We are working on the rat line from inside Iraq:
A joint U.S.-Iraqi force targeted an al-Qaida cell involved in funneling arms and weapons into Iraq from Syria, arresting three people near the troubled northern city of Mosul, the U.S. military said Saturday.
The statement said the cell is led by the Syria-based Abu Khalaf, whose assets were frozen by the U.S. Treasury department on Thursday for his involvement in the flow of money, weapons and militants through Syria into Iraq.
The operation took place in the village of Tal al-Hawa, 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Mosul.
"The combined force was led to a residence where they captured three of Abu Khalaf's associates," according to the statement. It added that one of the men was wanted by the Iraqis in connection with car bombings.
Another suspected member of Al-Qaida in Iraq was arrested in Mosul itself. The operations took place on Friday and Saturday.
Mosul, described as the last urban stronghold in Iraq of al-Qaida, has been the scene of a flurry of operations ahead of a June deadline for U.S. forces to pull out of the country's cities.
The Iraqis need to step up. But it is understandable that they--and we--worry about their ability given the help we've given up until now.
But the Iraqis have the advantage that the enemy is knocked down and mostly localized now. Iraq should be able to handle the job with our logistics and other support.
