Posted on 06/10/2006 7:08:02 AM PDT by Pokey78
Two US doctors have begun an autopsy on the body of top militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, killed in a US-led operation in Iraq this week.
Questions have arisen over how Zarqawi died since the Americans revealed he had still been alive following the bombing of a safe house by US planes.
It is unclear if Zarqawi's remains will be released to his family in Jordan.
Iraq has seen more violence with five butchers shot dead in a shop in Mosul and three deaths in a Baghdad bombing.
Sensitive operation
"The autopsy is going on right now as we speak," Maj Gen William Caldwell, a senior spokesman for the US-led coalition, said in Baghdad.
"We are doing the autopsy to see how he actually died. It will be completed by this evening and will be made public maybe as early as Monday."
Two military experts were flown in to perform the procedure he said, adding that they would be sensitive to Muslim traditions about dealing with the body.
"They are very familiar with this kind of thing," he said.
"One of them has the information and knows the customs and traditions of the religion."
Victims' relatives offended
A row has broken out in Jordan after a number of Islamist politicians offered condolences to Zarqawi's family
The move was condemned by relatives of the 60 people killed in the Jordanian capital, Amman, last year in suicide bombings carried out by Zarqawi's group.
His family, some of whom view him as a martyr, have asked for the return of his body to Jordan for burial but it is not clear if the Jordanian government or the US military will permit this.
Zarqawi was still alive when Iraqi police got to the scene of the air strikes but he died shortly afterwards from his wounds, Gen Caldwell said earlier.
US planes dropped two 500lb (230kg) bombs on his safe house near the city of Baquba on Wednesday.
After US troops arrived, Zarqawi tried to move off the stretcher where he had been placed, Gen Caldwell said.
"Everybody re-secured him back onto the stretcher, but he died almost immediately thereafter from the wounds he had received from this air strike," he added.
US military officials had earlier said Zarqawi did not survive the strike, which they said came after tip-offs from his organisation.
Betcha they find a glob a black, foul-smelling ooze where his heart should be.
Under the circumstances, stuffing the corpse sensitively with pig guts would be appropriate. Followed by a sensitive release of the corpse to his admirers. Followed by a very sensitive cluster bomb when the funeral procession is at its peak.
AFTER THE AUTOPSY THROW HIS BODY IN THE STREET, MINUS HIS HEAD AND LET HIS FAMILY COLLECT THAT.
"Hey, two gerbils. How did they get in here??"...
I was thinking of Zarqawi sausage stuffed inside pig intestines.
I bet they find out that he died from accidently falling off the stretcher...20 times.
"...after a number of Islamist politicians offered condolences to Zarqawi's family..."
Who knew the DNC had an Islamic branch? ;)
Nice, kill his ass, then kiss his ass.
But but but but . . . I thought George Bush said that Zarqawi wasn't a Muslim, but that he had hijacked the religion of peace.
We should take the position that we do not recognize him as a Muslim, and defile his body with bacon so that all the peaceful Muslims in heaven will not risk being hijacked by him.
Hah! You don't remember Hillary's big fat smooth on the cheek of Arafat's wife? Sure they do!
A 500 pound bomb double tap courtesy of the USAF will do it every time.
I was kinda hoping that they shoved a nice big pork sausage up his rump just before he died. Even treating this carcass with anything resembling "human dignity" is counter-productive. Those who would like to get involved in terrorism or "jihad" should know that they are a POS and that their remains will be disposed of accordingly - and very publicly, too.
If we don't take these leftists on, they will get us all killed. Can you imagine trying to spin the killing of a damn mass-murdering terrorist?
Put him in a body bag with 100 pounds of pork rinds.
mark
I did. Ever hear of Jihad Cindy McKinney?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.