U.S.: Al Qaeda Using Iraqi Government Vehicles, Ambulances

Source: ABC News Blotter

Citing evidence that insurgents and al Qaeda terrorists are using Iraqi government vehicles and ambulances to carry out missions, Gen. David Petraeus has ordered a new system of checkpoints for almost all Iraqi official convoys and motorcades.

The only exceptions, according to an unclassified version of Gen. Petraeus' order, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, are "Tier 1" motorcades, such as that of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

U.S. officials in Washington confirmed the order and say it has been in effect since early October.

The checkpoints, according to the order, expressly target Iraqi government vehicles because of reports they are being used to "transport weapons and contraband, and to generally support illegal activity."

Gen. Petraeus, in the order, says the checkpoints are intended to "undermine the movement of terrorists and armed militias" and "to reduce corruption within the Iraqi government."

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/10/us-al-qaeda-usi.html

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PDF report: http://abcnews.go.com/images/Blotter/petraus_iraq_convoys_071019.pdf

Not entailed by the evidence.

Nice abductive reasoning, though.

So "AQI" are not extremists? But separating them, they can generate headlines like above.

Air Force One for example.