U.S. keeps heat up as al-Qaida in Iraq issues urgent appeals

Perhaps Hollwood in concert with the DNC could initiate an emergency fundraiser.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. military pressed its offensive against al-Qaida in Iraq on Friday, staging an additional 39 raids based mostly on information uncovered during the hunt that led to the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a U.S. airstrike.

The raids came as al-Qaida issued urgent appeals for money and volunteers to fight U.S. forces, a day after the news of al-Zarqawi's death left the organization without a clearly identifiable leader.

The al-Qaida appeals suggested al-Zarqawi's network may be feeling heat from the U.S. raids, which have extended beyond Hibhib to include locations in and around Baghdad.

They're feeling the heat alright, their house of cards is crumbling.