By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Iraqi army announced on Sunday it has captured documents belonging to al-Qaeda in Iraq Iraq revealed that the network was having a crisis.
Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, Director of the Multi-National Force -Iraqs Communication Division, said at a press conference that “On November 18th of last year, Coalition forces were conducting operations against al-Qaeda leaders near Samarra, northwest of Baghdad, as part of Operation Anchorage. During the raid, Coalition forces killed Abu Maysara, a senior advisor to Abu Ayyoub al-Masri.
Among his effects, “we discovered a number of electronic storage devices, computer hard drives, thumb drives, compact discs and DVDs, along with original documents. One item seized in this operation was a 39-page typed document, undated and unsigned”, he said.
He pointed out “Our analysis of this document leads us to believe that it was written in the summer of 2007 by a mid-to high-level al-Qaeda Iraq emir. The intended audience for the document appears to have been the authors superiors”.
He added that these assessments were based on numerous factors, including the authors comprehensive knowledge of al-Qaeda Iraqs operations and events in al-Anbar, as well as the tone and content of the writing.
He quoted the author of the document as telling “The Islamic State of Iraq is faced with an extraordinary crisis, especially in al-Anbar.”
“Overall, the document is a pessimistic assessment of al-Qaeda Iraqs long-term prospects in the al-Anbar area. The author describes the difficulties involved with trying to manage foreign fighters. He states that al-Qaeda Iraq has lost popular support in the province. He recommends that al-Qaeda Iraq’s remaining foreign fighters in al-Anbar be moved to other areas of Iraq, where the terrorists might have greater freedom of action”, he said.
He said: “I need to stress before going on, that this document does not suggest, nor do we, that al-Qaeda is defeated in al-Anbar or across Iraq. Al-Qaeda remains a significant and dangerous threat to Iraq. Their goals have not changed and they will continue to intimidate, extort and kill innocent men, women and children to gain their foothold in Iraq. But this document does show — in the words of one senior Emir — that al-Qaeda had assessed itself in the summer of 2007 as experiencing grave difficulties and serious setbacks in al-Anbar”.