Examining Saddam Hussein's last words
(????? ???? ???? ??????? ???????

In the months and weeks before his death Saddam Hussein (Uruknet photo on left) produced a number of communications to the world beyond his cell through speeches, letters and interviews. Some of these communications have been made public and reveal additional insights into the former Iraqi leader's personal beliefs and motives, particularly Hussein's views on jihad and the use of terrorism.

In his July 7, 2006 letter to the American people, Hussein (via Uruknet) referred to the insurgency in Iraq as "heroic Mujahideen, in glorious, virtuous, militant, jihadist Iraq. So God bless the heroic people of Iraq and God bless the jihad and Mujahideen."

The invocations of Islam and calls for a jihad against his foes were not new for Hussein. The calls for a "jihad" against the U.S. and its allies began at least as early as 1990 during the run up to the first Gulf War when Hussein declared a holy war against the U.S. and Israel, 1993 through his right hand man at Iraq's "Popular Islamic Conference" in Baghdad, in 1998 after U.S. air strikes on Iraq , in 2000 while speaking about the USS Cole bombing and in the months before the March 2003 invasion the calls were repeated. After coalition forces entered Iraq he again invoked the call for jihad at least twice before he was captured.

In a March 2006 interview held on Al-Fayhaa TV (found by "The Bullwinkle Blog" and translated by MEMRI) Hussein claimed responsibility for unspecified terrorist attacks.

I know that people who listen to me might think that Saddam Hussein has become apathetic in prison and stopped supporting terrorism. No. I’m not ashamed to tell you that Iraq, without Saddam Hussein, isn’t worth two bits. Therefore, it will make me happy if Iraq turns into dust.

Though this may have been tough talk from a man facing his own mortality or simply talk of using violence against those from both inside and outside his former ruling Baath Party who had crossed him during his time in prison it contrasts sharply with Hussein's previous denials of links to terrorism and similar comments made by Hussein's former mouthpiece Tariq Aziz.

Further critical analysis of Hussein's speeches (other speeches found here), analysis of the upcoming "tell all" book from Hussein's former lawyer, deciphering of public and private letters, interviews (as well as the eventual declassification of interrogation logs) will undoubtedly provide a means for deeper understanding of Hussein's stated desires and impressions regarding the West, Islam/Islamists, jihad and terrorism. These reports, combined with the previous findings of the Duelfer Report, the Iraqi Perspectives Project and CIA/DIA/FBI reports (which have been partially released through the Senate Intelligence Committee's look at the subject), are necessary for a full and comprehensive view into the world according to Saddam Hussein and thus any definitive pronouncements on Hussein's real motives should be withheld until such an effort can be made.

Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti threatens France on behalf of Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (??????
??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???

Within days of the French election results being announced a self-described al Qaeda cell in Europe, Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, warned France of a “bloody jihad attack” in response to their electoral decision. The threat, posted on Islamist websites and translated by MEMRI, was signed by "Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti, The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, European Division."

The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, who al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for, has a history of threats and claimed attacks in multiple European countries, including claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004. The group is named in honor of Mohammed Atef, the former al Qaeda military commander who has been named in intelligence reports cited in George Tenet’s book "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" as an al Qaeda leader who sought out closer links with Saddam Hussein’s regime, including weapons training.

Those familiar with leaders of the former Iraqi regime of Iraq likely recognize Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti’s surname. Al-Tikriti is said to mean "from Tikrit" and is well known as being Saddam Hussein's hometown. Al-Tikriti is also the name attached to many prominent leaders of Saddam Hussein’s former regime, picked for their loyalty. Al-Tikriti’s were prominent in many of Hussein’s most trusted positions and many of the original members of "Iraq's 55 Most Wanted". Al Tikriti’s filled positions including Hussein's personal secretary, leaders of his trusted Fedayeen Saddam, Mukhabarat (IIS) leadership, Republican Guard leadership as well as WMD specialists and military leaders.

It’s possible the Al-Tikriti linked to the recent threat was not a member of the Hussein regime. It is possible that if he were a member of the former Iraqi regime that he did not become linked to the European al Qaeda affiliate until post-invasion. It’s also possible that Al-Tikriti made up the name to disguise the author’s true identity (as the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli told this site often happens) but the long list of Hussein loyalists who have been caught in cooperation with al Qaeda and the common enemies of both Hussein loyalists and al Qaeda indicates a possibility that Hussein loyalist/al Qaeda cooperation isn’t limited to Iraq, where Iraqi officials have blamed years of postwar violence on Baathist/al Qaeda cooperation.

Update: Professor of Middle East History at Haifa University and author/expert on Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Amitzia Baram, stated that "the guy is not necessarily a member of Saddam's tribe (Albu Nasser) but, more certainly, he is from the town of Tikrit - Saddam's birthplace where other tribes, too, flourish. But he is an ex-Ba'thi very likely" when contacted by this site for comment on the possible background of Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, al Qaeda, Abu Hafs Al-Masri, Terrorism

Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti threatens France on behalf of Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (??????
??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???

Within days of the French election results being announced a self-described al Qaeda cell in Europe, Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, warned France of a “bloody jihad attack” in response to their electoral decision. The threat, posted on Islamist websites and translated by MEMRI, was signed by "Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti, The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, European Division."

The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, who al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for, has a history of threats and claimed attacks in multiple European countries, including claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004. The group is named in honor of Mohammed Atef, the former al Qaeda military commander who has been named in intelligence reports cited in George Tenet’s book "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" as an al Qaeda leader who sought out closer links with Saddam Hussein’s regime, including weapons training.

Those familiar with leaders of the former Iraqi regime of Iraq likely recognize Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti’s surname. Al-Tikriti is said to mean "from Tikrit" and is well known as being Saddam Hussein's hometown. Al-Tikriti is also the name attached to many prominent leaders of Saddam Hussein’s former regime, picked for their loyalty. Al-Tikriti’s were prominent in many of Hussein’s most trusted positions and many of the original members of "Iraq's 55 Most Wanted". Al Tikriti’s filled positions including Hussein's personal secretary, leaders of his trusted Fedayeen Saddam, Mukhabarat (IIS) leadership, Republican Guard leadership as well as WMD specialists and military leaders.

It’s possible the Al-Tikriti linked to the recent threat was not a member of the Hussein regime. It is possible that if he were a member of the former Iraqi regime that he did not become linked to the European al Qaeda affiliate until post-invasion. It’s also possible that Al-Tikriti made up the name to disguise the author’s true identity (as the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli told this site often happens) but the long list of Hussein loyalists who have been caught in cooperation with al Qaeda and the common enemies of both Hussein loyalists and al Qaeda indicates a possibility that Hussein loyalist/al Qaeda cooperation isn’t limited to Iraq, where Iraqi officials have blamed years of postwar violence on Baathist/al Qaeda cooperation.

Update: Professor of Middle East History at Haifa University and author/expert on Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Amitzia Baram, stated that "the guy is not necessarily a member of Saddam's tribe (Albu Nasser) but, more certainly, he is from the town of Tikrit - Saddam's birthplace where other tribes, too, flourish. But he is an ex-Ba'thi very likely" when contacted by this site for comment on the possible background of Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, al Qaeda, Abu Hafs Al-Masri, Terrorism

Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti threatens France on behalf of Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (??????
??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???

Within days of the French election results being announced a self-described al Qaeda cell in Europe, Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, warned France of a “bloody jihad attack” in response to their electoral decision. The threat, posted on Islamist websites and translated by MEMRI, was signed by "Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti, The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, European Division."

The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, who al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for, has a history of threats and claimed attacks in multiple European countries, including claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004. The group is named in honor of Mohammed Atef, the former al Qaeda military commander who has been named in intelligence reports cited in George Tenet’s book "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" as an al Qaeda leader who sought out closer links with Saddam Hussein’s regime, including weapons training.

Those familiar with leaders of the former Iraqi regime of Iraq likely recognize Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti’s surname. Al-Tikriti is said to mean "from Tikrit" and is well known as being Saddam Hussein's hometown. Al-Tikriti is also the name attached to many prominent leaders of Saddam Hussein’s former regime, picked for their loyalty. Al-Tikriti’s were prominent in many of Hussein’s most trusted positions and many of the original members of "Iraq's 55 Most Wanted". Al Tikriti’s filled positions including Hussein's personal secretary, leaders of his trusted Fedayeen Saddam, Mukhabarat (IIS) leadership, Republican Guard leadership as well as WMD specialists and military leaders.

It’s possible the Al-Tikriti linked to the recent threat was not a member of the Hussein regime. It is possible that if he were a member of the former Iraqi regime that he did not become linked to the European al Qaeda affiliate until post-invasion. It’s also possible that Al-Tikriti made up the name to disguise the author’s true identity (as the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli told this site often happens) but the long list of Hussein loyalists who have been caught in cooperation with al Qaeda and the common enemies of both Hussein loyalists and al Qaeda indicates a possibility that Hussein loyalist/al Qaeda cooperation isn’t limited to Iraq, where Iraqi officials have blamed years of postwar violence on Baathist/al Qaeda cooperation.

Update: Professor of Middle East History at Haifa University and author/expert on Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Amitzia Baram, stated that "the guy is not necessarily a member of Saddam's tribe (Albu Nasser) but, more certainly, he is from the town of Tikrit - Saddam's birthplace where other tribes, too, flourish. But he is an ex-Ba'thi very likely" when contacted by this site for comment on the possible background of Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, al Qaeda, Abu Hafs Al-Masri, Terrorism

Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti threatens France on behalf of Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (??????
??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???

Within days of the French election results being announced a self-described al Qaeda cell in Europe, Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, warned France of a “bloody jihad attack” in response to their electoral decision. The threat, posted on Islamist websites and translated by MEMRI, was signed by "Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti, The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, European Division."

The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, who al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for, has a history of threats and claimed attacks in multiple European countries, including claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004. The group is named in honor of Mohammed Atef, the former al Qaeda military commander who has been named in intelligence reports cited in George Tenet’s book "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" as an al Qaeda leader who sought out closer links with Saddam Hussein’s regime, including weapons training.

Those familiar with leaders of the former Iraqi regime of Iraq likely recognize Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti’s surname. Al-Tikriti is said to mean "from Tikrit" and is well known as being Saddam Hussein's hometown. Al-Tikriti is also the name attached to many prominent leaders of Saddam Hussein’s former regime, picked for their loyalty. Al-Tikriti’s were prominent in many of Hussein’s most trusted positions and many of the original members of "Iraq's 55 Most Wanted". Al Tikriti’s filled positions including Hussein's personal secretary, leaders of his trusted Fedayeen Saddam, Mukhabarat (IIS) leadership, Republican Guard leadership as well as WMD specialists and military leaders.

It’s possible the Al-Tikriti linked to the recent threat was not a member of the Hussein regime. It is possible that if he were a member of the former Iraqi regime that he did not become linked to the European al Qaeda affiliate until post-invasion. It’s also possible that Al-Tikriti made up the name to disguise the author’s true identity (as the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli told this site often happens) but the long list of Hussein loyalists who have been caught in cooperation with al Qaeda and the common enemies of both Hussein loyalists and al Qaeda indicates a possibility that Hussein loyalist/al Qaeda cooperation isn’t limited to Iraq, where Iraqi officials have blamed years of postwar violence on Baathist/al Qaeda cooperation.

Update: Professor of Middle East History at Haifa University and author/expert on Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Amitzia Baram, stated that "the guy is not necessarily a member of Saddam's tribe (Albu Nasser) but, more certainly, he is from the town of Tikrit - Saddam's birthplace where other tribes, too, flourish. But he is an ex-Ba'thi very likely" when contacted by this site for comment on the possible background of Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, al Qaeda, Abu Hafs Al-Masri, Terrorism

Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti threatens France on behalf of Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades (??????
??????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???

Within days of the French election results being announced a self-described al Qaeda cell in Europe, Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, warned France of a “bloody jihad attack” in response to their electoral decision. The threat, posted on Islamist websites and translated by MEMRI, was signed by "Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti, The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, European Division."

The Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades, who al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has claimed responsibility for, has a history of threats and claimed attacks in multiple European countries, including claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004. The group is named in honor of Mohammed Atef, the former al Qaeda military commander who has been named in intelligence reports cited in George Tenet’s book "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" as an al Qaeda leader who sought out closer links with Saddam Hussein’s regime, including weapons training.

Those familiar with leaders of the former Iraqi regime of Iraq likely recognize Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti’s surname. Al-Tikriti is said to mean "from Tikrit" and is well known as being Saddam Hussein's hometown. Al-Tikriti is also the name attached to many prominent leaders of Saddam Hussein’s former regime, picked for their loyalty. Al-Tikriti’s were prominent in many of Hussein’s most trusted positions and many of the original members of "Iraq's 55 Most Wanted". Al Tikriti’s filled positions including Hussein's personal secretary, leaders of his trusted Fedayeen Saddam, Mukhabarat (IIS) leadership, Republican Guard leadership as well as WMD specialists and military leaders.

It’s possible the Al-Tikriti linked to the recent threat was not a member of the Hussein regime. It is possible that if he were a member of the former Iraqi regime that he did not become linked to the European al Qaeda affiliate until post-invasion. It’s also possible that Al-Tikriti made up the name to disguise the author’s true identity (as the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli told this site often happens) but the long list of Hussein loyalists who have been caught in cooperation with al Qaeda and the common enemies of both Hussein loyalists and al Qaeda indicates a possibility that Hussein loyalist/al Qaeda cooperation isn’t limited to Iraq, where Iraqi officials have blamed years of postwar violence on Baathist/al Qaeda cooperation.

Update: Professor of Middle East History at Haifa University and author/expert on Iraq/Saddam Hussein, Amitzia Baram, stated that "the guy is not necessarily a member of Saddam's tribe (Albu Nasser) but, more certainly, he is from the town of Tikrit - Saddam's birthplace where other tribes, too, flourish. But he is an ex-Ba'thi very likely" when contacted by this site for comment on the possible background of Abu Hafs Al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, al Qaeda, Abu Hafs Al-Masri, Terrorism

Carbomb diplomacy

Iraq’s former embassy in Greece added to list of Hussein's international terror outposts

A recent story in the Greek news outlet Ekathimerini, pointed out to Regimeofterror.com by Dr. Laurie Mylroie, reported on previously undisclosed evidence implicating Saddam Hussein’s regime in international terrorism aspirations. The report reveals an incident in which a number of items were secretly removed from Iraq's embassy in Greece during the run up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The items removed fit a pattern of behavior but also raise a number of questions.

Ekathimerini reported that it had been made aware of "a joint operation by Greek and US secret service officers in March 2003 (which) led to the seizure of a large cache of explosives from the basement of the Iraqi Embassy in Athens."
The types of explosives reportedly discovered were particularly noteworthy .
"Sources said a raid on the embassy unearthed explosive materials, car bombs, detonators, several guns and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Much of the material was “ready to use” while some was too old to be of any value, according to sources who said all the material was destroyed within a few weeks of discovery."

The presence of car bombs, explosives and the other materials in this instance would indicate that Hussein's Iraq had used it's Greek embassy just as it had used it's embassy's in the Philippines, Jordan, Prague, and Yemen in recent years, as a hub for terrorism. This is to say nothing of Iraq’s planned international terror attacks in London (as reported on page 53 of the Iraqi Perspectives Project) or the attempted bombing attack by Iraqi operatives in Bahrain during the runup to the invasion of Iraq (Senate Intelligence Report: Phase II).

This discovery follows Iraq’s modus operandi of using their embassies and diplomatic privileges as cover for hiding and moving weapons/explosives/equipment abroad for potential terror attacks.

These were not the first time Iraq had dipped its toe in the waters of international terrorism. In 1998, in what some viewed as a possible buildup to war between the U.S. and Iraq, U.S. News and World Report cited intelligence officials saying over 30 teams of terrorists, each team consisting of 2 to 3 men had been dispatched by Baghdad in 1991 and indicated that similar attacks may take place against U.S. interests again in 1998 in the case of a war with the U.S.. (It should also be noted that those in the intelligence community were said to be split during this time period as to whether or not Iraq had already dispatched similar teams of terrorists at this point.) The men, who were disguised as businessmen, used Iraq's diplomatic pouches to move automatic weapons, explosives and timers to embassies around for planned attacks.
Former deputy director of the State Department's counterterrorism office during the Gulf War, Larry Johnson, told U.S. News and World Report in the same piece that car bombs, assassinations and hostage taking were "likely scenarios."

With the discovery of Greece as a front in Iraq’s pre-invasion international terrorism attempts maybe Americans will even one day be made aware of what the other 6 or 7 countries are which U.S. government officials told the Washington Post's Walter Pincus were targeted anti Western bombings by Iraqi Intelligence.

Saddam Hussein , Iraq, terrorism

Lt. Col. "Buzz" Patterson, author of 3 books and top military advisor to President Clinton, recently made himself available for an extended interview with Regime of Terror.

Patterson called upon his military/intelligence contacts and background as he talked about al-Qaeda's strength during 90's and today, the war in Iraq and wider Global War on Terror, bloggers and Saddam Hussein's support of terrorism.

Patterson predicts that the intelligence papers of the former Iraq regime (those released already found here), currently held in the HARMONY database and elsewhere, will "connect a lot of the dots" on Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism once fully released.

Lt. Col. Patterson also discusses al-Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri's trip to Baghdad in 1998 (in which he received $300,000, possibly from Saddam Hussein himself), Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's medical trip to Baghdad in 2002 and the terrorist training that took place in the Salman Pak camp.

His new book, "War Crimes: The Left's Campaign to Destroy Our Military and Lose the War on Terror ", is available for pre-order through amazon.com and is set for a January 16, 2007 release.

When did Abu Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi, Abu Aseel and Abu Maysira al-Iraqi become jihadists?

And what do they know about the Baath – al Qaeda alliance attacking U.S. and Iraqi forces?

 
The complexity of the insurgency in Iraq is fairly common knowledge.  It is a lethal combination of varying forces, both foreign and domestic.  This combination has long included the open cooperation between two of the most deadly elements in the anti-coalition insurgency: 1. former Baath Party regime elements (particularly former military, security and intelligence agents) and 2. al Qaeda in Iraq.  The two sides are now working so closely that they are sometimes indistinguishable from one another.  The debate over Abu Musab al Zarqawi's replacement flushed out the names of some people who may know how and when the two sides began working together.

Abu Abdullah Rashid al Baghdadi, is only one of the latest names to surface in a not-so-exclusive club of military and intelligence officials from the former regime who have resurfaced as open al Qaeda affiliates, was one of those recently mentioned for the replacement to recently deceased al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. 

Al Baghdadi is said to have been not only a former member of Saddam Hussein's trusted Republican Guard but "an Iraq friend of Osama bin Laden, whom he met in Afghanistan" according to intelligence sources cited by AFP.  He now leads the Mujahedeen Shura Council, a group that includes numerous military/intelligence agents of the former regime, and has as openly sworn allegiance to Osama bin Laden (that allegiance was renewed shortly after the death of Zarqawi). 

 al Baghdadi's service in Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard, coupled with his close association with Zarqawi and reported friendship with Osama bin Laden puts him in a position of knowing not only the roles each side has played in the current insurgency, but also when and how the two sides began cooperating.

Another figure reported to have been considered for Zarqawi's replacement was Abu Aseel.  Aseel was a former Military Intelligence (Mukhabarat) official during Saddam Hussein's heyday (which also happened to be during the time Saddam Hussein was encouraging Wahhabist activity inside Iraq) before dedicating his life to Islamic extremism. His jihadist credentials were strong enough to garner him consideration for the position of Zarqawi's replacement.  It is also worth noting that Aseel had been cooperating with Zarqawi since 2002.  He continues to work with al Qaeda in Iraq.

Aseel and al-Baghdadi are not the only former Baathists found to be working with al Qaeda in Iraq (and particularly with Zarqawi before his death).   Before his consideration for Zarqawi's vacancy, Abu Maysira al-Iraqi went from being an "expert in Information Technology for Saddam Hussein's Army" to "Minister of Information" for al Qaeda in Iraq.  "He was entrusted with the additional task of waging the jihad through the Internet" for Abu Musab al Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq.  Knowing the inner workings of both the Baathist and al Qaeda positions, particularly their messages and goals, places al-Iraqi in the mix of those who may know the origins of this deadly alliance. 

In terms of former Baathists who later joined al Qaeda, Al Baghdadi, Aseel and al-Iraqi can't possibly be more than mere aberrations though, can they?  In fact, quite a few violent ex-Baathists (including Saddam Hussein's former right-hand man Izzat al Douri) have found their calling to be fighting jihad alongside al Qaeda in Iraq.  A more comprehensive list of those caught or killed fighting alongside al Qaeda in Iraq can be found here.

Origins

At least one jihadist website (www.al-farouq.com) has indicated that the origin of Iraq's state-sponsored Baathist/Jihadi terror infrastructure goes back to at least 1993, when Izzat al Douri-led Iraq's state-sponsored "return to faith campaign."   The report also claims that extremist front groups have been used by Iraqi intelligence and military officials for gathering intelligence and terrors attacks for over a decade.   

These claims are difficult to verify because of the lack of intelligence on both al Qaeda and Iraq that existed until only shortly before the invasion.   In the few years before the invasion revelations from not only Iraqi defectors but captured Iraqi Intelligence/Military officers and Ansar al Islam members told of coordination between the two sides.  Dan Darling's July 20, 2005 piece in the Weekly Standard does an admirable job touching on many of these stories, which jive with what a few officials have told me in private. 

By March 2003, with U.S. personnel on the ground, grey areas became somewhat clearer.  The April 2003 attack on UN headquarters in Iraq had all the making of a joint attack.  Forensic tests revealed that Iraqi military ordinance was used in the detonation and al Qaeda bomb-maker Sami Mohammed Ali Said al-Jaaf later admitted building the bomb.  Both "Jaysh Muhammad" (later found to be composed of a number of former high ranking Intelligence and Military officers from Saddam's Baath Party) and al Qaeda branch in Iraq claimed responsibility.

The attacks on the Jordanian embassy and the Shiite shrine in Najaf both showed indications of cooperation between elements of Saddam Hussein's Military (Fedayeen), Intelligence apparatus (Mukhabarat) and al Qaeda.

This coordination was on display again in Fallujah until coalition forces swept through the city not long after General John Abizaid voiced his concern over the two sides cooperation "We also have intelligence that shows that there is some linkage between Zarqawi and the former regime elements, specifically the Iraqi intelligence service" he told reporters in early 2004. 

Recent reports reveal that the ex-Baathist infrastructure that has supported al Qaeda with safe houses, money and weapons, continues unabated in the form of leadership positions and joint "holy war".  Is anyone asking "When did this deadly cooperation begin?"

Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi, listed by Iraqi officials as a native of Mosul, was recently named #29 on Iraq's "Most Wanted" list.

According told NEWSWEEK magazine's intelligence sources (and at least one of the journalists involved in the story was detained by Pakistani officials) and other reports, al-Iraqi is one of Osama bin Laden's top global deputies (challenging the notion that Iraqis have not held prominent positions in al-Qaeda), personally chosen by bin Laden to monitor al-Qaeda operations in Iraq. His duties have connected him to numerous attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan and found him shuttling information between al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq and remaining leadership in the Afghanistan/Pakistan borderland.

What is also noteworthy is al-Iraqi's background in Saddam Hussein's Army (pointed out to this site by Laurie Mylroie). During his military service over a decade ago, al-Iraqi worked his way up to the rank of Major before moving to Afghanistan to fight "jihad" against the occupying Soviet Union. This is not to assert that al-Iraqi maintained contact with Iraqi officials over the past decade (though many other Intelligence and Military officers from Saddam Hussein's regime, who were later found to be assisting al Qaeda, reportedly did) but his knowledge of the country and contacts within Iraq certainly played a role in al-Iraqi being Osama bin Laden's personal choice to monitor al Qaeda's operations in Iraq. al-Iraqi's military background likely was of great use in the terrorist training camp(s) he commanded in Afghanistan. Those camps were destroyed by U.S. forces in late 2001 around the same time that al-Iraqi's funds were beingfrozen by the United Nations.

The former Iraqi Major's network may now stretch into Europe, where captured al-Qaeda affiliates have admitted meeting with al-Iraqi and other top al-Qaeda leaders. According to Pakistani officials, Zeeshan Siddique, arrested for preparing terrorist attacks (suicide bombing) and membership to al-Qaeda, told his interrogators that Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi was among the remaining al-Qaeda leadership still provoking attacks with whom he had met while traveling the Afghanistan/Pakistan borderland.