Transcript, Slides Watch Now

Rear Adm. Gregory Smith’s Opening Remarks:

Good Afternoon and Assalamu ‘Alaikum.

I am joined today by the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Major General Mohammed al-Askari.  The two of us would like to talk about al-Qaeda Iraq and in particular the disturbing trend of their use and exploitation of women and children.

Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari's Opening Remarks:

(We’re targeting) the safe havens of those groups, and targeting the commanding operations of al-Qaeda, and also capturing the senior al-Qaeda leaders. The Iraqi security forces and the MNF also managed to dismantle this organization and scatter it all over the country.

It's operations, as you know, include the kidnapping of the children and demanding ransoms for them. This is one of the methods they use to finance their operations. We will show you a video of releasing or freeing a child, an 11 year-old child. His father is a simple man who works as a mechanic. He was kidnapped and the criminals wanted $100,000. In case they didn’t (pay), the child would be beheaded.

We would like to stress the importance of the Iraqi citizens through the tips that they provide through being skepticism about one of the locations. And so they informed the security services. You will see all this and the feelings of this family after their child was released. Because the child was really smart and he had a good memory, he gave the cell phone number of his parents to the security forces and they contacted his parents. In this operation we managed to capture five of the kidnappers of the child in Kirkuk.

Child's Rescue

This operation came after receiving tips from the citizens. This is an important thing. After investigating those five kidnappers, they led us to another network in Kirkuk and we captured another three kidnappers. These methods of kidnapping the children and demanding ransoms are done so that they can fix their financial situation in al-Qaeda.

Admiral Smith will also talk about a very important thing regarding the new mechanism of al-Qaeda. Do you know what that is? It’s the use of children from 8 to 14. Al-Qaeda is bragging about recruiting those children and making them bombs to kill the Iraqis.

Rear Adm. Gregory Smith’s Opening Remarks Continued:

One of the most significant factors in the 60 percent decrease in terrorist attacks since last June has been the widespread rejection of al-Qaeda by Iraqis who have suffered from their indiscriminate violence -- the murder, intimidation, extortion and kidnapping -- as we just witnessed with the dramatic rescue video General Askari showed -- the car bombs and suicide bombers that destroy Iraq’s bridges, electrical system and most tragically kills and injures scores of innocent victims.

None of this can be explained in a rationale way -- it’s a morally broke ideology that Iraqis have rejected and are fighting against to reclaim their homeland.

The fight has given rise to tens of thousands of local citizens volunteering to defend their neighborhoods; the dramatic increase in the number of TIPS from average citizens that come in daily to Iraqi and Coalition security forces; and, the commitment by the Government of Iraq that grew its Security Forces by some 125,000 personnel in 2007.

The events in recent weeks further remind us of the morally depraved nature of Iraq’s enemy.

We have seen two 15-year old boys used as suicide bombers.

Al Qaeda also appears to be increasing the use of women as suicide bombers.  Prior to 2007, five women had carried out suicide attacks … there have been 10 women since then, with four already in 2008.

The two women who most likely unwittingly carried explosives into the markets last Friday were teenagers -- even more sad than that, they were both mentally handicapped and were used by al-Qaeda to murder innocent men, women and children out celebrating the holy day.

In further proof of depths al-Qaeda will go to achieve its objectives in Iraq, I want to share with you some photos of material recently obtained off an objective showing how these terrorists exploit children.

Slides

(SLIDE 1:  FREEZE FRAMES OF VIDEO)

On December 4th near Khan Bani Sad, Coalition Forces conducted a targeted operation to go after several al-Qaeda operatives.  In the course of that operation three al-Qaeda Iraq extremists were detained and two others were killed when they showed hostile intent.

At that objective, Coalition Forces found several items, including five videos of al-Qaeda Iraq training and indoctrinating a group of young boys.  This is not the first time we observed such material, but the volume and content was the most significant and disturbing we’ve found to date. 

(SLIDE 2:  FREEZE FRAMES OF VIDEO)

The videos show twenty or so boys, most believed to be under the age of eleven, being trained on how to carry out kidnapping and assassinations.  The boys were supplied weapons, ranging from pistols, machine guns, and rocket propelled grenade launchers.  The video also shows the boys making statements promoting slaughter and declaring their allegiance to al-Qaeda.   

(SLIDE 3:  FREEZE FRAMES OF VIDEO)

We believe the purpose of these videos was to produce training films to be promulgated throughout Iraq encouraging other youth -- and presumably their parents -- to begin the necessary training and indoctrination toward becoming al-Qaeda terrorists -- proficient at carrying out violence against fellow Iraqis.

I would like to show you a short video that was compiled from the material found in the Khan Bani Sa’d operation.

Play the video please.

AQI Training Children

(Slide 4:  PROPAGANDA VIDEOS)

In addition to these training videos, we have also found at other locations videos of al Qaeda using children for propaganda purposes.  Al-Qaeda often refers to the children as the “new generation of the Mujahidin.”  We’ve also seen evidence of al-Qaeda entering schools, disseminating propaganda and no doubt terrorizing the children and teachers. 

We also know that as many as 5,000 internet websites associated with al Qaeda -- or friendly to al Qaeda’s jihad -- often target young people and children with their radical ideology.   

(Slide 5:  SLIDE OF MOVIE SCRIPT)

On December 8th, Coalition Forces were conducting operations against al-Qaeda Iraq near Muqdadiyah and found a written proposal to do a movie showing terrorist training children.

The script was to include children interrogating and executing victims, planting improvised explosive devices and conducting sniper attacks.

As you can see, al Qaeda in Iraq wants to poison the next generation of Iraqis and hopes to continue the cycle of violence they have brought upon Iraq.

Despite the 60 percent drop in violence I mentioned at the start of my remarks, we still assess that al Qaeda remains the most significant threat to Iraq.  Consequently, Iraqi and Coalition Security Forces will continue to focus its operations on targeting the leadership of al-Qaeda and in pursuing their networks wherever they are operating.

During the month of January, Iraqi and Coalition Forces killed or captured a total of 35 senior al-Qaeda Iraq terrorists.  These 35 include four emirs who directed al-Qaeda Iraq’s operations, three cell leaders, six who led vehicle bomb and road-side bomb networks, six who led media and propaganda operations, three foreign terrorist facilitators, and fourteen financial, weapons and communications facilitators.

(Slide: JANUARY ROLL-UP)

This slide shows ten of the most significant of the thirty-five killed or captured al-Qaeda Iraq for the month of January.

Yasin Sabah Salih Jubayyir was the Security Emir covering most of Northern Iraq.  He was a recruiter, foreign fighter and weapons facilitator.  He was captured on December 13th in Mosul.

Barhan Hammud ‘Awad Hammad was a foreign terrorist facilitator in the Bayji area.  He was picked up during an operation on December 11th near Tikrit.

Salman Hammadi Salman ran financing in the Arab Jabour area.  He was captured on December 22nd near Baghdad.

Ahmad Sami Shawkat ‘Abd-al-Hamid ran a vehicle bomb network and foreign terrorists facilitator in Baghdad.  He was captured on January 12th in Baghdad.

Fawzi Karim Nasir is another vehicle bomb network leader in the Baghdad area and was captured on January 10th.

Najim ‘Abdalla Hasan Salih was the Security Emir of Mosul and was captured there on December 13th.

Hazim Najm Salih Hamad was a weapons facilitator and ran communications for al Qaeda near Samarra where he was captured on January 5th.

Abu Mustafa was killed on December 4th in Khan Bani Sa’d.  He was the Media Emir for Diyala Province.

Ahmad Karim Salman Rashid was detained 9 January in Mahmudiyah where he carried out vehicle bomb attacks. 

And lastly… Mu’taz ‘Ali Salih was the Military Emir of Arab Jabour involved in terrorist operations south of Baghdad. He was captured 15 December in Baghdad.

(Slide: BLACK SLIDE)

Before we take your questions, I wanted to note the stark contrast between those who are building a strong, secure and peaceful society and those who seek to create a culture of violence, hate and despair.

As I said last week, Iraq’s democratic and elected government is building schools, training engineers, police officers and doctors, and offers the children of Iraq hope for a peaceful and prosperous future.

Al-Qaeda Iraq on the other hand sends 15-year old boys and mentally handicapped women on suicide missions, builds car bombs and is trying to teach children how to kill.  The Iraqi people have made their choice clear and the men and women of Multi-National Force Iraq will partner with them to rid this nation of extremism and terrorism.

With that, we’d be happy to take your questions.

Additional information provided regarding number of minor detainees currently in Coalition custody:

- Coalition forces are holding approximately 600 juvenile detainees between the ages of 13 and 17. More than half of those are 17.

- Once an individual turns 18, he is moved into the adult population.