Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed in air strike
Thursday, 8 June 2006 | 175 readers so far
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead. Yes, he is. What can I say? From my perspective, a monster departs the realm of the living.
I’m sure further details will emerge throughout the day.
Prediction: Conspiracy theorists will come up with all kinds of plots and claim that the U.S. had him in custody all along and he was killed to offset negative press reports about Haditha. And variants on that theme as well.
Update: MNF-I press release - Coalition forces kill Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi
Update II: I’ve talked to a few of my Iraqi co-workers. Every one of them has expressed a sentiment that “today is a good day in Iraq.” For them, news of Zarqawi’s death is personal.
Update III: Omar at Iraq the Model celebrates and discusses the terrrorist’s legacy of horror.
CONGRATULATIONS TO IRAQ, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE WORLD ON THIS VICTORY.
Watching the live press conference on the Pentagon Channel, which is happening next door as I write this. Someone already asked about the fortuitous timing - Zarqawi killed and important cabinet members named on the same day? Well, yeah, sometimes good things come in waves.
Update V: Photo of dead Zarqawi and video of the air strike available at MNF-Iraq.com. I link to the photo as proof, not because I want to gloat. Zarqawi dead does not bring back any of his victims, it only ensures he cannot plan more murders. There are also slides available from today’s press conference here.
Update VI: It’s now my understanding that Zarqawi was killed by the air strike, and not by forces on the ground, although it is clear that there were many different groups involved in yesterday’s assault, from both coalition and Iraqi forces. Interestingly, I’m told Iraqi police were the first ground elements to arrive on scene post air strike.
1 June 8th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Mudville Gazette says:
Zarqawi Dead…
Welcome to hell, bitch..MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE - IRAQ COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER BAGHDAD, Iraq http://www.mnf-iraq.com 703.270.0320 / 0299 June 8, 2006 Release A060608a Coalition forces kill Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National Fo…
2 June 8th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
alisa says:
This is great news, especially the fact that Iraqi and jordanian assets provided the intelligence needed to locate and kill him.
Hopefully this will befuddle the insurgency for a bit giving us an upper hand.
3 June 8th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
SK says:
Hi Trevor! I’d really like to buy a really BIG drink for everybody who made this happen. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for making the world a little safer. A huge Thank You goes out to our military and to the Iraqi’s as well.
4 June 8th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Cheryl Friend says:
Trevor,
I listened to the President on the way in to work this morning. Congratulations to Coalition Forces and our Special Ops team. The monster’s website is calling him a martyr, I hope this doesn’t increase insurgency activity. God Bless to all of you fighting the good fight. I hope that our Special Ops group is on their way as I write this to join their brothers in arms in Afghanistan to pick off Osama next. Here’s to a Good Day.
5 June 8th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
The Thunder Run says:
Web Reconnaissance for 06/08/2006…
Coalition forces kill Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi!…
6 June 8th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
GunnNutt says:
Another one bites the dust! Thanks for providing the happy news with all the details, Trevor.
You guys are the BEST!
7 June 8th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Harley says:
Trevor,
An MSNBC news article (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12135213/) of April 3 suggests Al-Zarqawi had already lost considerable power to other disparate groups — “Iraq’s insurgency has always been made up of several disparate groups, and some of them, including Ansar al-Sunnah Army and the Islamic Army of Iraq, have been nearly as violent as al-Zarqawi’s al-Qaida in Iraq.”
Can you comment on how this may play out in the weeks ahead?
Harley
8 June 8th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Dan Cameron Rodill says:
gringoVision salutes the American warriors who did their job and did it superbly. It will also have a good word for President Bush in this operation—-after the Americans who served in Iraq and who are now shackled in solitary confinement in the brig at Camp Pendleton, CA are unshackled and get at least as many privileges as do the jihad detainees at Guantanomo.
============================================
“Haditha Crucifixion.” Illustrated.
9 June 10th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
DR.T. says:
TO ALL IDIOT NEWS MEDIA AND BLEEDING HEART MORONS,
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT THE AMERICANS PUT A BLANKET OVER THIS BASTARD AND BEAT HIM TO DEATH:
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi could barely speak, but he struggled and tried to get away from American soldiers as he lay dying on a stretcher in the ruins of his hideout.
WHO GIVES “A SITE“!!!
GOOD FOR THEM!!!
THIS GUY WAS A PIECE OF HUMAN GARBAGE AND HE DESERVED WHAT HE GOT!!!
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE!!!
DR. T.
10 June 10th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Trevor says:
Never believe the witness who doesn’t want his name given.
I seriously doubt the veracity of the story.
11 June 13th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Sgt S. Humphrey says:
Well we finally got him? it took 2 500lbs and that does a number on a grid square. So basically we got lucky. It would have been better if ground forces would have captured him and we could have turned him over to the Iraqi government and let them deal with this piece of s*** . 500 lbs bombs are an area weapon, a sniper is a point weapon much better for propaganda and turning them over to another commiserate government is tits!!!