RightWinged.com: Al Qaeda In Iraq Leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed (UPDATES / VIDEO)

Posted by Randy on June 8, 2006 04:02 AM

*****SCROLL FOR UPDATES*****

As you most probably know, I'm staying with some family until I move back to my home state of Vermont next week, and am not posting much until I've settled in to my own place after my move. But while I'm here in Louisville, I figured I would check out what free movies are available "On Demand" on my cousin's digital cable, and started watching Be Cool, up until 4:00 am ET when I stopped it to see the late repeat of the O'Reilly Factor and BAM.... ZARQAWI DEAD is all over the TV.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, has been killed in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday evening along with seven aides.

The Jordanian-born militant, who was believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States had put a $25 million bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.

read on...

My first thought was very cautious optimism, because we've heard these reports before, but as the live Fox News coverage continues in the background as I'm posting this, it seems that this time it is beyond question, and they certainly got him this time. I was pretty sure that I just heard General Casey say that Zarqawi's identity was confirmed with fingerprints and facial recognition, and the AP via CBS News is reporting that as well:

General George Casey, the top U.S. general in Iraq, says al-Zarqawi's body has been identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.

Of course we all know "he's only one man", but this victory shouldn't be minimized. Congratulations to all those involved in this bombing raid who can feel extra proud today for having eliminated this piece of garbage. Keep up the great work out there folks, this is a huge get.

Back to the "only one man" angle. Yes this is true, just as it would be in the case of Bin Laden. But as we know, the terrorists in Iraq are already a bunch of disorganized losers who were failing so badly that they had to turn to killing Iraqis in hopes of inciting a civil war. I don't think we can go as far as to say they are in a "civil war" at this point, but the terrorists did have some success in creating the beginnings of one and Zarqawi was their leader. I don't want to make any predictions at this point because this could go a number of ways, but I'll just say that this will be a really big positive.

What's really odd is that I'm one of the few bloggers usually awake and posting breaking news at around 3/4 am, but for some reason Michelle Malkin was on this and posting at 3:20. Michelle has updated (and I assume will continue to update as we hear more) and has even been able to rush video of the announcement to the web.

***UPDATE***
Any guesses on how long it takes a far left site claims that Rove is somehow behind this, in some campaign to raise President Bush's poll numbers? Speaking of Rove, didn't TruthOut report that he was supposed to be indicted like 3 or 4 weeks ago?

***UPDATE***
Check out this Yahoo! search on "zarqawi". Notice anything odd? Look at the "sponsor results" at right:
Looking for Zarqawi Collectibles? (partial screen shot below)

Zarqawi collectibles? What are we talkin' here... collectors plates? Beanie ~~Babies~~ Terrorists? Zarqawi Minitures?

Seriously though, it's just an internet marketer bidding on that, and it will just take you to an ebay search of "zarqawi".

Exgaucho notices the same ad on Technorati.

***UPDATE***
Other positive news out of Iraq today, that will probably be overshadowed by the Zarqawi story: Iraq now has interior and defense ministers after a long stalemate

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has won the approval of his Shi'ite Alliance for nominees for the interior and defense posts and will present them to parliament on Thursday, Shi'ite sources said.

***UPDATE***
Expose the Left is highlighting the left's race to downplay this.

***UPDATE***
Blogs for Bush has posted video of the bombing raid that killed Mr. Z.

***UPDATE***
Earlier I predicted that the lefty blogs would say this was a Rove stunt to bring up the president's poll numbers. Well, it seems we don't need lefty blogs when we have elected Democrats with severe cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome. The Washington Times has the story:

Some Democrats, breaking ranks from their leadership, today said the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab Zarqawi in Iraq was a stunt to divert attention from an unpopular and hopeless war.
"This is just to cover Bush's [rear] so he doesn't have to answer" for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. "Iraq is still a mess -- get out."

Update to this update... In a new post about Israel taking out the #2 terrorist on their list, Michelle Malkin takes note of this same Pete Stark quote, and provides Stark's contact information so you can let him know how you feel about it:

WASHINGTON, DC 239 Cannon Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-5065 202-226-3805 (fax)
FREMONT
39300 Civic Center Dr.
Suite 220
Fremont, CA 94538
510-494-1388
510-494-5852 (fax)

E-mail: PETEMAIL@HR.HOUSE.GOV

Are you kidding me? Regardless of how big you think this is, it is insane to say it's "just to cover Bush's rear". That statement implies that we could have taken Zarqawi out at any time we wanted, but Bush waited to give the order until it could be used to "cover his rear". Free speech is one thing, but this nut is an elected official, and anyone this stupid should be tossed out of office.

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat, said Zarqawi was a small part of "a growing anti-American insurgency" and that it's time to get out.
"We're there for all the wrong reasons," Mr. Kucinich said.

more...

The only thing surprising about Kucinich's comments is that they aren't more nutty. But while it's disgraceful that Democrats took the opportunity today to say "it's good, BUT.." and downplay the whole thing, we've lowered the bar enough that we let it slide. Whether that sentiment is accurate isn't the point, let's just have one day of praise for the military doing a good job and killing a really bad guy who is the head of terrorism in Iraq.

I'm almost afraid to scan some liberal blogs to read their comments, because we can pretty accurately predict what they'll say... but I did take a glance at the Daily~~KOS~~BS, and of course the comments aren't short on nuttiness and conspiracy theories. The important thing to remember when you read KOS comments, is that these people possess the ability to cancel out our votes! Here's just a taste, I don't have the stomach to read through much more:

Bush's idea of justice is bombs falling out of the sky?
by Johann on Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 04:49:28 AM PDT

***Conspiracy theory alert***...

Because it appears he also died September, 2005, June 2, 2005, and March 4, 2004.
Why is he dead again just now? I wonder if Karl's getting indicted tomorrow...

by dqueue on Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 08:34:23 AM PDT

Yeah, I'm sure Rove will be indicted tomorrow, better check with TruthOut.org who reported that he was indicted about a month ago.

***Conspiracy theory alert***...

What would two 500lb bombs do to a human body? Those pics of Abu Z look like they just thawed him out just in time for the elections. When was the last time we saw him?
"If you empty you glass each time, it will always come back twice as full." Paul Simon

by barefoot mailman on Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 09:01:58 AM PDT

i've been waiting for one for some time now since Bush's numbers have been in the dumps. As for the Z guy, I'm not thoroughly convinced of the story. It hard to believe anything this administration has to say anymore. But, I must admit this is one mighty fine rabbit to pull out of their ass to try and save their hides come November.
I'm a blue drop in a red bucket.

by blue drop on Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 09:53:23 AM PDT

just in time to hide the fact they're trying to cut the estate tax for the uber wealthy and plunge us into a trillion dollar more of debt.
-8.50, -7.59 This is your world. These are your people. You can live for yourself today, or help build tomorrow for everyone.

by DisNoir36 on Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 07:04:15 AM PDT

Again, this is only a sample of hundreds of comments that you might like to go laugh at if it weren't so scary that these idiots are actually real people on the other side of their computers, and that we encounter them in our daily lives.

Michelle Malkin links to a and awesome video/slideshow compilation put together by Allahpundit set to a Beastie Boy jam, of Zarqawi, the bombing raid that killed him, and the aftermath. Allahpundit also tossed it up on YouTube so that we might all share it on our blogs: