The log keeps rolling

Yesterday, MNF-Iraq issued this press release:

Coalition forces captured Al Qaeda in Iraq’s propaganda cell leader during a raid last month.

Coalition forces raided a suspected terrorist safe house in Karabilah, capturing Yasir Khudr Muhammad Jasim al-Karbali (aka Abu Dijana) Sept. 25. Dijana was the senior Al Qaeda in Iraq propaganda cell leader for Karabilah, Al Qaim and Husaybah.

As I pointed out yesterday, Abu Azzam, a senior leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed on Sept 25. Now, we hear of a lower-ranking cell leader captured the same day.

These two events occurred the day after two terrorists were captured, one of them an executive assistant to Abu Azzam.

"The Barber’s" duties included altering senior al Qaeda in Iraq member’s appearances by dying hair color, altering hairstyles and changing facial hair in their efforts to evade capture.

Abu Khalil, a close associate of Abu Azzam, served as an executive assistant for the terrorist emir. He also acted as a banker for Azzam and stored the terrorist organizations funds so they would not be confiscated should Abu Azzam be killed or captured.

Note how Abu Khalil is described as a "close associate of Abu Azzam".

Now, note this passage from the press release announcing the death of Azzam (emphasis mine):

Multiple intelligence sources and corroborating information from a close associate of Abu Azzam led Coalition and Iraqi security forces to the terrorist safe house where the al Qaeda in Iraq leader was hiding. A combined operation was conducted with the intent of capturing the wanted terrorist; however, Abu Azzam fired on the forces, and their return fire killed the al Qaeda in Iraq leader.

It is reasonable to assume that Abu Khalil is the "close associate" who gave up Abu Azzam. It is also reasonable to assume Abu Khalil was strongly encouraged to speak openly and honestly about the location of other terrorists.

It was a significant success to capture Abu Khalil, because as the keeper of the purse, he would know the locations of other key terrorists, as they would come to him for money. As in any significant operation, if you follow the money, you have a solid idea of how an organization works.

This captured propaganda cell leader may have interacted with Abu Khalil, requesting the funds necessary to buy equipment needed to support the propaganda efforts, such as video equipment, etc... Abu Khalil may have given the information that led to this cell leader's capture a day later.

Again, the fact we are hearing of these successes now suggests Abu Khalil had a lot to say, and presumably his knowledge led to other raids in the past three weeks.

There have been success stories like this, where the capture of one terrorist yields intelligence that leads to the capture of others. These others have intelligence that leads to the capture of still more, and so on. This log-rolling has had great momentum in the past few months.

Intelligence people are loathe to publicly disclose details about their successes, and you can bet there are stories we know nothing about. That the Coalition would release even this much information suggests they've gleaned whatever information they'll think they'll get out of these terrorists. Besides, surely by now their associates will know they were taken, and will have taken steps to find other safe locations.

There is a definite sense that a corner has been turned in Iraq. The Iraqi people themselves are giving tips that lead to intelligence successes, the Iraqi security forces, who know their home terrain better than anyone, are developing their own intelligence successes. Key figures are being captured or killed. Let us enjoy the good news this really is.

-----
linked to Mudville Gazette's Open Post