Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, singing like a bird

This is a huge capture, since he is singing like a bird. Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani "shed light on the workings of al Qaeda in Iraq and its connection with al Qaeda outside of Iraq..."

He said al-Mashadani is a close associate of al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri and served as an "intermediary" between al-Masri, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-in-command of al Qaeda.

"In fact, communication between senior al Qaeda leadership and al-Masri frequently went through al-Mashadani," Bergner said.

Bergner said al-Mashadani co-founded an organization "in cyberspace" called the Islamic State of Iraq, which he referred to as a "marketing" effort to create a Taliban-like state in Iraq. (WIBW)

Islamic State of Iraq – an al Qaeda front, The Fourth Rail

Mashadani has a long pedigree in Iraq’s Salafist terror networks, and had direct contact with Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. “Mashadani was a leader in the Ansar Al Sunna terrorist group before joining AQI two and half years ago,” Brig. Gen Kevin Bergner said in a press briefing. “ He served as the al-Qaeda Media Emir for Baghdad and then was appointed the Media Emir for all of Iraq, serving as an intermediary between AQI leader al-Masri, Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. In fact, communication between senior al-Qaeda leadership and al-Masri went through Mashadani.”

US Captures Top AQI Figure, Captain's Quarters

Mashhadani may give the US enough information to target the real leader of AQI, if it isn't Omar al-Baghdadi. Interestingly, some think that Khaled Mashhadini is Omar al-Baghdadi. Nibras Kazimi gave a run-down on al-Baghdadi four months ago: [snip]

UPDATE I: The US is now saying that Mashhadani is the "most senior Iraqi" in AQI. Mashhadani used a ruse to keep his identity from being known as the leader of AQI:

Al-Qaeda in Iraq Top Dog Nabbed, Pajamas Media

Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, also known as Abu Shahid, was captured in Mosul on July 4, said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a military spokesman.” (AP/Breitbart)

Military Captures Top al-Qaida in Iraq Figure, Stop the ACLU

Top Al Qaeda in Iraq Official Captured!, Gateway Pundit

U.S. captures “leader” of Islamic State of Iraq, Hot Air

A new blog to the blogroll, Tailhook Daily Briefing. Check out the article "What's What in the Great War on Terrorism?"

Comments

[Debbie]

Brad, good point. I've never heard that head line.

On Tailhook, I try to highlight new blogs that I think are worth readers time. Always glad to give new sites a plug.

[BRAD Marston]

Debbie,

Read your story that we caught the latest Mohamed Ali-al Alphabet. Funny how we never read a story "AQI captures senior US Commander in Iraq. I must be slow but I still can't figure out why people say we can't "win" the war on terror.

BTW...checked out the Daily Briefing at the Tailhook Association. Great speech by General Conway. Thanks for the tip.

[Angel]

How many freakin names do these goobers have to have anyway? LMBO! :)

[Thomas Hamilton]

How many freakin names do these goobers have to have anyway?

[fidothedog]

Lets just hope he gets a nice pad at Club Gitmo.

I think once this moslem has spilled his guts, there will a lot of his friends joining him in Cuba.

Well done to all involved in catching this chap.

[Freedom Now]

This is further proof of the level of deception that Al Qaeda uses and how Leftists intentionally or unintentionally assist them.

How much more do we have to listen to Leftists complain that Al Qaeda's role in the insurgency is exaggerated?

[Layla]

This is great news and hopefully the information he gives will thwart future terror attacks elsewhere. The downside is that every time they catch one another three spring up. Sigh......