Brilliant, Holmes!
U.S. officials say they have mounting evidence to suggest al-Qaida operative Abu Musab Zarqawi has had a hand in multiple attacks in Iraq, including those on a mosque in Najaf, the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and Italyâs paramilitary police station in Nasiriyah. Another al-Qaida member, Hassan Ghul, was arrested this month while entering northern Iraq and is believed to have met with Zarqawi to plan attacks against U.S. and coalition forces.
And Zarqawi meets with Saif al-Adel, who runs al-Qaedaâs military committee. That puts Ghul on par at least with the likes of someone like Imam Samudra or Khattab, a definite keeper.
Now in U.S. custody, Ghul is believed to be cooperating with interrogators. He known as a facilitator who can move people and money around and is the highest ranking member of al-Qaida to be arrested in Iraq. Coalition forces are dealing with both Iraqi opposition and foreign insurgents, like Zarqawi. He has been described as a key link between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein, but has managed to avoid capture. The official wouldnât comment on Zarqawiâs suspected location.
Thatâs cuz weâre sending a delegation there in the coming weeks ...
In August, a truck bomb struck hit U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, killing 23 people, and a car bomb exploded outside mosque in Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf, killing more than 85. In November, a suicide truck bomber attacked Italyâs paramilitary police headquarters in southern city of Nasiriyah, killing more than 30. The United States has ``strong suspicionsââ that Zarqawi was involved in all three, the official said.
Interesting that heâd go after An Najaf, given how close Zarqawiâs said to be with the ayatollahs these days and how Shiâites regard their holy cities. It all probably makes sense to somebody somewhere ... 
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