Posted on 06/11/2006 10:53:48 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Two British newspapers report Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have have been beaten to death by US forces following the air strike on his house.
The Observer and the Sunday Times both carry reports on events leading up to Zarqawi's death on Wednesday, citing apparent witnesses to the immediate aftermath of the attack.
In a two-page report, the Observer says that although the claims have not been confirmed, revelations of revenge killings by US troops "means it cannot be discounted".
It quotes one man as saying US soldiers pulled a man resembling Zarqawi from an ambulance where locals had placed him.
He says they wrapped Zarqawi's traditional Arab robe, the dishdasha, around his head and "battered him severely till he died".
In the Sunday Times, 25-year-old labourer Ali Abbas says: "[The US soldiers] were shouting and screaming and in a very tense and agitated mood".
"The Americans tore his dishdasha and they kept on asking him through an interpreter, 'What is your name, what is your name?'" he said.
The troops are said to have been worried that the badly-injured Zarqawi was wearing a suicide belt.
Mr Abbas says the soldiers kicked Zarqawi in the chest until he grew paler and began bleeding from his mouth before he died.
He apparently recognised the dead man as Zarqawi after seeing pictures in newspapers the following day.
The US military has confirmed Zarqawi was not dead after the initial airstrike and that he had tried to roll off the stretcher when he realised the soldiers' identity. 'Baloney'
The leader of coalition forces in Iraq, US General George Casey, has dismissed the reports as "ludicrous".
"That's baloney," he said. "We've already gone back and looked at it."
"Our soldiers who came on the scene found him being put in an ambulance by Iraqi police, they took him off, rendered first aid and he expired," he said.
"He died while American soldiers were attempting to save his life, so the idea that there were people there beating him is just ludicrous."
The Observer says Zarqawi was caught with the help of a man called Mohammed al-Karbouli, a Jordanian border guard who was arrested as part of a massive investigation into the triple suicide bombings on hotels in Amman last year.
Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed at least 60.
Mr Karbouli is alleged to have been a "key figure" in the cross-border transfer of weapons, money and material to Iraqi insurgents.
He is said to have provided information that led to 17 addresses being identified as possible hideouts.
Gotta love the progression... Now there are multiple "witnesses" who positively assert the scumbag was beaten to death.
Yeah, beaten by two 500 lb bombs.
I saw the video of the house getting blown up that is ok
But you HIT HIM OMG
The second 500 pound bomb was mortal torture, and THANK GOD.
Ted will accuse our guys of water boarding. Kerry will accuse them of zapping his testicles. Hillary will accuse them of raping his wife......er...no......that would be Hillary's husband. Never mind.
Good... I just wish I was there to literally piss in his face.
Besides, Casey says its all bologna anyways...
"Red meat for the DUmmies..."
It's as certain as death and taxes.
Nothing like "outing" your informers, huh? Methinks Mr. Karbouli is a dead duck!
yeah.. LMAO .. the 2 500 lbs. bombs right on top of him were ok, but the slapping on the head afterward.. ooooh that is just mean.
it's like with child killers and juries.. they go in there looking at the murderer searching for some hint of remorse, then the killer turns around and gives the jury the finger.. afterward "that did it for me.." not the fact the he killed a girl, but the flipping off oh man.."
SO WHAT IF THEY BEAT HIM?? It's ZARQAWI for crying out loud! Look at what he DID to people! The bottom line is that he's DEAD and that's a VERY GOOD thing.
(That rant is directed at the enemy-supporting media, not at you.)
Yes, but they still only name one.
Their hero died, while hiding behind women, children and senior citizens.
Coward.
Plain and simple.
If we were attacked in the USA, would our soldiers hide behind skirts???
I don't think so.
No, it wasnt the shock of two 500lb bombs it was those nasty Marines who beat him to death ...
Who cares? Does any patriotic American care? Does anyone of sound mind care? Why is this getting so much press? Oh right, the press...patriotism...sound minds...right.
"soldiers kicked Zarqawi in the chest until he grew paler and began bleeding from his mouth before he died."
A story with multiple happy endings?
Wow!!!
W
Oh, not this "it's the seriousness of the charge" bullcrap again. Or, the Ratherism "Fake but Accurate".
If it is true, how terrible the troops beat up that poor little innocent man. You know, he had a terrible childhood. He grew up surrounded by violence and, worse, his parents tormented him by cutting off the heads of his favorite dolls when he was a child. IT'S NOT HIS FAULT. (/sarc)
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