IRAQ AND AL QAEDA

Fox News reports,

As U.S. forces in Iraq faced hostile fire in the air and on the ground, raids in northern Iraq yielded several members of the Al Qaeda terror network, military sources told Fox News.

Military officials could not immediately say how many suspected terrorists were detained but they said the Al Qaeda members were seized during raids by the 101st Airborne division in Mosul.

The obvious question is whether they were in Iraq before the war started or were drawn there by it.

(Hat tip: Michele at Command Post)

FILED UNDER: Iraq War, , , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. BigFire says:

    Most likely drawn there. Though we did do a number on an al Quaeda affiliated group in Northern Iraq during and after the major conflict period.

  2. James Joyner says:

    My guess as well.

  3. Jem says:

    Either way, I’d rather we face them there than do it here…and the fact that we’re nabbing these guys suggests we’re having at least some success in getting Iraqis to see helping us as preferable to helping the Islamists.

  4. melvin toast says:

    Pardon me for my lack of intelligence but what difference does it make? They’re Al Qaeda and we nabbed em. If they were there before, then invasion was necessary to get em. If they weren’t there before, then by invading we created a roach motel that attracts Al Qaeda.

    Help me out here!