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September 28, 2005

"Newsweek" Confirms Evan Kohlmann's Post: Abu Azzam Was Not Al-Zarqawi's "#2"

Topics: Iraq

In our September 26 post on this subject, we linked to an Al-Zarqawo network organizational chart that had Abu Azzam as not even being close to a number 2 slot under Zarqawi, but reported the story as written by CBS/AP, but pointed out that we have to be careful as to "who" we place in the "who's who" list of Zarqawi accomplices.

Now we are learning that this week's "Terror Watch" column at "Newsweek" has confirmed what Evan Kohlman reported yesterday on The Counterterrorism Blog - that Abu Azzam was not truly al-Zarqawi's "#2" in Iraq. Reporters Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, after digging deeper and interviewing senior counterterrorism officials, "quoted Evan Kohlmann: ""If I had a nickel for every No. 2 and No. 3 they've arrested or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'd be a millionaire...this guy was not the deputy commander of Al Qaeda." And furthermore, they confirmed his conclusions through their interviews."

So it looks like the organizational chart in our previous post (link above) might be reasonably up to date afterall, and that Abu Azzam was not really al-Zarqawi's "#2" in Iraq, albeit he was an important elimination from the network.

Posted by Richard at September 28, 2005 9:11 PM

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• "Newsweek" Confirms Evan Kohlmann's Post: Abu Azzam Was Not Al-Zarqawi's "#2" - Sep 28, 2005