Al Qaeda set back in Iraq

I pay attention to the prior affiliation. For example, the new "leader" is an Egyptian. This one was an officer in Saddam's army. The Christian Science Monitor:

CAIRO – An Iraqi man who officials say planned an attack on a Shiite shrine last February that pushed sectarian fighting to its highest pitch since the war began has been captured. He was the second in command of Al Qaeda in Iraq, say Iraqi officials.

Hamid Juma Faris al-Saeedi, described as a former member of Saddam Hussein's feared domestic intelligence service was arrested a few days ago, north of Baqubah. In June, the founder of the Iraq-based group, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed by a US airstrike in Baqubah.

National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie said on Sunday the arrest was a major blow for the group. "I can say Al Qaeda in Iraq is severely wounded,'' he told reporters.