 Iraq's interior and defense ministers said Thursday they have information that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded, apparent confirmation of recent rumors that the Jordanian-born terrorist leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq was injured. "We have information in the Ministry of Interior that al-Zarqawi was wounded, but we don't know how seriously," Interior Minister Bayan Jabr said during a news conference. "We are not sure whether he is dead or not but we are sure that he is injured."
| Well, find out if he's dead, fer Cat's sake! |
An Internet statement claimed Tuesday that al-Zarqawi had been wounded in recent fighting. The statement, posted on a Web site known for carrying extremist material, could not be immediately authenticated. "Yes, it is true," said Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Duleimi when asked if al-Zarqawi had been wounded. Asked how he knew, he said: "It is my job."
The speculation over al-Zarqawi's health deepened Wednesday after reports that two Arab doctors in another country were treating Iraq's most wanted militant, who has claimed responsibility for the country's deadliest attacks. Various rumors and claims in recent days have been made that al-Zarqawi is wounded, possibly by a bullet penetrating his lung and may have died or been taken out of Iraq for medical care. Earlier Thursday, another Internet statement signed in the name of Al Qaeda in Iraq said the group has appointed an interim leader for al-Zarqawi in light of his purported injury. But a subsequent posting shortly afterward disputed the claim.
| "He ain't no damned emir!" |
The authenticity of either statement could not be verified, though the second was posted in the name of the person who usually handles the group's Web site claims and announcements. The back-and-forth on same Web site, known as a clearinghouse of Islamic militant material, could be a sign of confusion or competition within Al Qaeda of Iraq. It follows speculation about the Jordanian-born militant that has been unusual in size and scope.
| Do you get the impression that the person writing this simply doesn't know, which puts him in the same category as the rest of us, but doesn't want to admit it, which makes him different from us? |
The first statement was signed in the name of Abu Doujanah al-Tunisi of the media committee of Al Qaeda in Iraq — an unfamiliar name from past statements. "The leaders met after the injury of our sheik, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ... and decided to appoint a deputy to take the lead until the return of our sheik," it said in a posting on a militant Web site that two days earlier announced al-Zarqawi had been injured.
"When's the gonna be?"
"Ummm... Doomsday. Approximately." |
The statement said the new leader would be Abu Hafs al-Gerni, "deputy of the holy warriors." But a rival denial was posted a short time later, signed off by Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the name usually associated with Al Qaeda in Iraq postings when a name is indicated. "We deny all that has been said about appointing the so-called Abu Hafs or anyone by any other name," it said, reminding that Al Qaeda in the past has said to believe postings only in his name.
| "Yeah! I'm the one as says what goes here!" |
A respected pan-Arab newspaper reported Thursday that several candidates were jockeying to succeed al-Zarqawi, none of whom it identified as Abu Hafs al-Gerni, but one being Abu Maysara al-Iraqi — the man who issued Wednesday's denial that a deputy had been appointed. Al Hayat quoted multiple unidentified sources of various names, saying that sources in Jordan close to al-Zarqawi, including a former Iraqi officer, told the newspaper Abu Maysara al-Iraqi and Abu al-Dardaa al-Iraqi, an Al Qaeda operative in Baghdad, were two potential successors. Wednesday's first statement said al-Gerni "was known for carrying out the hardest operations, and our sheik would choose him and his group for the tough operations." Middle East experts on Islamic militants told The Associated Press that al-Gerni is a Saudi who has been al-Zarqawi's military adviser and is the emir, or prince — as senior commanders are called — of the military committee of Al Qaeda in Iraq. The two experts spoke on condition they not be further identified.
| Not surprising in the least that the front-runner's a Soddy. We may see a few of his rivals depart this vale of tears in one way or another in the next few days. |
An aide to Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, head of Iraq's largest political party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said al-Gerni was a non-Iraqi and a key lieutenant to al-Zarqawi. "We are not sure 100 percent that al-Zarqawi is dead, and we can't consider this step as a confirmation for his killing," said Haitham al-Hussaini, director of al-Hakim's office. "According to our intelligence, this al-Gerni is well known to us as one of al-Zarqawi's top aides in Iraq who has an Arab nationality," al-Hussaini said without elaborating on which country al-Gerni came from.
| If it's a "country whose name we dare not speak", odds are it's Saudi. |
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