U.S. military says intercepts letter to Zarqawi 50 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces say they have intercepted a letter intended for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant who is the most wanted man in Iraq.
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They say the letter was sent by a man calling himself Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni, a member of al Qaeda in Iraq -- Zarqawi's group. It was intercepted on April 28th.
In a statement on Tuesday, the U.S. military said unnamed analysts had determined the letter, addressed to "the Sheikh," was intended for Zarqawi because "many of his close followers refer to him as 'the Sheikh."'
"Sheikh" is a very common form of address in Arabic that can either refer to a tribal elder or a religious authority.
The U.S. military said the letter, dated April 27th, praises the sheikh for being "a thorn in the mouth of the Americans," but also addresses low morale among Zarqawi's followers and weakening support for Jihad, or Holy war.
In its statement, the military said the letter admonishes the sheikh for "abandoning his followers since Falluja," where U.S. forces drove out militants in a furious assault in November last year.
However, it was not clear from the translation of the letter provided that the writer was admonishing the person he was writing to.
"We have brothers that were tortured and jailed. They are harmless and nobody is meeting with them or asks about them," the translation of the letter says.
"It is unlike the case in Falluja where you used to come and visit us, and we enjoyed your party. The situation has changed dramatically and that is not acceptable to God," it reads.
"The most important thing, Sheikh, is your existence is a thorn in the mouth of the Americans as well as the traitors, and may God protect you."
The U.S. military said the letter was captured during a raid in which five insurgents were killed and three were captured. An undated document was also found listing information on targets and sketch maps for kidnappings and bombings.
"Those captured in this raid are providing information on the composition and intentions of a significant support and operations cell associated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," the military said.
"Due to the continuous pressure by Iraqi and coalition forces, Zarqawi relies on his cell leaders to conduct operations while he is forced to evade being killed or captured."
U.S. forces say they narrowly missed catching Zarqawi, who has a $25 million bounty on his head, in February, when a vehicle he had been traveling in was stopped at a checkpoint and his driver and another associate were detained.
Since then, Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly car bombings and assassinations, including many of the 20 or more car bomb blasts in the past week. |
