It seems that the leader of the terrorist organization called the “Islamic State of Iraq” might have been arrested. Nibras Kazimi points out that the leader’s real name is reported to be Khalid Khalil Ibrahim al-Mashhadani. Interestingly enough, “both Iraq’s Vice President, Tariq al-Hashemi, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who are the leading Sunnis in the Iraqi government, belong to the Mashhadani tribe.”
Although al-Mashhadani seems to fit the picture perfectly, one thing is bothering Kazimi: “Khalid is not particularly well-educated: he seems to have gone to a technical college rather than attend a university. Would Al-Qaeda take such a gamble on an intellectual lightweight who wouldn’t necessarily be seen as someone with much of a background in religious education? Would they put him forward as their candidate for Caliph?”
A.P. also links to this article by David Axe. In short: if you want to hit a terrorist network, the leaders are not the main concern, the “boundary spanners” are.
Big deal or not practically, catching the leader of ISA would mean a significant PR victory and, as such, it might demoralize the other members of before mentioned terrorist organization.
UPDATE
…great. false alarm
