Zarqawi may have been killed in Mosul (White House: "highly unlikely")

Jerusalem Post ^ | Nov. 20, 2005

[Mount Athos]

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

[SE Mom]

This is starting to look encouraging..

(rubbing hands in gleeful anticipation)

[Steel Wolf]

In Washington, a U.S. official said the identities of the terror suspects killed was unknown. Asked if they could include al-Zarqawi, the official replied: "There are efforts under way to determine if he was killed."

Apparently they figured he could have been there, or they wouldn't be checking into it.

[MikefromOhio]

I was going to say I don't believe it without a body, but apparently they have bodies, so there is some hope.

[doug from upland]

LET'S HOPE IT IS TRUE.....HIS SONG HAS BEEN WRITTEN

[No Blue States]

Excellent.

We got a tip ,surrounded an AQ safe house with senior AQ meeting there. They died. Zarqawi might be among the charred corpses.

[mainepatsfan]

It'd be a big blow for their prestige.

[babydoll22]

Not dead. Saw him today at burger king with elvis,butch and sundance.

[EGPWS]

This report can't be true. It's a quagmire.

Yep, this is good news, therefore it must be wrong.

If in doubt, watch the next episode of "America the Evil" on the Chris Mathews show to place your mindset in order.

Surely something can be conveyed to place a negative connotation on this and this being the case, Chris WILL air it.

[No Blue States]

"It'd be a big blow for their prestige."

No doubt about it. :)

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1525725/posts

YAHOO has it now..

[SE Mom]

Precisely- and further- have you heard of this many AQ blowing themselves up as a "preventative" before?

I may be mistaken- but I don't remember them doing this in the past.

[mainepatsfan]

The message sent to the other terrorists in Iraq would be, "If we can get him we'll have no trouble getting you."

[Billthedrill]

Starting to get that warm glow inside. I've been wrong before but I only have to be right once...

[No Blue States]

Wouldnt it be funny if Debka was the one to break this big story? lol

[nicmarlo]

Wouldn't it though!

[mainepatsfan]

This is starting to get legs.

[MEG33]

Stopped clocks are right twice a day!

[No Blue States]

And he was obviously smart, his replacement would be a downgrade.

[Steel Wolf]

Well it definitely be a big blow to the terrorists in Iraq. Not that the attacks would stop but they'd lose some of their organizational control. Perhaps more importantly some of the wavering members may get scared off.

I'm sure it won't break Zawahiri's heart, if the rumor of AMZ's death is true.

All joking aside, we've wiped out so many of Zarqawi's #2 men, that there is a serious lack of experienced senior leaders. Zarqawi and a tiny handful of others are all that remain, and none from the old days. If AMZ is taken out, then the psychological blow to AQIZ would be devestating. He's really all that's holding that organization together. The individual cells won't be imparied on an operational level, and will continue to conduct attacks, but the overall organization won't recover from the setback before the elections.

Once public Iraqi perceptions change, then the insurgency is doomed. Of all the times for AMZ to buy the farm, now would be about the worst.

[mainepatsfan]

Would the remaining thugs even take orders from him?