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Obituary: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
BBC News ^ | Thursday, June 8, 2006 | BBC News

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; zarqawi; zarqawikilled
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To: MinorityRepublican

Oh, to be a little mouse in the corner and get to listen to this SOB's meeting with God right now.


41 posted on 06/08/2006 2:47:34 AM PDT by 3catsanadog (When anything goes, everything does.)
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To: ChadGore
His last words?

"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

42 posted on 06/08/2006 2:47:55 AM PDT by Criminal Number 18F (America has no native criminal class, apart from Congress -- Mark Twain)
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To: Brit1

Hear, hear.


43 posted on 06/08/2006 2:47:55 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: NavVet
I didn't save a link. Just go to the DU discussion forums and you'll see it.

Do you tell all your friends to swim in a cesspool? LOL

44 posted on 06/08/2006 2:48:03 AM PDT by leadhead (It’s a duty and a responsibility to defeat them. But it's also a pleasure)
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To: Jeff Gordon
Excellent graphic! That's a really good site too.

http://www.faithfreedom.org

45 posted on 06/08/2006 2:48:54 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock.)
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To: gimbol

The "coalition of the willing" have ALWAYS been winning.


46 posted on 06/08/2006 2:49:13 AM PDT by HankReardon
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To: MinorityRepublican

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.


47 posted on 06/08/2006 2:50:04 AM PDT by ejdouglas (Excess in Moderaton (www.moveOut.biz))
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To: MinorityRepublican

bttt


48 posted on 06/08/2006 2:50:09 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: DB
While many analysts argued he had used Iraqi insurgency as a springboard to expand his operations, others said his influence was exaggerated.

Good ole BBC, attempting to dimish his importance now that the miserable bastard has gone to Hell.

May the policy makers at the BBC follow him soon.
49 posted on 06/08/2006 2:50:36 AM PDT by Beckwith (The liberal media has picked sides and they've sided with the Jihadists.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

YIPPEE-KI-YAY MOTHERF****R!!!!


50 posted on 06/08/2006 2:52:55 AM PDT by Hugin
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To: Jeff Gordon

That is a cool painting, looks like the work was inspired by surrealist painter Joe Coleman ?


51 posted on 06/08/2006 2:54:04 AM PDT by marc costanzo
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To: Hugin

This is the happiest obituary ever!


52 posted on 06/08/2006 2:57:46 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican (everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: Raycpa
Before the US killed him he was an example of how inept we are because we couldn't touch the baddest man in the land. After we killed him, he wasn't such a bad guy after all.

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'

53 posted on 06/08/2006 3:01:09 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Gal.4:16))
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To: Spktyr
"There's one problem. There was an error in translation, and it's 72 virgins of the same sex. 72 GAY virgins.

I think the koran says they are "pearly boys" who turn to each other in "mutual inquiry".

what a reward.

54 posted on 06/08/2006 3:01:59 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: MinorityRepublican

YEAHHHHHHHHH
ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS


55 posted on 06/08/2006 3:02:10 AM PDT by feellucky
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To: MinorityRepublican

Toast on a pitchfork.


56 posted on 06/08/2006 3:08:33 AM PDT by solzhenitsyn ("Live Not By Lies")
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To: MinorityRepublican
from another source: Amir Muhammed Ali, a 45-year-old stock broker in Baghdad, was skeptical that Al-Zarqawi's death would end the unrelenting violence in the country, saying he was a foreigner but the Iraqi resistance to U.S.-led forces would likely continue. "He didn't represent the resistance, someone will replace him and the operations will go on," he said.

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.

57 posted on 06/08/2006 3:14:44 AM PDT by strange1 ("Show the enemy harm so he shall not advance" Sun Tzu The Art of War)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
The late (approaching room temperature) al-Zarqawi receiving help with his machine gun.


58 posted on 06/08/2006 3:21:06 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: MinorityRepublican; lonedawg; Allegra
CNN's Brenda Starr is upset at other media's reporting of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi death...


60 posted on 06/08/2006 3:26:18 AM PDT by Bender2 (Gad! The inmates have control... And I'm trying to quit smoking!)
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