AC First Look: Multinational Force in Iraq Blasts Back at Al-Qaeda Number 2

Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's number two and seen by many as the mastermind behind the organization of the terrorist faction, released a harsh criticism via audiotape on a website known to be frequented by terrorist and militant sympathizers, calling the Baghdad Security "Troop Surge" Plan a failure. In the audio tape, whose authenticity could not be immediately confirmed according to the Associated Press, Zawahiri accused President George W. Bush of covering up the "failure" of American forces there.

Within hours of this claim's widespread release, the Multinational Force Iraq shot back, calling the audiotape "propaganda".

"That is propaganda, and it is untrue," the Multinational Force Iraq told Associated Content via email. They cited several key victories against al-Qaeda in Iraq, pointing specifically to the faction's current operational limitation to the city of Mosul.

The claim is backed by a recent string of American victories against al-Qaeda in Iraq's leaders across the country, including several foreigners that the Islamic State of Iraq - the shadow government's official title after "merging" the several Sunni militant groups loyal to the Neo-Taliban faction - considered "Emirs", an Arabic word for prince, or general/commander.

Indeed, most of al-Qaeda in Iraq's operations lately have been forced to require on high profile, spectacular attacks, as most of the key individuals necessary for widespread implementation of tactics that were popular between 2005 and 2006 have been killed or captured, such as Hamid 'Away Muhammad, a logician responsible for the facilitation and implementation of Vehicle Borne IEDs (VBIEDs).

In fact, a large number of al-Qaeda in Iraq's most valuable resources - foreign born, experienced mujahideen - have been spent on attempting to rebuild lost ground that was taken from the hard line Sunni militant faction in 2007. Figures such as Jasim Najm Khalaf Mohammed have been imported into Baghdad with the hopes of re-establishing cells, although according to a press release by Major General Bergner, this plan resulted in his capture in March.

With al-Qaeda in Iraq's most experienced forces constantly being depleted in air strikes and captures across the country, al-Zawahiri's claims that his faction is "defeating" American forces rings largely hollow.

The recent shift in priority against criminal Shi'ite Militias in the Basra region further exemplifies the claim made by the MNFI, as with the increasingly hindered abilities of AQI, the Coalition has been able to focus on clamping down on the roaming bands of Shi'ites who frequently attempt to return to the cycle of sectarian violence that marred 2006. But Major General Bergner assures that even with the increased pressure leveled against what he describes as exclusively "criminal militias" who have not disbanded, there still maintain several operations both around Mosul and outside Baghdad aimed at preventing AQI from regaining a foothold in the Baghdad region.

Sources:

-Multnational Force Iraq Central Command
-Major General Bergner Press Release