Al Qaeda Still Capable of Spectacular Attacks in Iraq

December 19, 2007

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The top U.S. commander in northern Iraq warned Wednesday that Al Qaeda in Iraq was still capable of staging spectacular attacks despite a 50 percent drop in bombings and other violence in his region.

Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling said Al Qaeda in Iraq was being pushed north by the increased numbers of U.S. troops that surged into Baghdad over the summer and fall. The insurgents are also being flushed out of Anbar province by “awakening councils” — groups of Sunni Arab tribesmen the U.S. military has backed to help fight Al Qaeda in Iraq and its allies.

“Many of them have transited our province” of Diyala, which has seen some of the worst violence in Iraq, he said. “There are still some very bad things happening in that province, but we are continuing to pursue Al Qaeda so they don’t find a safe haven anywhere.”

He said Al Qaeda extremists could still carry out attacks against infrastructure projects such as bridges.

“You know, there are going to be continued spectacular attacks,” he said when asked about the bombing of a bridge across Mosul dam on Monday.

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