Zarqawi Survived Air Strike, Died Shortly After

American Forces Press Service ^ | Steven Donald Smith

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2006 – Terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi initially survived the June 7 air strike but died from his wounds while laying on a stretcher shortly thereafter, a senior U.S. military officer in Baghdad said today. Iraqi police were the first people on the scene following the air strike. After finding Zarqawi alive, the police placed him on a stretcher, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell told Pentagon reporters via a satellite connection today.

U.S. forces arrived shortly after and began identification procedures by examining distinguishing marks on his body and by using visual facial-recognition techniques.

Zarqawi mumbled a few indistinguishable words before he expired, Caldwell added.

"According to the person on the ground, Zarqawi attempted to sort of turn away off the stretcher," Caldwell said. "They re-secured him back onto the stretcher, but he died almost immediately thereafter from the wounds he had received from the air strike."

Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, was one of six individuals confirmed dead from the bombing. Two other men, including Zarqawi's so-called spiritual guide, Sheik Abd-al-Rahman, and three women were also among the dead. Reports that a child was also killed have not been confirmed, Caldwell said.

It is not yet clear how Zarqawi might have survived F-16 fighter jets dropping two 500-pound bombs on his safe house.

Caldwell noted that Zarqawi's death "is not going to stop the violence here in Iraq."

"It is an important step forward," he said, "but we still have some tough times ahead of us."

The general confirmed that Zarqawi's face was cleaned up for the now widely distributed photos of his dead body.

"His face was very, very bloodied and we made a conscious decision that if we were going to take photographs of him and make them available publicly that we were going to clean him up," Caldwell said. "Despite the fact that this person actually had no regard for human life, we were not going to treat him in the same manner."

The final determination for where the body will be sent is still being deliberated, the general said.

Seventeen ground raids occurred in conjunction with the air strike that killed Zarqawi. During the raids a large weapons cache was discovered under the floorboards of a house, Caldwell said. The cache included small arms, ammunition, passports, license plates, night-vision goggles, Iraqi Army uniforms, bombs and a suicide belt. In addition, 25 terrorist suspects were detained during the raids, he said.

The general pointed out that the air strike was the result of a painstaking process that occurred over several weeks. The bombing was not a case where an individual came to coalition forces and gave up Zarqawi's exact whereabouts, he said.

"(The air strike) was a result of tremendous work by coalition forces, intelligence agencies, partners in our global war on terrorism, that all came together feeding different parts and pieces that allowed us to build that puzzle," Caldwell said.

[SandRat]

The Tale of Taking out the Z-man from the Pentagon

[goldstategop]

I have said I would have cut off his head - and burning him to a fried crispy critter would have completed his ordeal. Such a savage butcher of innocents should not have been allowed to die in peace. Its the principle, stupid - ZARQAWI SHOULD PAY!

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[pcottraux]

Good. Sounds like it was slow and painful for him.

[edpc]

It is not yet clear how Zarqawi might have survived F-16 fighter jets dropping two 500-pound bombs on his safe house.

He was somewhat protected, since he's had his head up his @$$ for awhile.

[Grampa Dave]

A quick Summary of Z Pig's last day and what his replacements will face:

Monster betrayed by closest allies (Zarqawi location tipped off by captured deputies) {Why the libs don't want WOT prisoners questioned!}

"Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey...!"

Hi. My name is Abu Boohoo Zarqawi and I'm dead now.

Happy Iraqis celebrate the death of Z Pig:

Some more. "What is good for Americans and Iraqis, is bad for Democrats..."

When the Z Pig entered hell, he found out that his 72 virgins were clones of Helen Thomas. They are having their way with him now.

Which al Qaeda Son of a pig wants to be the next Z Pig? We will find your "Safe House" and send you to hell to be with the original Z pig! Your 72 Helen Thomas Virgins are waiting for you.

No Problem! Here comes your Bomb!

Z Pig replacements! Enjoy your eternity in hell with your special 72 virgins!

Some more. "What is good for Americans and Iraqis, is bad for Democrats..."

[Redcloak]

I would guess that having his internal organs turned into Jello by the shock waves must have hurt like hell.

[Eclectica]

Wherever Zarqawi is buried, Al Qaida may want to dig him up for a martyr's gravesite elsewhere.

The casket should get a motion sensor.

[SandRat]

Just remember that he said Americans would never take him alive and what was the last sight he had before he went to be Satan's sex toy? That he was in custody of the Americans and he couldn't do anything but keep the appoint with Satan that the Americans had made for him.

[Snoopers-868th]

Does it hurt here? Poke poke. Does it hurt here? Poke poke. Or, does it hurt here? Poke poke. Maybe it is here, that hole in the back of your head? Bang bang!

[VOA]

I'm sure our brave young warriors were too professional for this sort of thing...
so I hope someone Photoshops a "trophy photo" like that one of
the deceased Pablo Escobar.
A photo with a limp Zarqawi with a fat belly spilling over the waistband,
surrounded by tired, but satisfied trackers.

Sure a real photo would be a Geneva Convention violation, but I can dream
about a fake one!

[SandRat]

I heard somewhere that they might want to erect an Outhouse over his grave.

[syriacus]

The final determination for where the body will be sent is still being deliberated, the general said.

I take it to mean AZ will not get the following Sunni burial.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT . [sample]

ARTICLE IV: BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS
I ordain that:

1. My body be prepared for burial in keeping with the Sunni (Orthodox) Muslim Law (Shariah),
2. Under no circumstances my body be voluntarily turned over for an autopsy, or embalming or for organ donation.
3. My body be prepared for burial by Sunni (Orthodox) Muslims according to the dictate of Shariah (Sunni Islamic Law). Once the body is prepared for burial there is to be no viewing of my remains...
5. My body may not be transported over any unreasonable distance from the locality of death unless necessitated by the circumstances or consensus of my Muslim family members.
6. My grave ...should face in the direction of the Qiblah (towards the Ka’aba at Makkah, Saudi Arabia).
9. My burial should take place as soon as possible, preferable before sunset on the day of my death or the following day. Under no circumstances should the burial bee [sic] unduly delayed.

[SandRat]

He might get to join one of his heroes - Aldolf Eichmann.

[joem15]

Zarqawi: Hey, Doc, it hurts when I do this.
Doc: Then don't do that.

[ANGGAPO]

He wasn't killed by the bomb blast it was later learned, he looked up and saw that American uniform standing over him.

[MrCruncher]

Terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

.

CORRECTION:

PALESTINIANTerrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

[bmwcyle]

Oh crap I just saved a lot of money on my...aAAAHHHHH

[Mushinronshasan]

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi lay dying on a stretcher. He saw US troops in the room, and gave his last impotent effort to escape. He was returned to his bed, and confined. He looked up and saw the face of a US military serviceman. Although he would not realize it until a few moments later, he was looking into the face of the messenger of God. I am glad he was able to see who killed him before he died.

[Lurker]

I hope his death was excruciatingly painful.

Further I hope the last thing he saw before Satans imps came to drag his soul to Hell were the faces of US Spec Ops guys laughing at his agony.

I also hope our people can scare up an American football to shove into his chest cavity just before they bury him face down, doubled up, with his nasty a**hole pointing towards Mecca.

L