Saddam's Half-Brother Caught

Iraqi security forces captured Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan on Sunday, no. 36 on the list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis (and the six of diamonds if any of you are playing along at home). Al-Hassan was the half-brother of Saddam Hussein (they had the same mother but different father) and former adviser to Hussein. Details are still sparse on how the operation and capture was carried out.

While the insurgency continues to shrink in numbers, Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were close to capturing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the country's most wanted terrorist. This confirms General Myers statement earlier this week in an interview with Brit Hume, when Myers stated that U.S. and Iraqi forces are getting very close to Zarqawi's capture.

*UPDATE*

It now appears that Syria handed over al-Hassan as a gesture of goodwill. I just wonder how many other terrorists are living in Syria under the protection of the Baathist government there. I highly doubt that al-Hassan is the only one.

As for the mainstream media's canard that Iraqis are actually supporting the insurgency, the following quotes from Iraqi citizens sum it up pretty well:

"I hope all the terrorists will be arrested soon and we can live in peace," said Safiya Nasser Sood, a 54-year-old Baghdad housewife. "Those criminals deserve death for the crimes they committed against the Iraqi people."

"I consider this day as a victory for Iraqis," said Adnan al-Mousawi, a resident in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad. "By God's will Saddam will stand in court with his officials and this will be the end of the unjust dictatorship."