And This Isn't Bigger News?

Terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has sharply lowered his profile in recent months, halting his group’s Internet claims as the number of big suicide bombings in Iraq — his infamous signature form of attack — has fallen.

Now, a man with close ties to Iraqi insurgent groups claims al-Zarqawi was shunted aside as political leader of a recently formed coalition of militants because they were angry at his propaganda efforts and embarrassed by his group’s deadly attack on hotels in Jordan.

But others caution the claim is hard to verify — and that perhaps the insurgents are just changing tactics.

Misinformation or a sign that the insurgency fueled by al Qaeda has splintered over tactics and ideological differences? No one quite knows for sure, but the ramifications are worth exploring.

If this has actually happened, this should be considered a significant victory. It shows that the US has gotten inside the al Qaeda command and control decision cycle, forcing the terrorist group to react to US actions, instead of initiating action.

It also has the potential of showing that the US has driven a wedge between the various terrorist groups operating in Iraq that it can exploit - both to be used against each other (divide and conquer individual cells).

However, it also has the potential of being a misinformation ploy to get the heat off Zarqawi. Yet, even that would show that the US has gotten close to Zarqawi.