The apprehension of Abu Omar al-Kurdi (Intel Report) represented a major advance in the campaign against Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi?s terror network, Tawhid and Jihad . All of the group?s most spectacular bombing attacks were engineered by al-Kurdi, who has been connected to at least 32 bombings. He embodies the technical ability to build the larger bombs the group employs that inflict such psychological damage on the Iraqi population. Unless Zarqawi can replace him, the group will incur a major loss in its ability to carry out what is to Iraqis the most terrifying kind of attack in its arsenal.

The less Zarqawi?s network can intimidate Iraqis, the closer to stopping it the Coalition becomes. In addition to attacking Coalition forces and convoys, Zarqawi?s group also tries to drive a wedge between Iraqis and the Coalition, frightening Iraqis out of cooperation with Coalition forces. It has focused its wrath against police stations and recruiting centers. The big bombs it relies on in these types of attacks are believed to be al-Kurdi?s creations and, without him, these kinds of large explosions are expected to decrease. The less the Iraqi population fears the wrath of Zarqawi, the more they will be willing to provide HUMINT intelligence on his network and cooperate with the Coalition in spite of threats.

<