Posted on 11/20/2005 9:17:37 AM PST by Mount Athos
Edited on 11/20/2005 4:25:33 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
At least one Arab television media outlet reported that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of the al-Qaida in Iraq, was killed in Iraq on Sunday afternoon when eight terrorists blew themselves up in the in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
The unconfirmed report claimed that the explosions occurred after coalition forces surrounded the house in which al-Zarqawi was hiding.
WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are looking into whether al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a gunfight in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a U.S. official said on Sunday, but a White House spokesman said that was "highly unlikely."
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20223159.htm
If it is him there are many more that will replace him.This is a many year fight we are in and it is greater than just one man,or several men.
FYI...
That is the prevailing wisdom. I suspect that there is some unseen movers behind the scenes (not necessarily OBL). It seems to me that there is a lot of order for a grass roots movement to be so well coordinated worldwide without some centralization.
The biggest thing going against this story is that the attack took place in Mosul. And, we have been taking down the leadership of al-Qaeda in Mosul on a daily basis. The al-Qaeda network in Moseul has had its teeth kicked in. I have to think that Z-man would avoid Mosul like the plegue.
He is/was a bloodthirsty scumbag murderer, but two things he isn't/wasn't: A) stupid, B) static. He moved around constantly.
I hope it hurt if he blowed up good.
I know Bush can address the country from any place on Earth, but it just wouldn't be the same. The visual and camera fotage will be less than ideal, too.
I believe he's currently in Mongolia, probably asleep right now.
He built up his network from the late 90s. He is/was the symbolic head of his organization, but for the most part they act seperate from his orders.
Oh I think he was really proud of his actions against the hotel that was part of so much "immorality" - at first.... now the Arabs are turning on one of their own.
Out of AlJazeera itself:
Thanks for the link on the Bruce Willis story.
Wouldnt you know a few freepers even bad mouthed his gesture? He is the real deal.
Good idea they can be persistent! My guess is that the attacks on other Muslims prompted somebody in the know to give him up.
Could be the guy has started this rumor himself so he can "disappear" like bin Laden now that his own countrymen are out to get him. Could be he is dead like bin Laden. I'm hoping he's dead like bin Laden.
It doesn't matter regardless, it takes time to DNA tests and he will be back home before they are done.
according to the Debka article (fwiw), yes we do have his DNA.
We've been kicking their teeth in on a daily basis everywhere, though. It was/is just a matter of time. The thing that intrigues me is the presence of a female. I wish I could find it, but I'm sure there was a report that Z was travelling with one of his wives. This may have been his downfall. A group of guys with one woman sticks out more than just a group of guys.
You can have reasonably good DNA results overnight. VERY good results take about 72 hours.
Thats my birthday; I'd gladly accept his death as a present!!
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