U.S. says Insurgent - never existed?

Question

BAGHDAD, July 18 — For more than a year , the leader of one the most notorious insurgent groups in Iraq was said to be a mysterious Iraqi called Abu Omar al-Baghdadi .

As the titular head of the Islamic State in Iraq , Mr. Baghdadi issued incendiary pronouncements . Despite claims by an Iraqi Interior Ministry official in May that Mr. Baghdadi had been killed , he appeared to have persevered unscathed .

On Wednesday, the chief United States military spokesman here , Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner , provided a new explanation for Mr. Baghdadi’s ability to escape attack . Hold onto your hats because the man pictured above and the man who headed the Islamic State in Iraq - never existed { yes you read that right } .

See link - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/world/middleeast/18cnd-baghdadi.html?_r=4&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1185222583-jWM4iFlF4pvvcF+jPnUKyA

Question - What are your thoughts on this ?

see link if you wish to see a picture of the man - http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog/popup_slideshow.html?p=261&id=lc2Cu843erIwY6fujsZpxHBX

Answer 1

Does anyone think this "person" may have been a fictitious character made up by the U.S. government to make an excuse to remain in Iraq?

Answer 2

So, the Iraqi Interior Ministry says the person was real.

And US military forces says he's a fictitious figurehead.

Either we believe in the Iraqi govt, or we say they are unable to even identify their opponents. If the latter, how can we possibly think they will be ready anytime soon to run their own country.

Answer 3

Yes.
It is believed to be propaganda put out by Al Qaeda leaders.
Even the Al Qaeda believed it.
Effective propaganda.
Al Qaeda may have copied off our own Democrat Party & Liberal News Media.

Answer 4

al queerda is adopting the tactics of Milli Vanilli.

Surely a sign of desparation...

Answer 5

sounds pretty ingenious to me..can't kill someone who never existed