remote, mountainous northeastern area, officials said Sunday. The fight against Islamic militants in Somalia has moved to the relatively peaceful northeast of the country. Somali government forces and their allies have previously fought the militants only in the country's south. "Foreign fighters, Somali militants and members of the international terrorists including British nationals, Americans, Swedish, Pakistanis and Yemenis were killed in separate operations carried out by Puntland troops and U.S. navy forces," said a Sunday statement by the government of the semiautonomous northeastern region of Puntland.' Full story at the link.

Coalition Steps Up Attacks on Sadr Forces

The Fourth Rail:  'The return of Muqtada al Sadr from his four months of self imposed exile in Iran has led to a spike in activity against his political leadership and the extremist elements of his fractured Mahdi Army. Over the past few days, U.S. and Iraqi forces have conducted multiple operations in Sadr City, and over the past 24 hours, killed 4 Mahdi fighters and captured 6 after attacking a rocket team in the northeastern district.  On Saturday and Sunday, U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted air and ground operations against Mahdi Army “rocket” teams targeting the Green Zone (or International Zone). Apache Longbow attack helicopters from the 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division killed 4 Mahdi fighters and destroyed 10 rockets and 1 truck. The air attack was followed up by a ground raid by soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Six Mahdi fighters were captured in “a residence inside Sadr City.” Reuters reported the engagement occurred in the neighborhood of Habibibya, which U.S. forces cordoned.'  Full details at the post.

Remarks.  After Muqty's hasty departure, The Belmont Club predicted (and I noted here) that "he must eventually find a way to return to Iraq on his own terms, either reconciling with the US or driving them or waiting them out."  Seemingly he did return on "his own terms", as The Fourth Rail reported on May 25:

Sadr is believed to have slipped back into Iraq one week ago. While Sadr's spokesmen have long claimed Sadr never left Iraq, the pretense has now been dropped.

Sadr spoke to over 6,000 followers at a in mosque Kufa, and he railed against the U.S. presence in Iraq. "No, no for Satan. No, no for America. No, no for the occupation. No, no for Israel," Sadr chanted at the opening of his sermon. "We demand the withdrawal of the occupation forces, or the creation of a timetable for such a withdrawal... I call upon the Iraqi government not to extend the occupation even for a single day."

                                                                                                                                             

But the same post also noted that the Coalition had arranged a welcome-home present for Muqty:

Coalition forces responded to Sadr's return by killing a senior leader of the Mahdi Army in the southern city of Basra. "Wissam al-Waili, 23, also known as Abu Qader, was shot and killed along with his brother and two aides during the battle Friday afternoon," the Associated Press reported.

The strategy seems to be to make Muqtada al-Sadr's presence in Iraq dangerous to his followers.

IraqPundit takes on the New York Times' Bartle Breese Bull, and offers a few other bits of information:

Why has Mokty returned now? Some speculate that it is because Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, the leader of the leader of SIIC (formerly SCIRI, Iraq's most powerful Shiite group), is ill with lung cancer. Moktada may see this as an opening to move in and become the one and only Shiite leader of Iraq. Furthermore, some Arabic-language newspapers have reported that the son of Abdul Aziz, Ammar Al Hakim, has been chosen to replace his father as SIIC leader. If those stories are accurate, then SIIC is in for real problems. Iraqis call the son 'Uday Al Hakim,' because some of Ammar’s behavior calls to mind Saddam’s psychotic eldest son, Uday.

But whoever advises Mokty may have jumped the gun. The same for those newspapers who declared Abdul Aziz Al Hakim to be dying (or even dead). IraqSlogger.com has a story that says Abdul Aziz Al Hakim has a treatable condition, and has also returned to Iraq.

Whatever Moktada’s motivation for his return to Iraq, that decision was surely not his. Someone has long been pulling the strings of this wooden-headed, would-be "cleric."

Go to the post for a YouTube link, and the rest of the analysis.

Wissam al-Waili aka Abu Qadir

Previously noted in Morning Report, but I think this fellow deserves his own obituary.  Twenty-three-year-old Abu Qadir got his virgins on Friday, May 25.  The Telegraph:  'Wissam al-Waili, 23, also known as Abu Qadir, was shot and killed along with his brother and two aides during the battle.  The Mahdi Army of radical Shia Muqtada al-Sadr is fiercely opposed to the presence of US and British troops in Iraq. However, the militia has lowered its profile since US-led forces began a security crackdown in Baghdad in February.  The gunbattle began about 4pm when British forces attempted to arrest al-Waili after he left a mosque in Jumhoriyah a middle class, residential area in central Basra, police said.'

IraqSlogger has more:

Conflicting reports indicate Abu Qadir, also known as Wissam al-Waili, was confronted by security forces either while leaving a mosque or the Sadrist office, and died in an ensuing gunfight, along with one or possibly two of his aides.

"A force from Iraqi army and British troops killed today at 3:00 pm two leading figures from Mahdi army in central Basra," one source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Britian's The Sun reported that Wissam al-Waili, 23, also known as Abu Qadir, was shot and killed along with his brother and two aides during the battle in the southern Iraqi city this afternoon.

The gunbattle began when British forces attempted to arrest al-Waili after he left a mosque in Jumhoriyah a middle class, residential area in central Basra, police told The Sun, reporting that Al-Waili and his three companions opened fire and were killed in the exchange.

British military spokesman Major David Gell said Abu Qadir and at least one aide were shot shortly after leaving Sadr's offices in the centre of the city, in an operation authorized by the Iraqi government.

According to Gell, Iraq security forces led the operation, with British troops acting as advisers.

Dreams Into Lightning formally welcomes Abu Qadir to the Dead Terrorists department.

Mullah Dadullah

Welcome, Mullah Dadullah, to the exclusive but ever-growing ranks of the Dead Terrorists. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Wikipedia - Mullah Dadullah:

Mullah Dadullah or Dadullah Akhund (1966? – May 12, 2007) was an ethnic Pashtun from Uruzgan province in Afghanistan. He was the Taliban's senior military commander until his death in 2007.

StrategyPage:

May 14, 2007: In a major setback, the senior Taliban field commander, Mullah Dadullah, was cornered and killed by NATO forces in Helmand province over the weekend. NATO and Afghan troops have been chasing Dadullah around southern Afghanistan for a month. Dadullah knew he was being tracked, and his pursuers knew he was trying to get to safety in Pakistan. This time, Dadullah didn't make it.

Dadullah was a member of the Council of Ten that runs the Taliban, and the chief military strategist. Getting killed may have been a good career move, because his terror strategy wasn't working. The Taliban were getting battered worse this year than last, and Taliban popularity was declining in the south. Now the Taliban can simultaneously praise Dadullah as a martyr for the cause, and the reason the cause is failing. The Taliban first denied, then admitted Dadullah was dead. Dadullah was a big fan of terrorism, but he was also important because he managed to get normally hostile groups to cooperate with each other. The government will probably be able to get more Taliban groups to negotiate peace deals now, without the threat of Dadullah "punishing traitors."

Stratfor:

Geopolitical Diary: Examining Mullah Dadullah's Death
Stratfor, 5/14/07, 8:00 CDT

Afghan intelligence announced on Sunday that top Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah was killed early Saturday during a battle with an Afghan-NATO force in Helmand province. The 40-year-old Taliban leader had emerged as the most important operational commander on which Mullah Mohammad Omar could rely in pressing ahead with the jihadist insurgency in the country. Under his leadership, the Pashtun jihadist movement adopted the tactic of suicide bombings, and he represented the faction close to al Qaeda.

Dadullah's killing is the first major success for Kabul and NATO against the Pashtun jihadists since the resurgence of the Taliban shortly after the ouster of their regime in
2001.

CTB:

On May 10, 2007, the Nine Eleven Finding Answers (NEFA) Foundation was able to secure access to an exclusive interview with Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah--only 24 hours before Dadullah was killed by Afghan and NATO military forces. During what would become his final interview, Dadullah stated that American and British Al-Qaida recruits are in the midst of planning and training for new terrorist strikes in their home countries: "We will be executing attacks in Britain and the U.S. to demonstrate our sincerity," he explained in Pashto, "to destroy their cities as they have destroyed our cities." A senior U.S. official told the Blotter on ABCNews.com that recent intelligence reports confirmed Dadullah's claim that U.S. citizens were being trained in Taliban and al Qaeda camps. "The number is small, not large, but even once is dangerous," the official said.

ABC News:

Thirty-six hours before he was killed by U.S. forces, Taliban Commander Mullah Dadullah said he was training American and British citizens to carry out suicide missions in their home countries, according to a videotape interview to be broadcast on ABC News' "World News" Monday.

"We will be executing attacks in Britain and the U.S. to demonstrate our sincerity," he told an Afghan interviewer, "to destroy their cities as they have destroyed our cities."

Linda:

I hope it hurt. I hope it hurt a lot.

Hamas - Fatah conflict.

Debka: At least 13 Palestinian gunmen killed in fierce factional battles spreading across the Gaza Strip Tuesday. 'For several hours in the morning, Hamas fired mortars, heavy machine guns, shoulder-borne and anti-tank missiles in bid to seize the Palestinian side of the border crossing from the control of Mahmoud Abbas’ men, more than 200 of whom were pinned down at the facility. Clashes erupted during the day at several flashpoints in Gaza, including a Fatah attack on the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold. According to some reports, a group of Fatah fighters, some in uniform asked Israel border troops for asylum. Abbas has called for a cessation of hostilities. The mounting chaos in Gaza led Hani al-Kawasmeh to throw up his hands Monday and resign as Palestinian minister of interior. DEBKAfile's Palestinian sources report that the streets are ruled by warring armed gangs over which the rival factions are losing control, leaving the Saudi-brokered Mecca reconciliation and Hamas-Fatah power-sharing accords in tatters.'

YNet: Fatah - Hamas ceasefire atreement reached, Haniyeh says. 'Warring Palestinian factions in Gaza reached a ceasefire agreement Tuesday night, at a meeting between group representatives, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announced. According to the agreement, to go into effect at 2 a.m. Wednesday, gunmen will leave the streets and captives will be released. Simultaneously, the two sides will begin a dialogue for "national calm."'

YNet: Blasts heard near Fatah leaders' homes. 'Strong blasts were heard near the homes of senior Fatah members in Gaza. The source of the blasts is not clear. A short while later a ceasefire agreement was reached between different factions in the Palestinian Authority.'

Terrorists Killed in Anbar Province, Sadr City

MNF-Iraq: One terrorist killed, bomb materials destroyed. 'BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained two suspected terrorists during early-morning raids in Anbar Province while targeting a chemical bomb network and smuggling operations. Building on information from recent operations, Coalition Forces targeted a location north of Karmah that was allegedly part of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network that uses chlorine in its attacks. As Coalition Forces approached the building, an armed terrorist emerged and engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces used appropriate self-defense measures to react to the hostile threat and killed the armed terrorist.'

MNF-Iraq: Raids in Sadr City kill three secret cell terrorists. 'BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained four suspected terrorists Thursday morning during raids in Sadr City. The individuals targeted during the raid are suspected members of a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training. Upon arrival at the targeted area, ground forces received small arms fire from two separate buildings. Coalition Forces, using appropriate self-defense measures, returned fire and engaged the armed terrorists. Despite efforts to subdue the armed terrorists, Coalition Forces continued to receive enemy fire. Using appropriate escalation of force to react to the perceived threat, Coalition Forces called for close air support, killing three armed terrorists.'

Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri killed.

Dreams Into Lightning is pleased to induct Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri to the Dead Terrorists roster.

VOA:

The U.S. military says it has killed a senior leader of al-Qaida in Iraq who was involved in the kidnappings of several Westerners. Iraqi officials also have announced two other high-profile al-Qaida deaths in recent days, but VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from northern Iraq that U.S. officials say those deaths are unconfirmed and may have been the result of miscommunication.

U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell says al-Qaida in Iraq's information minister, Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri, was killed May first during a U.S.-led operation in Taji, north of Baghdad.

"We took that body off the target objective. Through DNA testing which didn't get finished until yesterday, we were able to positively identify that is in fact who we killed," he said. ...

Jawa: "The man who was responsible for the Kidnapping of Jill Carrol and a leader of the Islamic State of Iraq is no more." And:

However on some forums I have seen jihad supporters claim that Abdul Latif al-Jubouri is the former head of the Islamic Army in Iraq. Which would make sense, because it was right here at The Jawa Report that it was first revealed that the "unkown" kidnappers of Jill Carroll, "The Revenge Brigade", were really a front for the IAI.

And since al-Jubouri is now confirmed dead, I think its pretty safe to reveal that at least one hostage taken by the Islamic Army in Iraq has told us that they were fairly certain that someone who came to visit them while in confinement also appeared on an al Qaeda in Iraq propaganda video.

SITE:

The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella insurgency group consisting of various jihadi factions including al-Qaeda in Iraq, issued to jiahdist forums today, Thursday, May 3, 2007, a statement denying the killing of its emir, but confirming the death of its official spokesman, Abu Abdullah al-Jabouri AKA Muhareb al-Jabouri. U.S. military officials announced today the death of Muhareb Abdul Latif al-Jabouri in a military operation in Western Baghdad; however, the Iraqi Interior Ministry alleged that Jabouri was also the identiy of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. The Islamic State clarifies the difference between the two individuals, and assures that the Emir of the Believers is among his people, and if he was killed, they would not hesitate to announce it as the “flag of our jihad can only rise by the blood of the leaders before the soldiers, and the tree of victory can only be watered by the blood of the martyrs.”

Well, by all means, let the irrigation begin. Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail has a report on the confirmed death of al-Jubouri and the unconfirmed death of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

Omar at ITM wonders: "So were Jubouri and Baghdadi the same person?"

Pajamas Media has a big roundup.

Latest Blows to Terrorism in Iraq

MNF-I: 5 terrorists killed, 20 suspected terrorists detaied. 'BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists Tuesday during overnight raids targeting senior leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to targets associated with senior al-Qaeda leaders west of Taji Tuesday morning. During an operation there, terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing five. ...'

Bill Roggio: Iraqi Defense Ministry announces 2 insurgents killed in anti-al-Qaeda operation. 'Coalition forces - also known as Task Force 145, the hunter killer teams assigned to dismantle al Qaeda command cells - conducted a "massive synchronized effort" against al Qaeda in Iraq's network nationwide. Seventy-two al Qaeda operatives were detained during raids in Anbar province and Salahadin provinces. Thirty-six al Qaeda were captured in the city of Samarra, while "20 five-gallon drums of nitric acid and other bomb-making materials" were found near the insurgent riddled city of Karma in Anbar. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced that it killed 2 insurgents and detained 112 during operations across Iraq over the past 24 hours.'

"Al Qaeda, you are our bitches!"

The Jawa Report tells it like it is:

Coalition forces in Iraq have delivered a series of stunning blows to al Qaeda in Iraq in the last 48 hours.

A key aide to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the man who replaced Abu Musab al Zarqawi as the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, has been captured south of Baghdad. As A.J. Strata notes, the trail to the al Qaeda leader is fresh: the captured aide admitted to meeting with al Masri yesterday.

Since Taji is north of Baghdad, these two al Qaeda IED cell leaders captured by the U.S. in West Taji are not the same as those above. That's four al Qaeda leaders captured.

But four is such a lonely number. A facilitator of foreign fighters was captured by the Iarqi Army on the Syrian border. And foreign fighters tend to mean al Qaeda.

Not to be outdone by the IA, the U.S. struck two houses where foreign fighters had gathered---13 jihadis dead. An "individual" associated with foreign fighter facilitation was in the targeted area.

But wait, that's not all. Coalition Forces conducted an air strike Wednesday targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq-related vehicle-borne improvised explosives devices network near Arab Jabour. Intelligence reports indicated that this network is responsible for a large and devastating number of VBIED attacks in the Baghdad area. They are also responsible for IED and sniper attacks conducted against the Iraqi people and Iraqi and Coalition Forces. Building destroyed, everyone inside presumably dead.

And another terrorist was captured in Taji. In addition to leading a bombing cell, he is also believed to be involved in taking Iraqis hostage and murdering them. Which would mean that he is either al Qaeda or one of the related organizations under the umbrella of the "Islamic State of Iraq".

So, we have 6 al Qaeda leaders captured, and possibly dozens more killed. All in the last 48 hours.

Do you see a pattern here? The little bastard al Masri better run and hide. Al Qaeda, you are our bitches!

MNF-Iraq has the latest:

EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED, BUILDING DESTROYED IN ARAB JABOUR

BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces conducted an air strike Thursday evening after receiving heavy enemy fire during a raid targeting al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists and foreign fighter facilitators.

While receiving enemy fire from several directions, ground forces called in for air support. Eight terrorists barricaded themselves inside one of the buildings and continued to fire at the ground forces. Coalition aircraft dropped precision bombs on the building, resulting in its destruction and the deaths of the eight terrorists.

No Coalition Forces or innocent Iraqis were injured during the air strike.

The operation was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorists and disrupt their operations in the Arab Jabour area.

US, Iraqi forces kill terrorists in Najaf.

Reuters: 'U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 250 gunmen in a fierce battle involving U.S. tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Sunday, a senior Iraqi police officer said. The day-long battle was continuing after nightfall, Colonel Ali Nomas told Reuters, as tens of thousands of pilgrims converged on the nearby city of Kerbala for the climax of the Ashura commemorations. A U.S. helicopter was shot down in the fighting, Iraq security sources said. The U.S. military declined comment. A Reuters reporter saw a helicopter come down trailing smoke.'

Wizbang: 'The US military isn't commenting on the helicopter that crashed because the mission is still ongoing, but I expect we'll have more successful missions where we send terrorists to their waiting virgins. The question is will the media actually report on our and the Iraqi troops' successes or will they completely ignore them?'

Debka: 'The US military confirmed the downing of the helicopter and the death of the two-man crew in fighting near Najef as hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims converged on the Shiite shrine city of Karbala for the Ashura festival marking the 7th-century Battle of Karbala. The governor of Najef said Iraqi troops fought all day with hundreds of Sunni gunmen, including foreign fighters, who had plotted to murder Shiite clergy on the 10th day of the festival which falls on Monday. About twenty were captured, including a Sudanese national. They said they belonged to the Army of Imam Ahmed al-Yemeni.'

LGF thread here.

UPDATE: 2300Z.

Global Security: Iraqi officials report cult leader killed. ''Iraqi officials say the leader of an Islamic cult that was plotting to assassinate senior Shi'ite clerics was killed during a daylong battle near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday. Officials say the man led the Soldiers of Heaven group, and that it planned to assassinate the clerics Monday during the Shi'ite observance of Ashura. Cult members are both Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. The leader claimed to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and the group hoped to bring back the Mahdi, a messianic figure in Islam. Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. tanks and airstrikes, attacked the group on Sunday. An Iraqi spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said today that at least 200 militants were killed in the battle. More than 100 were detained. Earlier, officials said 300 militants had been killed.'

The Belmont Club: Heaven's Army. 'Whatever organization these individuals belong to, they had serious firepower, as evidenced by the cell phone video and their ability to down a US helicopter. Their religious identity remains mysterious, what with the Afghan robes and reports that it was headed by the "Madhi". But bizarre events do happen in the Third World. ...' Go to the link to read the post in full.

UPDATE: January 30, 1400Z.

Chicago Tribune: Cult leader reported killed. 'An apocalyptic Shiite cult leader claiming to be the messenger of a revered 9th Century figure was among more than 200 people killed in the fierce battles that erupted Sunday near the southern Shiite city of Najaf, Iraqi officials said Monday. Ahmed Bin al-Hassani, who headed a previously unknown group called the Soldiers of Heaven, was plotting to sow chaos in Iraq by assassinating top Shiite clerics in order to facilitate the return Tuesday of a messianic Shiite leader who went missing in 874, the officials said. That an obscure sect of Shiite fanatics was able to engage U.S. and Iraqi forces for almost 24 hours underscored the unpredictability of Iraq's political landscape as the U.S. military is focused on the sectarian violence raging in Baghdad and on hunting down Al Qaeda members.'

Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail: Background on the Army of Heaven cult. 'According to the intelligence source, the history of the organization behind the fighting in Najaf is sketchy, however what is clear is this was "an anti-Shi'ite establishment cult," which opposed both the Qom and Najaf schools of Shi'ite Islam as both schools did not recognize Ahmed Hassani al-Yemeni (or Diyah Abdul Zahraa Khadom), the cult's leader, as the Mahdi. Hassani's group received Saddam Hussein's support as it opposed both the leaders of the Iraqi Najaf school, as well as the Iranian Qom school. The Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) infiltrated the group during Saddam's rule to maintain tabs on the organization's activities. After the fall of Saddam's regime, the remnants of the IIS maintained its connections with the organization. Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti, the chief of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) and Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, two of the few Baathists leaders on the original 'Deck of Cards' remained free, and exercised control of the intelligence network. ... With the rise of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the operational possibilities were expanded. Al-Masri is by far a more shrewed operational and political leader. The intelligence network picked up on the cult's desire to initiate its "end-times" beliefs by rising up and assassinating the Shia clerics during the festival of Ashura. Seeing an opening to foment chaos, al-Masri moved in elements of the Omar Brigade, the al-Qaeda unit tasked with attacking Shi'ites.' Go to the link for the full post.

YNet: Iraq reports 263 terrorists killed. 'Iraq's defense ministry said on Tuesday 263 militants from an obscure Shi'ite cult were killed and more than 500 arrested on Sunday in one of the largest battles since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said Iraqi security forces arrested 502 people including 210 who had been wounded in the battle near the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf.'

Gateway Pundit: Well done, soldiers of Najaf! Gateway Pundit has a roundup and some great photos.

Saddam Hussein

A roundup of information on the deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. This post is under construction; it will be updated continuously and will stay at the top of the page.

Saddam Hussein, 1937-2006: Iraqi dictator. Full name: Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti. (Alternate spelling: Sadam Hosein.) Born April 28, 1937; died December 30, 2006. Official title: President of Iraq. Unofficial title: The Butcher of Baghdad. Ruled 1979 - 2003. Saddam Hussein was responsible for atrocities against the Iraqi people. He was executed at dawn on December 30, 2006 (Iraqi time; the night of December 29 in North America).

Chronology. Compiled from various sources.
April 28, 1937 (official date): Born in Tikrit.
1957: Joins the Ba'ath Party.
July 16, 1979: Assumes power as president of Iraq.
September 22, 1980: Iraq invades Iran; beginning of the long and bloody Iran-Iraq war, formerly referred to as the "Gulf War" and known in Iraq as the Qadissiyyah (or Qadissiyyat Saddam).
1986-1989: Anfal campaign of genocide against Iraqi Kurds, headed by Saddam's cousin from Tikrit, Ali Hasan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali".
March 1988: Attack on Halabja.
August 20, 1988: End of the Iran-Iraq war.
August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. Beginning of the (Second) Gulf War. United States and allies respond with Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm.
January 29, 1991: Iraqi forces attack Khafji, Saudi Arabia.
February 28, 1991: Cessation of hostilities declared; Gulf War effectively ends. Iraq accepts terms of cease-fire on April 6.
March 20, 2003: US-led forces invade Iraq in Operaton Iraqi Freedom.
April 9, 2003: Baghdad falls to US and Coalition forces.
December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein is captured in a "spider-hole" at a farmhouse in ad-Dawr, near Tikrit.
November 5, 2006: Convicted in absentia of crimes against humanity for the mass killings at Dujail by the Special Tribunal; sentenced to death by hanging.
December 30, 2006: Executed.

Early career and rise to power. Wikipedia:

Saddam Hussein Kazmi (link to Arabic name information) was born in the town of Al-Awja, 13 kilometres (8 mi) from the Iraqi town of Tikrit in the Sunni Triangle, to a family of shepherds. His mother, Subha Tulfah al-Mussallat, named her newborn son "Saddam", which in Arabic means "One who confronts". He never knew his father, Hussein 'Abd al-Majid, who disappeared six months before Saddam was born. He was the son of Musa Al-Kazim, one of the Sunni Imams of the Ahlul Bait. Shortly afterward, Saddam's 13-year-old brother died of cancer, leaving his mother severely depressed in the final months of the pregnancy. The infant Saddam was sent to the family of his maternal uncle, Khairallah Talfah, until he was three.[From Elisabeth Bumiller's interview of Jerrold M. Grumpkin, the founder of the Center for the Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior at the CIA in the New York Times (15 May 2004) on the importance of events during Saddam Hussein's youth. It can be read online at History News Network. The interviewee's surname appears as Post in the HNN article. - aa]

The Ba'ath Party. Encyclopaedia Britannica:

Hussein joined the Ba'th Socialist Party in 1957. He participated in an unsuccessful attempt by Ba'thists to assassinate the Iraqi prime minister, Abdul Karim Kassem, and, wounded, escaped to Syria and then Egypt. There he attended Cairo Law School (1962-63) and continued his studies at Baghdad Law College after the Ba'thists took power in 1963. After the Ba'thists were overthrown that same year, Hussein spent several years in prison in Iraq. He again escaped, becoming a leader of the Ba'th party, and was instrumental to the coup that brought the party to power in 1968. Hussein then effectively held power in that country along with the head of state, President Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr. [1]

Presidency. Britannica:

Hussein began to assert open control over the government in 1979, becoming president upon Bakr's resignation in that year. Hussein then became chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council and prime minister, among other positions. He used an extensive secret-police establishment to suppress any internal opposition to his rule, and made himself the object of an extensive personality cult among the Iraqi public. [1]

Controversy over Iraq War.
Open letter from Rania Kashi, 2003:

I am writing this email after a lot of deliberation about whether I have the right to argue the case for an invasion in Iraq. But in the end I have decided that if I keep quiet I have more to lose.

My parents, my family, are from Iraq. My parents fled from Iraq some twenty-three years ago leaving everything and everyone behind. At that point, seventeen of our relatives had been “disappeared” or imprisoned for no reason whatsoever.

They sought refuge in Kuwait for four years, but once again were forced to flee with us (my brother and I) when Saddam had the Kuwaitis deport the Iraqi men back to Iraq. On the border he had these returnees shot dead.

We were lucky; we made it safely to Britain. My father was lucky – his brother was caught trying to escape, and tortured. So here I am, nineteen years later, never having set foot in the country of my parents.

The anti-“war” feeling prevalent among most people I speak to seems to me totally misjudged and misplaced. (Incidentally, the quotation marks here are deliberate: in truth it will be no war, but an invasion. A war presumes relatively equal forces battling against each other, with resistance on both sides. A US-led force will encounter no resistance from the Iraqi people nor the army).

I have to be honest here and say that, to me, this feeling is based partly on a great misunderstanding of the situation in Iraq, and partly on people’s desire to seem “politically rebellious” against the big, bad Americans. ...

Full text at the link.

Zainab al-Suwaij, February 2003:

As war with Iraq draws closer, commentators, journalists, and policymakers frequently question whether the Iraqi people would really support the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. But that question has already been answered. Although Americans remember the Gulf war, many do not realize that, for a few momentous days immediately after it, much of Iraq rose up in open rebellion against Saddam's regime. In fact, 15 out of 18 Iraqi provinces rebelled. I was one of the rebels.

For over a decade, I have stayed silent about what I saw. But now, as the world considers freeing Iraq from Saddam's rule, I feel compelled to bear witness to the last time Iraqis tried to liberate their country.

In February 1991, I was living with my grandparents in Karbala, a city of roughly 350,000 an hour southwest of Baghdad. The Gulf war was raging, and my family and I often listened to Voice of America for news free of Iraqi-government control. We heard President George H.W. Bush repeatedly assure us that if the Iraqi people rose up against Saddam, the United States stood ready to help them. "There's another way for the bloodshed to stop," Bush had said, "and that is for the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands and force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside." I was excited by Bush's words, but, after two decades of living under the brutal rule of Saddam's Baath Party, it was impossible for me to imagine we would ever be liberated. Even though millions of Iraqis dreamed of overthrowing Saddam, we were afraid to speak about it and doubted anyone would ever come to help us. I felt the world had abandoned us. ...

Full text at the link.

Fall from power, capture, and execution.
This section under construction.
Wikipedia has a photo of Samir, a 34-year-old Iraqi-American, pinning Saddam at the time of his capture in Operation Red Dawn.
Wikipedia: Operation Red Dawn.

Operation Red Dawn was a military operation conducted by the United States armed forces on December 13, 2003 in the small town of ad-Dawr in Iraq, near Tikrit. The operation resulted in the capture of the country's former president Saddam Hussein, and put to rest rumours of his death. The operation, and its two main objectives, were named for the 1984 film Red Dawn.

The operation was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, the Raider Brigade. 600 soldiers participated, including cavalry, engineers, artillery, air support, and special forces, under the overall command of Colonel James Hickey of the 4th Infantry Division. ...

Debka:

His trial for the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Kurds was interrupted by his death. Palestinians esteem him for aiding Yasser Arafat and their war against Israel with generous grants to suicide killers and their families. In the first Gulf War in 1991, he fired 39 Scud missiles against Tel Aviv, although Israel did not take part in the war.

Iraq the Model, December 29, 2006: 'Meanwhile lots of updates are coming through news TV here; al-Arabiya reporter said the noose is already set in a yard in the IZ. Al-Hurra reported that preparations for the execution are underway and no delay is expected. ... -Bahaa' al-Aaraji, a Sadrist and member of the parliament's legal commission told al-Iraqiya TV that two execution sites have been prepared; one in the IZ and one in another location he wouldn't disclose. -Al-Aaraji told al-Iraqiya TV that the government is asking clerics whether it's allowed to carry out executions during religious holidays. He added that he expects Saddam to be executed no later than noon tomorrow.'

The Mesopotamian: 'But it must be admitted, that there is haste to execute Saddam for reasons other than simply justice and revenge; there are political considerations. The Government wants to get this over and done with as quickly as possible to forestall any unforeseen impediments, and in order not give his followers and supporters time to plan something. Besides, Saddam is still a symbol for some, and you may remember the demonstrations in Diala, Salahuldin and elsewhere brandishing his photos and shouting the famous slogan “with Souls, with Blood, we sacrifice our lives for you”. And then there is the so-called “Return Party”, which is a group of Baathist terrorists calling for the return of the Saddam regime under his leadership. Therefore, it is of political urgency to eliminate this symbol and put an end to any hopes and illusions of a return to the previous state of affairs. Due to the extreme personality cult that Saddam had cultivated, it would be difficult for "the enemy" to find a new convincing father figure. Also it is an act of defiance in the face of all the terrorists, the Bin Ladins & Co., the international chorus and etc. etc.; here we are stringing up your Saddam and you “can ride your highest horses” as the Iraqi proverb goes. We are not afraid of your car bombs, suicide bombers, I.E.D’s etc. etc.'

Hyscience links to video of the Saddam Hussein execution.

Wizbang clears up a point of grammar. 'I was delighted to know that Saddam Hussein was hanged. I have no interest whatsoever in knowing whether or not he was hung. They are NOT the same thing, people.'

The Wikipedia team debates the execution of Saddam Hussein.

In beginning of article, there is profanity that I can [not] edit out, because the page is closed to editing. Would someone with the ability to edit this page please remove the part in the beginning about him being a "PIECE OF S***" even though he really is. Unfortunately, it presents a bias point of view, even though it's just saying it like it is...
15:42, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

Noting that Saddam was "pwned" is not necessarily vandalism...

CBC News: 'Saddam, who ruled Iraq with an iron grip for almost 25 years, was hanged in Baghdad around 6 a.m. local time Saturday (10 p.m. ET Friday) in Baghdad's Green Zone, according to state-run Iraqiya television. "Criminal Saddam was hanged to death," the report said. The station played patriotic music and showed images of national monuments and other landmarks. The station also quoted Iraqi security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie as saying Saddam "totally surrendered" and did not resist before being led to the gallows.'

Crimes against humanity.
Anfal campaign - Wikipedia:

The Anfal campaign began in 1986 and lasted until 1989, and was headed by Ali Hasan al-Majid, a cousin of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The Anfal campaign included the use of ground offensives, aerial bombing, systematic destruction of settlements, mass deportation, concentration camps, firing squads, and the chemical warfare, which earned al-Majid the nickname of "Chemical Ali".
Thousands -- and most likely tens of thousands -- of civilians were killed during chemical and conventional bombardments stretching from the spring of 1987 through the fall of 1988. The attacks were part of a long-standing campaign that destroyed almost every Kurdish village in Iraq -- along with a centuries-old way of life -- and displaced at least a million of the country's estimated 3.5 million Kurdish population. [Human Rights Watch]
Independent sources estimate 50,000 to more than 100,000 deaths; the Kurds claim about 182,000 people were killed. Amnesty International collected the names of more than 17,000 people who had "disappeared" during 1988. [Amnesty International] The campaign has been characterized as genocidal in nature, notably before a court in The Hague. It is also characterized as gendercidal, because "battle-age" men were the primary targets, according to Human Rights Watch/Middle East (hereafter, HRW/ME).

Gateway Pundit reviews the highlights of Saddam's career.

Over 3,000 Kurdish villages were destroyed by Saddam Hussein duing his genocide campaign against the northern minority. (Academic.regis.edu)
... 148 Iraqis were murdered by the Saddam Regime including children in the village of Dujail, north of Baghdad, in 1982.
... Official Iraqi documents recovered after the fall of Saddam regime suggest a staggering 5 million executions were made during Baath era alone. Over 10 million were also imprisoned. They were all Shias save a small percentage of Kurds. It is also very interesting to note that after the 1991 Shia uprising over 300,000 were killed or captured never to be seen again, but there were no injured. (Brookes News)
... The Halabja Gas Attack March 15-19 1988: Estimates of casualties range from several hundred to 7,000 people.
... The Iraqis suffered an estimated 375,000 casualties in the Iran-Iraq War. (Iranatom)
... In southern Iraq entire populations of Marsh Arab and Shia Muslim villages were forcibly expelled.

Michael J. Totten, February 2004:

He waged a genocidal war against the Kurds of Northern Iraq. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International spent more than a decade interviewing witnesses, documenting atrocities, and counting the dead.

While Israel made the desert bloom, Saddam destroyed the marshes of Southern Iraq. It was part of a vicious ethnic-cleansing campaign against the Shi'ite Muslim Marsh Arabs who bitterly detested his rule. He dammed up the water and set the marshes ablaze with rockets and tanks. He didn't allegedly do this. The fire and smoke were seen from the space shuttle Endeavor.

Resources.
From 2004 to 2005, I compiled a number of Iraq-related internet links at The Iraqi Holocaust. A number of the links on that site are out of date; the following links are current as of the time of this posting.
The Iraq Foundation. 'A major goal of the Iraq Foundation is to promote human rights in Iraq. The information below records incidents of state-sponsored human rights abuses based on reports from Iraqi and non-Iraqi sources.'
Mafqud.org.

Mafqud.org has been designed in order to:
*Consolidate the documentation on enforced disappearances in Iraq into a unified resource which has been checked for consistency and redundancy and which therefore can accurately show that how wide-ranging these disappearances have been among Iraq’s various national, ethnic and religious groups,
*Make this documentation available on the Internet to all, and
*Allow Iraqis to document cases of disappearances they are aware of.

Indict. 'Bringing Iraqi war criminals to justice. INDICT wants to speak with those possessing useful information about the crimes of senior members of the Iraqi regime. Your confidentiality is assured.'
USAID: Mass graves. 'Since the Saddam Hussein regime was overthrown in May, 270 mass graves have been reported. By mid-January, 2004, the number of confirmed sites climbed to fifty-three. Some graves hold a few dozen bodies—their arms lashed together and the bullet holes in the backs of skulls testimony to their execution. Other graves go on for hundreds of meters, densely packed with thousands of bodies.'
Mass graves - victims of Saddam's regime. Photo essay. Text in Arabic.

References.
Online resources are linked. Where appropriate, citations within quoted text have been supplied.
Print sources:
[1] Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition (2003): "Hussein, Saddam", v. 6, p. 171.
[2] EB: "Iraq", v. 21, p. 972+.
[3] Bernard Lewis, The Middle East: A brief history of the last 2,000 years. Scribner, 1995.
[4] Kanan Makiya (aka Samir al-Khalil, pseud.), Cruelty and silence. Norton, 1993.

Now ICU, now I don't.

The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) is in full retreat as Ethiopian forces advance. 'Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said more than 1,000 people have died in fighting since his troops backing Somalia's government forces took the offensive against powerful Islamists. "We got reports of more than 3,000 wounded in a Mogadishu hospital. Those who died are well over 1,000," Meles told a press conference in Addis Ababa, two days after Ethiopia acknowledged military intervention in the neighbouring and lawless Horn of Africa nation. The Islamists said they had been forced to withdraw from many front-line positions in seven days of heavy fighting, but vowed to dig in for a long war with Ethiopia, which denies planning to take Somalia's capital Mogadishu or other Islamist stronghold towns. Meles said his force had "broken the back" of the foreign-backed Islamists and forced them into "full retreat" in the wake of air strikes and artillery battles on several fronts. ... The weak transitional government holds only one major town, Baidoa, in the southern central region, while the Islamic Court Union fighters in June seized Mogadishu from warlords and then extended their control over south and central Somalia...'

Tammy Bruce comments. 'This was is important because the Islamists who had taken hold of Somalia exist only because of bin Laden, and its fighters are primarily foreign. The capture of Somalia was seen as establishing a Taliban-like AQ support base. It's also amazing what happens when the worldwide leftist media isn't around to hamper the work of warriors. I have the distinct feeling that the Ethiopian military, combined with the legitimate Somali military, didn't offer to embed any media with their troops. How quickly the savages are smashed when they don't have that nihilistic and sympathetic media support. With apparently no media at all involved in this one, the good guys seem to doing a very efficient job of dispatching civilization's enemy.'

Military Roundup

News from the front lines, the terrorists' head games, and some thoughts about homeland insecurity.
MNF-Iraq: 9/11 hero finds his calling.

“I was getting ready to get out of the Army,” said Bramhall. “On 9/11, I went downtown to be out-processed, but found myself at the World Trade Center doing search and rescue.”

“I just walked out of the Madison Square Garden Train Station, and these Secret Service agents grabbed me and asked if I would help pull security since I was in uniform,” he said. “I didn’t think, I just did what I was asked to do.”

Bramhall, fighting through the chaos from the citizens of NYC, followed his orders and made his way to the towers to help secure the area. As he was pulling security, Bramhall was asked to help with one of the biggest missions of his life – go into the towers to help people evacuate them before they fell. ...

He was able to save a life at the World Trade Center site, but that wasn't enough.

After his service at the World Trade Center site was complete, Bramhall still decided to leave the military. He then went to work for the Rescue 1 Fire Station in NYC, hoping to continue to serve the people of New York. But after some time of reflection, Bramhall decided the best way he could serve the people of New York and his country was to go back into the Army.

Now a member of the 5-73 Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Bramhall says he’s right where he needs to be – serving his country in Iraq.

“This is one of the reasons I am here in Iraq,” he said. “I’m here in support of those people in the towers who didn’t make it out of there. I’m doing this for them. I’m also doing this for another person who worked with me at the towers.”

Go read the whole thing at the link.

Michael Yon: The terrorists' smoke and mirrors. 'This war has a thousand faces. A couple weeks ago in Singapore, an opportunity arose to speak with a clutch of field-grade officers, most of whom were foreign veterans of the worldwide war. These officers were from countries such as Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. A common theme among our foreign allies is a concern that we Americans seem to think we are standing alone against a world teaming with enemies. Our military leaders of course know that we are not alone and that enemies do not lurk in every cave or under every rock. They know, too, that we have more allies than enemies, and even more who fit into neither category.'

CENTCOM: Dead terrorists.

BAQUBAH, Iraq - Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, partnered with coalition forces from the 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, continued targeting terrorist cells Saturday to eliminate enemy activity and bring peace to the people of the Tahrir area of Baqubah.

Throughout the operations, the IA and CF were engaged repeatedly by several small arms fire and mortar attacks.

The forces, targeting the enemy, killed 11 terrorists, wounded one and detained approximately 20 suspects.

Countercolumn: What's wrong with this picture? Jason takes a look at the NYT's story on that raid on an Iraqi police station and notices something odd:

Here's the lede graf from the New York Times:

Hundreds of British and Iraqi soldiers assaulted a police station in the southern city of Basra today, killing seven gunmen, rescuing 127 prisoners from what the British said was almost certain execution and ultimately reducing the facility to rubble.

Sounds like great news, right? ...

But if you were just scanning headlines, you wouldn't know a damn thing:

British Troops Raid Iraqi Police Station, Killing 7

You also wouldn't know the rather relevant detail that the perps, in this case, weren't Al Qaeda or Ba'athist diehards, nor were they Mahdi militia types - they were elements of a corrupt and brutish police organization.

Which is surprising to me, given that back in '03 and '04, all we were hearing about was how much better the British were at this stuff than the Americans.

Remarks. You know, it occurs to me that the reason so many left-liberals go out of their way to demean and infantilize the military and its people, is that they are afraid of them. They're afraid of the things our fighting men and women represent - courage, sacrifice, discipline, strength, idealism. They quail at the very thought that a young American would willingly pick up a loaded weapon and walk into a gunfight, with the intention of finishing the gunfight in a manner not to the enemy's advantage.

And so, the moonbats must wring their hands and bleat their phony concerns about the safety of our troops and "getting the troops out of harm's way" while rigorously screening out the idea that those troops might, themselves, have something worthwhile to say about the matter.

Let me ask you this: When did it become the case that it is the civilians' job to protect the military?

In the back of their minds, even the peaceniks understand this. The fact that they are in debt to "rough men ready to do violence" threatens their already weak sense of selfhood, so they must compensate by either demonizing or trivializing the warriors who go out and risk their lives to kill evil men.