Posted on 06/08/2006 5:58:59 AM PDT by FairOpinion
7:31 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Last night in Iraq, United States military forces killed the terrorist al Zarqawi. At 6:15 p.m. Baghdad time, special operation forces, acting on tips and intelligence from Iraqis, confirmed Zarqawi's location, and delivered justice to the most wanted terrorist in Iraq.
Zarqawi was the operational commander of the terrorist movement in Iraq. He led a campaign of car bombings, assassinations and suicide attacks that has taken the lives of many American forces and thousands of innocent Iraqis. Osama bin Laden called this Jordanian terrorist "the prince of al Qaeda in Iraq." He called on the terrorists around the world to listen to him and obey him. Zarqawi personally beheaded American hostages and other civilians in Iraq. He masterminded the destruction of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. He was responsible for the assassination of an American diplomat in Jordan, and the bombing of a hotel in Amman.
Through his every action, he sought to defeat America and our coalition partners, and turn Iraq into a safe haven from which al Qaeda could wage its war on free nations. To achieve these ends, he worked to divide Iraqis and incite civil war. And only last week he released an audio tape attacking Iraq's elected leaders, and denouncing those advocating the end of sectarianism.
Now Zarqawi has met his end, and this violent man will never murder again. Iraqis can be justly proud of their new government and its early steps to improve their security. And Americans can be enormously proud of the men and women of our armed forces, who worked tirelessly with their Iraqi counterparts to track down this brutal terrorist and put him out of business.
The operation against Zarqawi was conducted with courage and professionalism by the finest military in the world. Coalition and Iraqi forces persevered through years of near misses and false leads, and they never gave up. Last night their persistence and determination were rewarded. On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate our troops on this remarkable achievement.
Zarqawi is dead, but the difficult and necessary mission in Iraq continues. We can expect the terrorists and insurgents to carry on without him. We can expect the sectarian violence to continue. Yet the ideology of terror has lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders.
Zarqawi's death is a severe blow to al Qaeda. It's a victory in the global war on terror, and it is an opportunity for Iraq's new government to turn the tide of this struggle. A few minutes ago I spoke to Prime Minister Maliki. I congratulated him on close collaboration between coalition and Iraqi forces that helped make this day possible. Iraq's freely elected Prime Minister is determined to defeat our common enemies and bring security and the rule of law to all its people.
Earlier this morning he announced the completion of his cabinet appointments, with the naming of a new Minister of Defense, a new Minister of the Interior, and a new Minister of State for National Security. These new ministers are part of a democratic government that represents all Iraqis. They will play a vital role as the Iraqi government addresses its top priorities -- reconciliation and reconstruction and putting an end to the kidnappings and beheadings and suicide bombings that plague the Iraqi people. I assured Prime Minister Maliki that he will have the full support of the United States of America.
On Monday I will meet with my national security team and other key members of my Cabinet at Camp David to discuss the way forward in Iraq. Our top diplomats and military commanders in Iraq will give me an assessment of recent changes in the political and economic and security situation on the ground. On Tuesday, Iraq's new Ambassador to the United States will join us, and we will have a teleconference discussion with the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet. Together we will discuss how to best deploy America's resources in Iraq and achieve our shared goal of an Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself and sustain itself.
We have tough days ahead of us in Iraq that will require the continued patience of the American people. Yet the developments of the last 24 hours give us renewed confidence in the final outcome of this struggle: the defeat of terrorism threats, and a more peaceful world for our children and grandchildren.
May God bless the Iraqi people and may God continue to bless America.
END 7:37 A.M. EDT
This is a major victory and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
You're damn right.
Anyone who doubts it, just watch the reactions on DU and in the MSM today.
Thank you for posting this. I missed his statement because I was on my way to work. :-)
Sweet!! A very big day in the WOT.
I LOVE it. He has such a way with words.
al Zawahiri and bin Laden: You're next!
Whooo Hoooooo!!!!
It's the way they took down the mafia (not eliminated, but vastly reduced.) Just keep hitting the brains of the outfit. Similar organizations; similar goals; similar tactics; similar counter-measures.
Tom Daschle has stated that he is "deeply saddened", and DNC chairman Howard Dean has called the timing of the announcement "suspicious".
Yup, MSM and the libs will whine and carry on. "How dare we celebrate KILLING someone? It is so uncivilized."
Ding dong, the witch is dead!
"and delivered justice to the most wanted terrorist in Iraq"
You have go to love statements like that!
Bush is great. I only wish he'd be more proactive reference the US/Mexican boarder.
A great victory indeed!
The timing of this is suspicious!
Note: He was betrayed by regular Iraqi's who didn't like him, and somebody is going to be moving their entire family to the sunny beaches of the Bahamas real soon.
We're always supposed to speak good of the dead. OK, al-Zarqawi's dead, good!
This statement strikes just the right tone. It's very well crafted.
I'm appreciative of your post as we'll never see the statement surface in its entirety on the MSM today or ever.
The networks will, however, have ample time to showcase Michael Berg's traitorous father. Not to mention the probable appearance of Cindy Sheehan around the dinner hour so we can all get sick.
Leni
And they deserve it! Good for them for having the courage to act. Maybe it's start a trend when the Iraqis realize that they are not powerless against these vermin.
We MURDERED Abu Musab al-Zarqawi!!!!
When's Murtha going to call for a Congressional investigation? Can we impeach Bush on this? Somebody get a quote from Nick Berg's insane father, as well as Cindy Sheehan. Will this "trouble" Hillary Clinton, since she will say it's illegal to murder your political enemies?
(sarcasm, folks...)
'nuff said...
Allah Fubar Motherf---er!
This is some of the best news we have heard in awhile. Our country and our military forces are second to none. I am a proud Patriot this day.
You are correct - major victory for the good guys. Congrats to everyone involved, all patriotic Americans can feel proud today.
Congratulations and God bless our brave Defenders of Freedom!
I suspect some, like MSM, are in Post Traumatic News Syndrome Blankout: The headlines for this major event should be bolded and emphasized, large typeface at all news sites.
Zarqawi personally beheaded INNOCENTS.
I'm glad he's dead. Not captured; but dead.
Major indeed, but off in the distance, I hear this sound of a whine building in intensity--it's the 'Rat spin machine, and we can expect to hear everything from "...but the timing is suspicious..." to "...it took 2400 of our sons and daughters to kill just one man..." The left is going to be very unhappy with this victory. ;)
That's one down and a few more to go:
Yomama bin Crawdaddin (__)
Hymen Al-Zawahiri (__)
Madmood Amadjihad (__)
Little Huey Chavez (__)
Fidel "Live To 104" Castro (__)
Menta Lee ILL (aka Kim Jong Il) (__)
Did I miss anybody?
And to those F-16s with the 500 lb bombs that wiped Zarqawi off the map?
BRAVO! Let's see some more of that action! :)
yeah... me too. The last thing we need is another Saddam type trial. Just kill em and be done with it.
"Jim, he's dead." Heard the news as I was waking up. Under normal circumstances, one would not be rejoicing over the death of someone. However, this is not a normal situation. I'd love to be over there personally congratulating the troops for a job well done. So from Freep, to all our troops well done and you are in my prayers every night.
"Ding dong the witch is dead!" I've been singing that song since I heard the news this morning.
Indeed it is a great victory...history tells us that when significant commanders are killed, the course of war often changes. Just look at the examples: When Hannibal was killed at the battle of Zamma, it completely demoralized his followers and meant a Roman victory. Same thing occurred when Marc Anthony was killed at Actium and Octavian took power. When a charismatic leader is removed from the scene (death or defeat), their strenghts often fall shortly after.
Congratulations to our Armed Forces! Great Job done. Thank you.
You're not the only one....
http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2006/06/zarqawi-is-compost.html
Was Antony killed at Actium? I thought he bit the dust later on after his defeat.
Oh well, I sure am glad al-Zarqawi is on his way to collecting his seventy-odd virgins!
YES! YES! YES!!!!!
I regret that he had but one life to give to our country.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleeeeeeeluuuuujah!!!!
Oh, but wait. What colateral damage was done in this air raid? Tomorrow the liberal press will take up the terrorist side and show pictures of the dead bodies of pregnant women, children, grandmothers, kittens, etc., all supposedly killed in the same raid. The caption will be, "Was it worth it?"
So, in Berg's father's eyes, both men who were killed in Iraq were forced to go there, right? Never was it a choice to fight for something they believed in or an opportunity to make some good money working a very dangerous job. Give me a break, please.
Don't forget bottles labeled in english "milk" and video of signs in a Arab nation saying "Milk Factory".
It's LIBERALISM - it truly is a mental disorder!
Guess ol' Zarqueeri won't be hiring any more 3rd-in-Command's...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.