US doubts al-Zarqawi died in gunfight

Australian Associated Press ^ | November 21, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

US authorities are looking into whether al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a gunfight in Mosul, a US official says.

But a White House spokesman said al-Zarqawi's death was "highly unlikely."

"Efforts are under way to determine whether Zarqawi wasamong those killed," the US official, in Washington said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

White House spokesman Trent Duffy, travelling with US President George W Bush in Asia, said the report was "highly unlikely and not credible."

US forces had sealed off the house in the northern city of Mosul where eight suspected al-Qaeda members died in a gunfight - some by their own hand to avoid capture.

Insurgents, meanwhile, killed an American soldier and a Marine in separate attacks over the weekend, while a British soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in the south.

In Washington, a US 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."

American soldiers maintained control of the site, imposing extraordinary security measures, a day after a fierce gunbattle that broke out when Iraqi police and US soldiers surrounded a house after reports that al-Qaeda in Iraq members were inside.

Three insurgents detonated explosives and killed themselves to avoid capture, Iraqi officials said. Eleven Americans were wounded, according to the US military.

[oceanview]

what are the details about where this was? was it an apartment, a house, a farmhouse? was it isolated, or in a dense area? I imagine if it had been even slightly isolated, they just would have used a precision bomb strike to take it out - why storm it with troops and take KIA and wounded? you've got to believe they know that he would not be taken alive.

[MikefromOhio]

From what I have gathered, it was a house in Mosul.

That's my point, they wouldn't have raided it had they known for sure if Zman was in there. I think this entire episode kinda fell into their lap, so to speak.

They raid houses all the time over there. It's a relatively simple objective, get in, check it out, if you find something, that's good.

[TheForceOfOne]

If the Jordanians, including his family have turned on him as is being reported then he will be dead or captured soon, even if this incident was premature in digging his grave. He is now living on borrowed time as revenge by others will consume him.

[moose2004]

Well said.

[JWojack]

The assault on the house wasn't "easy." A large presence of U.S. and Iraqi troops were involved. Tanks and helicopters were used. 4 Iraqi security forces were killed, and 10 Iraqis and 13 Americans were wounded, in a three-hour battle.

That's a lot of firepower to bring to bear on a single house. Although perhaps the coalition forces had to battle their way to the house. The casualites today are far more than what it took to kill Uday and Qusay. That was some mighty stiff resistance today. Even if it wasn't Zarqawi, it's probably a high value target (or targets).

Either they had information that they didn't want to coalition to get their hands on, they had run out of ammunition, or someone was there that wanted to die a "martyr's" death, and not suffer the indignity of being captured by the "infidels."

[JWojack]

That's my point, they wouldn't have raided it had they known for sure if Zman was in there.

Are you suggesting that they would call in an airstrike instead? Other than that, I'm not sure what you mean.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"How common is this when the perps are surrounded?

I suspect it's not, which suggests that at least one
of the targets was highly ranked.

Now, if rank&file members of the Cutthroat Cult are
blowing themselves up to avoid capture, the question
needs to be raised: why?

Don't they know that their legacy media pals have
ensured that detainees only get kid gloves treatment?"

What you say makes sense to me. Either there was a high value target there, or there was info that they did not want to get into our hands. I don't know which, but I will follow this story.

[kvanbrunt2]

His relatives are still in jordan just denounced him

[Southack]

"the key thing to watch for will be over the next few days - if we see a disruptions in the suicide attacks."

No, it works backwards from logic. If we got him, they'll lash out with suicide attacks (from that pool of those prepped to go, anyway)...unless he's become so unpopular that even Al Qaeda celebrates his demise.

Keep in mind that Zawahiri's letter warned him against the very things that he's done (e.g. bombing a wedding in Jordan) to make himself so unpopular. He's attacking fellow Muslims to such an inexcusable degree that his own family has disowned him.

If he's gone, then look for Zawahiri to make it clear that he's in control.

If not, look for Zarqawi to make some sort of public statement (it won't be the statement itself that matters...but he'll have to show his followers that he's still alive).

[Coop]

I don't know that Zawahiri could show control over the situation in Iraq if he wanted to. If the evil coward Zarqawi is dead, I might expect a PR statement from Zawahiri, vowing revenge for his martyred "brother," but that's about it.

[oceanview]

maybe on day 1 they all "auto trigger". but after that, if the command structure breaks down, logistics unavailable, I have to believe it pauses while they regroup and reorganize.

[Unruly Human]

too me, this just sounds too easy. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong and I'll take being wrong any day of the week, but I don't think that I am.

I think I'll have a beer anyway. Just in case...

[JustDoItAlways]

We should be careful of highlighting and cheering this until we have a confirmed kill.

The left-wing papers will just play up the story that he is a superman that we cannot defeat and we should just pull-out of Iraq if he suddenly resurfaces in a few days.

"Wait till confirmation trap" alert.

[Coop]

Another thing to consider with this terrorist group - Zarqawi has obviously been a master at keeping things "close hold" for operational security. If he's dead, he may well have taken some operational details (timelines, location of materials/safehouses, etc.) with him that nearly or completely scrub those missions. I'd expect more communication and movement among terrorists as they try to reorganize, which will likely leave them more vulnerable to disruption/interception/extermination.

Plus there may well be a fight for power, which would just be a darn shame to happen to such upstanding citizens.

[Southack]

"maybe on day 1 they all "auto trigger". but after that, if the command structure breaks down, logistics unavailable, I have to believe it pauses while they regroup and reorganize."

Correct. Short term would see all of their prepped guys going off. Long term would see a reorganization and disruption.

[Unruly Human]

We should be careful of highlighting and cheering this until we have a confirmed kill. The left-wing papers will just play up the story that he is a superman that we cannot defeat and we should just pull-out of Iraq if he suddenly resurfaces in a few days. "Wait till confirmation trap" alert.

Well, if it's not true, I would have had a beer anyway

[festus]

I thought he was supposed to be dead today because he suicide bombed himself. Now he was killed in a gunfight.

Eitherway its the 53,541 different report of his death since I started paying attention.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

The real victory is if the MF is dead, is here in America... The Iraqi people need a friend, not an a$$hole like America's politicians have been recently.

[Coop]

I thought he was supposed to be dead today because he suicide bombed himself. Now he was killed in a gunfight.

Nobody has made those claims except you.

[jpf]

I know how we can find out, let's call hell and ask if Zarqawi's in yet.