News & Politics - Al-Qaeda's Zarqawi killed in Iraq

Lexis · 06-08-2006, 02:56 AM

Some good news to wake up to this morning.

Quote:

Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, blamed for the beheading of foreign captives and the death of hundreds in suicide bombings, has been killed in a raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said on Thursday.

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Jordanian-born Zarqawi, who had sworn loyalty to Osama bin Laden, had come to symbolize the radical Islamic insurgency against U.S. occupation in which thousands had been killed. His campaign is also believed to have played a major role in inflaming Sunni-Shi'ite tensions in the country.

U.S. officials in Iraq hailed his killing, but warned that Zarqawi's followers still posed a security threat to the Iraq government.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Zarqawi's death was a blow against al Qaeda everywhere.

"Today Zarqawi has been terminated," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced at a televised news conference attended by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey, and other senior officials.

"Every time a Zarqawi appears we will kill him," Maliki said. "We will continue confronting whoever follows his path. It is an open war between us."

Casey said the body of Zarqawi, who had a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head, had been identified and that details of his death would be revealed later on Thursday.

Maliki, who had been desperately in need of a success to bolster his authority, said seven Zarqawi aides were also killed in the raid in the city of Baquba 65 km (40 miles) north of the capital.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Zarqawi's death marked a "great success." But the ambassador and Casey cautioned that it will not end violence in the country.

The announcement of Zarqawi's death had an impact on oil prices. Crude futures were down more than one dollar to $69.82.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/iraq_dc;_...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Let's hope this puts his followers into disarray and they become easier to catch.

ilovemereallyido · 06-08-2006, 05:28 AM

thank god this stuff really freaks me out

UnsilentMajorty · 06-08-2006, 06:55 AM

Hmm... This just happens to come out when Bush is trying to regain support for the war and trying to win back his poll numbers? Coincidence?

Don't get me wrong. I am glad Zarqawi *may* be dead... But until we get more confirmations from multiple, independent sources I will be skeptical.

However, it will only be a matter of days before Zarqawi's replacement is already in place, if not now, and the U.S. and what is left of the coalition will be right back to square one fighting a seemingly never-ending influx of insurgents. I don't expect Iraq to become civil for another seven to eight years which will make it a total of 10 similar to Vietnam... Which we had to eventually claim defeat and withdraw in the end after costing thousands of lives on both sides.

**TheAngel** · 06-08-2006, 06:56 PM

His death is being reported by Chinese, British, Australian, and a variety of other sources.

Quote:

Al-Qaida confirms death of Zarqawi

Al-Qaida on Thursday confirmed the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq, in a statement posted on an Islamic website.

"We announce the joyous news of the martyrdom of our warrior Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq," said the statement signed by al-Zarqawi's deputy Abu Abdul Rahman al-Iraqi.

"This is an honor to our nation...Our leader's death will only boost our persistence in continuing the holy war," the statement added.

The authenticity of the statement can not be immediately verified.

Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born and most wanted terrorist in Iraq, is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages.

Zarqawi was killed along with his seven followers during a U.S. air strike on Wednesday near Baquba, 60 km north of Baghdad.

The U.S. military has put a bounty of 25 million dollars on al- Zarqawi, the same as on fugitive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Source: Xinhua

WalkingOnSunshine · 06-08-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsilentMajorty

Hmm... This just happens to come out when Bush is trying to regain support for the war and trying to win back his poll numbers? Coincidence?

I don't think so.

I don't see how this news can be viewed as anything but great. If Bush's numbers were through the roof I am sure that his detractors would say that this was just a move to send those numbers even higher or something along those lines. Can't this just be viewed a victory for the troops & the war on terror - instead of making it about Bush?

Quote:

Don't get me wrong. I am glad Zarqawi *may* be dead... But until we get more confirmations from multiple, independent sources I will be skeptical.

He is confirmed dead many times over, but if you want to continue to wait..ok.

Quote:

However, it will only be a matter of days before Zarqawi's replacement is already in place, if not now, and the U.S. and what is left of the coalition will be right back to square one fighting a seemingly never-ending influx of insurgents. I don't expect Iraq to become civil for another seven to eight years which will make it a total of 10 similar to Vietnam... Which we had to eventually claim defeat and withdraw in the end after costing thousands of lives on both sides.

Well, maybe or maybe not. However, I would like to allow the troops to enjoy their incredible success right now & support them for this victory in the war on terror.

**sum1** · 06-08-2006, 10:17 PM

Yay for this!

I've wanted this guy gone so long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkingOnSunshine

I don't think so.

I don't see how this news can be viewed as anything but great. If Bush's numbers were through the roof I am sure that his detractors would say that this was just a move to send those numbers even higher or something along those lines. Can't this just be viewed a victory for the troops & the war on terror - instead of making it about Bush?

Amen to that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkingOnSunshine

He is confirmed dead many times over, but if you want to continue to wait..ok.

They've got photos of him dead and they used to fingerprints to confirm it's him.

COOLCAT200 · 06-08-2006, 11:08 PM

I was very pleased and encouraged to hear this news. God knows how many innocent people this man killed or had killed. I want to applaud are troops.

-Kelly- · 06-09-2006, 01:05 AM

It's great but I bet there's more.

jalapeno_wildchild · 06-10-2006, 12:09 PM

good riddance

Lain · 06-10-2006, 01:40 PM

As much as it is a relief that a well known figure in the Al-Qaeda regime (with possibly the exception of Osama Bin Laden), it's not certain whether this would escelate more violence or lower it a little.

Marissa · 06-11-2006, 01:53 PM

Well, all discussions on the war and terrorism aside...
I think it's pretty messed up that major newspapers and internet sites are publishing his dead face all over the place. Yes, we're glad he's gone, but we don't need to see that. Our children can't see a breast on television, but looking at dead people is okay?

Lexis · 06-11-2006, 02:41 PM

I would imagine the picture's being published for the same reasons the pictures of Uday and Qusay Hussein were published - to show the world and sympathisers that they are dead, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

There is also a PR benefit for the military - this is a huge success in a war where we don't see many of them.

VU&NICO · 06-11-2006, 02:53 PM

Well Lexis, kind of relative success actually, since this war is against everything but terrorism.

Lexis · 06-11-2006, 03:42 PM

Well, I think its partially about terrorism now - the insurgents saw to that.

Ms Carolyn · 06-11-2006, 04:00 PM

I have to admit that I'm sorry he's dead -- not because I have any warm feelings toward him, but because he would be far more valuable if they could have taken him alive. Dead, he's a martyr to his fanatical associates. Alive, he could have provided valuable intelligence, and perhaps even led us to Osama Bin Laden.


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