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Al Masri, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Captured confirmation waiting.

al-Qaeda's forces in Iraq have been spending the last year, since President George Bush decided to implement General David Petraeus' counter insurgency strategy that had by this time last year turned the Sunni Province of Anbar, the center of al-Qaeda's operations in Iraq at the time, into a model of an al-Qaeda free Iraq. From this time last year until now al-Qaeda has been chased out of all its strongholds leaving it with its last toe-hold in the Northern Provinces of Iraq around Mosul. Today we have excellent news on the war on terror as another al-Qaeda leader has been captured, further decimating al-Qaeda's ability to operate in Iraq:

The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested, according to media reports quoting the country's defence ministry.

Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was detained in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the reports said.

The US military in Iraq said it was currently looking into the reports.

The Egyptian-born militant took over the leadership of the group from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shortly after he was killed in a US air strike in June 2006.

Masri is believed to have helped Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad following the US-led invasion in 2003.

After becoming leader, he vowed to "continue what Sheikh Abu Musab began" and avenge his death with attacks that would "turn your children's hair white".

al-Masri had promised a return of al-Qaeda this month with renewed attacks which really have not transpired. Why this is such a huge blow to AQ is the man was captured, which means he is going to be interrogated and lots of intelligence will be in his possession for the US to identify and destroy the remnants of al-Qaeda's dwindling forces in Iraq. I would not be surprised if the coming weeks see large numbers of AQ cells captured or killed. AQ truly is on its last legs in Iraq. While it has taken longer than many of us had hoped, each time one of these top leaders is caught AQ suffers major setbacks. At their current strength this could be a blow they don't survive. At least we can hope!

Thank God we did not listen to the Surrendercrats and run away from Iraq or al-Masri would be running a major fighting force right now, working hard to inflict attacks on the West comparable or worse than 9-11. Instead he is now sitting in a cell undergoing some aggressive interrogations so Iraq and America can stop his thugs from shedding any more blood.