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U.S. Kills Al-Qaida Suspect’s Key Aide
2004-02-25
AP's just noticing this? Geraldo was on top of it before they even knew who the dead guy was.
U.S. troops killed a key lieutenant to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a militant with suspected ties to al-Qaida, the military said Tuesday.
Oh, we're just talking about the deader some more...
Abu Mohammed Hamza, believed to have been a bombmaker for al-Zarqawi, was killed Thursday in Habaniyah after U.S. troops came under fire while distributing leaflets, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. The troops returned fire, killing Hamza, he said.
Geraldo sez it was a unit of 3rd ACR and that Hamza shot one of our guys, hitting him in the face. Our guy blew Hamza away before retiring — alive, kicking, but with a massive toothache — from the field...
Kimmitt, the coalition deputy operations chief, said several people were arrested. He said troops searching the house where Hamza was killed found "a large quantity" of bomb-making materials and explosives, pro-Saddam Hussein literature and pictures of al-Zarqawi. Troops found a Jordanian passport on Hamza but were still trying to confirm his nationality, Kimmitt said.
Posted by:Geoffrey M. LaMear

#4  I see your point, Mr. Hawk. Still, good shooting.
Posted by: Mike   2004-2-25 7:04:32 PM  

#3  Cold brewskis for Force 121, courtesy of the Rantburgers.

Happy hunting boys!

Posted by: Evert Visser   2004-2-25 5:37:55 PM  

#2  Mike:

Press reports indicated that Task Force 121 got him. Wasnt just a coincidence that he was there - the pamphlet stuff was probably some kind of cover for an op specifically designed to take this guy (and also Zarqawi?) out. Didnt quite work, and the guy started shooting, to save himself, or at least avoid being taken alive (he might have led us to Zarqawi) hopefully the others detained, and the info, whill help, even though the Hamza snuffed it.

I presume theres an intense hunt for Zarqawi right now.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2004-2-25 5:11:00 PM  

#1  A few reactions:

1. Good shooting.

2. A "key lieutenant" is out amongst the cannon fodder, setting ambushes. Sounds like the bad guys are short on personnel.
Posted by: Mike   2004-2-25 1:18:10 PM  

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