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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Zarqawi Barely Eludes Capture; Computer and $$ Discovered |
| 2005-04-25 |
| via Drudge. Slightly EFL Jordanian rebel Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Iraq's most wanted fugitive — recently eluded capture by American troops, but left behind a treasure trove of information. On Feb. 20, the alleged terror mastermind was heading to a secret meeting in Ramadi, just west of Fallujah, where he used to base his operations, the official said. Task Force 626 — the covert American military unit charged with finding Zarqawi — had troops in place to grab the fugitive, and mobile vehicle checkpoints had been established around the city's perimeter. Another U.S. official said predator drones were also in flight, tracking movements in and around the city. A source who had been inside the Zarqawi network alerted the task force to the meeting. Officials deem the source "extremely credible." The senior military official said that just before the meeting was scheduled, a car was pulled over as it approached a checkpoint. "Zarqawi always has someone check the waters," said the official. A pickup truck about a half-mile behind the car then quickly turned around and headed in the opposite direction. Officials now believe Zarqawi was in the fleeing truck. U.S. teams began a chase, but when the truck was pulled over several miles later, Zarqawi was not inside. What the task force did find in the vehicle confirmed suspicions that Zarqawi had just escaped. The official said Zarqawi's computer and 80,000 euros (about $104,000 U.S.) were discovered in the truck. Finding the computer, said the official, "was a seminal event." It had "a very big hard drive," the official said, and recent pictures of Zarqawi. The official said Zarqawi's driver and a bodyguard were taken into custody. The senior military official said that they have since learned Zarqawi jumped out of the vehicle when it passed beneath an overpass, presumably to avoid detection from the air, and hid there before running to a safe house in Ramadi. The official told ABC News they have since figured out which house Zarqawi ran to after his escape, and the owner has been arrested. But, the official said, every time they capture one of his supporters, Zarqawi recruits someone new. |
| Posted by: trailing wife |
| #4 To: Mr. Zarqawi Re: Your rebate Please let us know where we can deliver the rebate offer for your newly purchased computer, no P.O. Boxes or 'pickup truck' addresses, please. Delivery is scheduled for Friday at 10AM Sincerely, General Sanchez, Bestbuy Service Rep |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-25 11:16:46 PM |
| #3 It gets worse than that, Super Hose; he still hasn't figured out the Best Buy gift card came from the NSA... |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-04-25 10:58:42 PM |
| #2 Oh, he's fine, SH. I'm sure he has the very latest version of Microsoft encryption on his files. It will take minutes, maybe even half an hour to break that. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-04-25 10:22:51 PM |
| #1 Zaq is probably cursing the day he opted to use his Bestbuy gift card on a PC instead of opting for a PDA. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-04-25 9:39:50 PM |