Where (and who) in the world is Abu Omar al-Baghdadi?

Al Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Omar al-Baghdadi issued an audiotape today calling for continued violence against U.S. troops in Iraq: “Even if the Americans remain nowhere but a small spot in the Iraqi desert … so every Muslim should battle them until they are expelled,” the voice, reported to be Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.
583899_090708_baghdadi2.jpg
583899_090708_baghdadi2.jpg
UNSPECIFIED, UNDATED: This undated image provided on April 28, 2009 by the Iraqi government supposedly shows Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, a top leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, who was captured by the Iraqi security forces. Authorities announced Al-Baghdadi's capture last week, however, this was met with skepticism as similar previous announcements have been proven false. (Photo by Iraqi Government Office via Getty Images)

Al Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Omar al-Baghdadi issued an audiotape today calling for continued violence against U.S. troops in Iraq:

Al Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Omar al-Baghdadi issued an audiotape today calling for continued violence against U.S. troops in Iraq:

“Even if the Americans remain nowhere but a small spot in the Iraqi desert … so every Muslim should battle them until they are expelled,” the voice, reported to be Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, said in the recording posted on a website used by jihadists. 

The sentiment is hardly unusual for AQI, but it does seem odd that a terrorist who the Iraqis claim to have in jail (or at least they have the man in this photo in jail) and the U.S. claims doesn’t exist is recording audiotapes.

Impressive guy.

Iraqi Government Office via Getty Images

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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