Top U.S. Special Operations Commander In 2017 Said ISIS Leader Slipped Away Due To A New York Times Leak

Iraqi youth watch the news of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi death, in Najaf, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

WNU Editor: There is a lot of criticisms directed at President Trump's decision to not inform Congress on the al-Baghdadi raid. But there is precedent where a leak to the New York Times resulted in ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi escaping in 2017 .... ISIS broken, but leader slipped away due to leak, says key general (FOX News). The key part of this 2017 report ....

.... In a wide-ranging interview moderated by Fox News’ Catherine Herridge, Thomas, who leads the Special Operations Command, said his team was “particularly close” to Baghdadi after the 2015 raid that killed ISIS oil minister Abu Sayyaf. That raid also netted his wife, who provided a wealth of actionable information.

“That was a very good lead. Unfortunately, it was leaked in a prominent national newspaper about a week later and that lead went dead,” Thomas said. “The challenge we have [is] in terms of where and how our tactics and procedures are discussed openly. There’s a great need to inform the American public about what we’re up to. There’s also great need to recognize things that will absolutely undercut our ability to do our job.”

Thomas appeared to be referring to a New York Times report in June 2015 that detailed how American intelligence agencies had “extracted valuable information.”

President Trump was right to keep this operation compartmentalized and top secret. There is a precedent of government officials and politicians leaking such information in the past, much to the harm to everyone.In this case the leaker was not caught.

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