Posted on 06/08/2006 1:45:41 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was Iraq's most notorious insurgent - a shadowy figure associated with spectacular bombings, assassinations and the beheading of foreign hostages.
The Jordanian-born militant first appeared in Iraq as leader of the Tawhid and Jihad insurgent group, merging it in late 2004 with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
But most information on him was restricted to what his enemies and supporters have attributed to him.
While many analysts argued he had used Iraqi insurgency as a springboard to expand his operations, others said his influence was exaggerated.
Pretext for war
In the run-up to the Iraq war in February 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell told United Nations that Zarqawi was an associate of Osama Bin Laden who had sought refuge in Iraq.
Intelligence reports indicated he was in Baghdad and - according to Mr Powell - this was sure sign that Saddam Hussein was courting al-Qaeda, which, in turn, justified an attack on Iraq.
But some analysts at the time contested the claim, pointing to Zarqawi's historical rivalry with Bin Laden.
Both men rose to prominence as "Afghan Arabs" - leading foreign fighters in the "jihad" against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
It was a far cry from Zarqawi's youth as a petty criminal in Jordan, remembered by those who knew him as a simple, quick-tempered and barely literate gangster.
But after the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan, Zarqawi went back to Jordan with a radical Islamist agenda.
Sentenced to death
He spent seven years in prison there, accused of conspiring to overthrow the monarchy and establish an Islamic caliphate.
Not long after his release under a general amnesty, he fled the country.
Jordan tried him in absentia and sentenced him to death for allegedly plotting attacks on American and Israeli tourists.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Oh, to be a little mouse in the corner and get to listen to this SOB's meeting with God right now.
"Ali, duuude, that helicopter is a mile away, chill out, f'r Mohammed's sake. Anyway, those infidels couldn't hit a camel in the--"
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Hear, hear.
Do you tell all your friends to swim in a cesspool? LOL
The "coalition of the willing" have ALWAYS been winning.
I wonder who got him? Helicopter strike? JDAM? Laser guided bomb? Fast mover? They all equal the same thing, this devil who sawed hostages heads off on video has assumed room temperature.
bttt
YIPPEE-KI-YAY MOTHERF****R!!!!
That is a cool painting, looks like the work was inspired by surrealist painter Joe Coleman ?
This is the happiest obituary ever!
Watching the media try to 'downplay' this is really half the fun.
The newsmen were shouting out to the U.S. Ambassador, 'how does this help the U.S.'?
In other words, no big deal!
The biggest fear the MSM has is that the U.S. public will perceive that we are winning in Iraq and thus, undo all their efforts to make it appear we are in another 'Vietnam'
I think the koran says they are "pearly boys" who turn to each other in "mutual inquiry".
what a reward.
YEAHHHHHHHHH
ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS
Toast on a pitchfork.
While his death is great news, I have to say this is going to be alot like a "Whack-A-Mole" game, there'll be others.
I suppose now we'll hear from the libs how an innocent civilian was killed as well and there should be an investigation and charges filed against those who were participating in the air raid.
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