AQI Loses IED Capabilities

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The Al Qaida network has seen a significant erosion in its
ability to assemble large bombs for suicide strikes in Iraq.
Officials said the Al Qaida network has been struggling to assemble car
bombs and suicide belts for attacks around Iraq. They said the few Al Qaida
bombings, particularly in northern Iraq, contained improvised explosive
devices that were smaller than those employed in 2007.
"The weakening over time is obvious to us based on their ability to
deliver an effective IED," U.S. Army Col. Tom James, commander, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, said. "Typically, we have seen in the
past the suicide vest or the deep- buried IEDs. We're not seeing those
anymore. We're seeing them to be much more primitive and much more less
effective. And we see this as a very positive thing."