BAGHDAD, Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader in Iraq who waged a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and beheadings, was killed overnight by F-16 jets dropping two 500-pound bombs, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday. It was a long-sought victory in the war in Iraq.

Al-Zarqawi and seven aides, including spiritual adviser Sheik Abdul Rahman, were killed inside a building in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad, officials said.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell showed what he said was a picture of al-Zarqawi after he was killed, and a videotape of an attack in which he said F-16 fighter jets dropped two 500-pound bombs on the site.

"We had absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Zarqawi was in the house," Caldwell said.

The spokesman said U.S. and Iraqi intelligence found al-Zarqawi by following his spiritual adviser.

"Through a painstaking intelligence effort, we were able to start tracking him, monitor his movements and establish when he was doing his linkup with al-Zarqawi," he said.

Caldwell also said U.S. and Iraqi troops carried out 17 raids around Baghdad following al-Zarqawi's killing.

Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had called a press conference to announce that “al-Zarqawi was terminated.”

At the White House, President Bush hailed the killing as “a severe blow to al-Qaida and it is a significant victory in the war on terror.”

But he cautioned, “We have tough days ahead of us in Iraq that will require the continuing patience of the American people.”


Al-Qaida in Iraq confirmed al-Zarqawi’s death and vowed to continue its “holy war,” according to a statement posted on a Web site.

“We want to give you the joyous news of the martyrdom of the mujahed sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

“The death of our leaders is life for us. It will only increase our persistence in continuing holy war so that the word of God will be supreme.”

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said the hunt for al-Zarqawi began two weeks ago, and his body was identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.





Sometimes I'm a little conflicted when a "bad" person is killed. Under normal circumstances, I'd rather just see normal "bad" people thrown in jail. But having seen the Nick Berg execution video, I'm happy to hope that Satan is sodomizing this asshat right now.

Kurt wrote:

So they're happy that he's dead too? Wierd. Oh wait, I get it. They're just insane.

I think they're glad because he gets his 72 virgins or something like that. Unfortunately for him, when you're a murderous asshole like he was, Allah gives you this:

I think that saying that Zarqawi will be replaced, he's just a figurehead, the insurgency will continue, etc. is missing the point- no matter what al-Queda in Iraq (aka al-Queda of the Two Rivers) does from here, this guy being killed is a good thing. Replace him, fine. Say he's a martyr, fine. Say they'll retaliate, fine.

But any way you slice it, it is better for American troops, Iraqi civilians, Iraqi police and security forces, and for all of Iraq that he is dead.

I say it's better for all of Iraq because despite the fact that Zarqawi may be able to be replaced as head of Al-Queda in Iraq, he will be damn near impossible to replace as the driving force (and face) of the movement to turn Shi'ites against Sunnis WITHIN Iraq. It's impossible to minimize how good it is that Zarqawi ate two bombs yesterday.

And Regal, I don't know if you're tossing out flamebait or are really that retarded. It's impossible to tell anymore.
If I am reading your post correctly, you are implying that attempts should have been made to put Zarqawi on trial instead of just killing the fucker. Zarqawi had no international rights or protections. Unless he walked into a UN or Iraqi outpost with his hands up, telling the proper authorities everthing about his organization (where they were, what operations they were doing), then he got exactly what he had coming.


As far as what Zarqawi ever did to us or it affected us (provided that by "us" you mean Americans)...




(Or maybe by "us" you mean Europeans...)



In case you haven't seen these two videos, the captives don't stay in one piece very long after the still of the video is taken.

As I said, I don't normally like to see people killed off the bat. Trials usually come first. That being said, fuck this guy. All are better off with him in the ground.

Juffo-Wup wrote:

great job, all those dead innocent civilians, an BANG one dead baddie is out.. no offense but FUCK THAT !

I definitely agree Juffo, dead civilians suck. That being said, in no uncertain terms, there's no way this guy being dead is a bad thing in any way.