Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi Killed in Air Raid

[Kevy Baby]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most-wanted terrorist in Iraq who waged a bloody campaign of beheadings and suicide bombings, was killed when U.S. warplanes dropped 500-pound bombs on his isolated safehouse, officials said Thursday. His death was a long-sought victory in the war in Iraq.

The whole story

[CoasterMatt]

Jun 8 632

The prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam, dies in Mecca. One can safely assume he is at this very moment reclining on a soft couch somewhere in Paradise, being serviced by a high-bosomed virgin with dark eyes.

[scaeagles]

This was brought up in the random political thoughts thread, but I certainly agree that it is worthy of its own thread.

There is thought out there that all this means is many more will rise to take his place. I disagree. To repeat what I said in the random thread -

What al-Zarqawi did was give al Qaida organization. With bin Laden in hiding and only putting out an audio or video pep talk every three months or so, I think it creates a power struggle within the organization. I think many terrorists will want to be the next al-Zarqawi and it may lead to a certain amount of in fighting.

I have no doubt it will be spun as a non victory in certain circles, but a blood thirsty islamofascist terrorist leader is dead. This is a good thing. And I am particularly happy that he has found the afterlife contains no 72 virgins for him.

To add to that a bit, I don't care about the whole martyr thing. I don't buy for a moment that the terrorists are happy (as a recent press release from them seems to imply) that he is dead. He was their leader. Likewise, it is a huge boost to the morale of US troops and also to the infant Iraqi government.

[CoasterMatt]

The Iraqi police sure seemed happy he's dead (not as a martyr, but a rotting bag of flesh).

[innerSpaceman]

Perhaps scaeagles would be surprised to learn that I am not going round in one of those circles to spin that this is a non-victorious thing. I exhault in Zarqawi's death and I congratulate the U.S. armed forces for taking him out of our plane of existence.


For all the disdain I have for the U.S. military in Iraq, it is a pittance of loathing in comparison to that which I hold for the death squads, kidnappers, bandits and islamo-facists who are responsible for the lion's share of civilian deaths in that country.

[Gemini Cricket]

By killing him, did we make him a martyr and a role model for other wannabees out there?
I'm interested to see what kind of impact this has on the war.
I can't bring myself to be happy about someone's death. It isn't in me. But I'm not sad, either.

[Nephythys]

I can- and I am not ashamed of it either.

[Gemini Cricket]

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” ~ Tolkien

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” ~ Tolkien

So is Zarqawi "Gollum" to Bin Laden's "Sauron"?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Good ridance.

What remains to be seen, in my estimation, isn't so much whether others will rise to replace him, but whether that's already happened. There's been an assumption for a while that, while Zarqawi's the most visible figure, he hasn't had direct control and input into the insurgency for quite some time. Rather, it's several separate groups with their own motives that have all united behind the same short-term motive, getting rid of American troups. Sadaam loyalists, Al-Quaida, anti-Shia groups, etc. If that's the case, I fear Zarqawi's death will be but a small hicup in the violence. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.