Dean's World

Al-Zarqawi Dead?

Dean

The blogosphere is abuzz at the news that Al Qaeda's top leader in Iraq, Al-Zarqawi, may be dead.

I wouldn't dance a victory dance just yet, but....

* Update * The news still appears equivocal on this, but, I still find it delightful that Zarqawi's family has completely denounced him. If he isn't dead, he can't be happy...

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JRogge:

I'll believe it when I see it too Dean.

11.20.2005 11:35pm

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John_B (mail) (www):

Yep... I need photos supported by a DNA analysis before my dancing shoes come out of the closet.

11.20.2005 11:40pm

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TallDave (mail) (www):

The White House is saying "highly unlikely" and saying the report is "not credible."

DNA testing is ongoing, however.

We'll know for sure soon enough.

11.20.2005 11:59pm

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Sean Golden (mail) (www):

I'm just hoping the reports of it being "senior Al Qada" operatives is true, even if it isn't al-Zarqawi, we seem to be getting a lot of their top "brass" lately. (Maybe "tin" would be a better metal to choose.)

There is definitely a sense that Al Qada is getting desperate in Iraq. I hope that sense is true.

11.21.2005 1:06am

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Arnold Harris (mail):

We are not just engaged in a battle against one or two men -- Osama bin Laden, abu Musab al-Zarqawi, etc -- or even against specific organizations such as al Qaeda, Hamas, whatever. The West is engaged in a protracted conflict, a clash against an alien and hostile civilization that has been proceeding in greater or lesser degree since the 7th century.

So I am not interested in learning that either of the men in question have been killed, or that this or that organization has been beaten. I only want to know what progress has been made in permanently changing the social and political cultures of worldwide Islam in general and of the Arab-speaking nations in particular. Because without that, the the clash of civilizations will contine unabated, regardless of the dismay of those in the West who would choose to ignore this ultimate totalitarian threat to the liberties they inherited from their forefathers.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

11.21.2005 6:37am

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Rhianna (aka rmschoon) (mail) (www):

Ahh, but their recent denunciation begs the question...WHY not before? It sends a loud and clear message that to those of his 'tribe' in Jordan and elsewhere that terror against Muslims and 'infadels' including hacking off heads on international television is A-OKAY as long as they don't crap where they eat. What's that say about their strain of Islam in general? It's cool to kill Muslims, to kill unbelievers, nobody minds Allah will give you your 72 white raisins/dates and it's all good! It only matters when you kill your own (own being NOT Muslims in general, but those married into or connected in some political way to your tribe). And THAT right there is the problem on the 'Arab/Muslim' street. No amount of 'we disown him' now after decades of terror around the globe will erase the fact they couldn't be bothered to denounce a TERRORIST as a TERRORIST until he killed his own.

Personally, it's like the Bin Laden family saying Osama is wrong then trying to say the US deserved 9-11 for our unbelieving attacks on Muslims the world around.

I'm sure you'll now tell me how I'm speaking for all Muslims, how I don't understand Islam, how they couldn't safely denounce him. Hmmm, Iraqis do it every day and they get blown up, gunned down or tortured, but they're still there telling terrorist pigscum to screw themselves...why not until now that his family could be bothered, that Jordanians in GENERAL could be bothered, to denounce a 'crime against Islam'. Is it not a crime if it's not them???

As for if we got him or not, 8 dead terrorists, are EIGHT DEAD TERRORISTS that will NEVER get another chance to plan against, or attack US and Iraqi forces.

11.21.2005 10:11am

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Phelps (www):

They are going to deny even if they are 99% certain it is him and have done the DNA test. When it is out that he is dead, all his links to the terror cells die. While he might be still on the lam, then all of the intel they can gather from that house is still live and they can still follow up.

You never publicize comprimising a member of a cell-based network, because it kills all the connections to that member.

11.21.2005 5:55pm