An Unmourned Death, An Unspeakable Cause

New York Observer ^ | 19 JUNE 2006 | Richard Brookhiser

[rdb3]

An Unmourned Death,
An Unspeakable Cause

By: Richard Brookhiser
Date: 6/19/2006
Page: 4

Death in war is rarely even dramatic in its circumstances. The sudden blast, here not there; lingering pain, too short to be taken home, but long enough to be agony. What nobility there is comes from the cause, the choice that the soldier has made.

 

Few causes have been worse than that of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Al Qaeda’s commander in Iraq. His goal was a society of command and control; his means were murder and chaos. He did not lead from the front. He never contemplated strapping on the martyr’s bomb belt himself, or even engaging in a firefight. The famous video outtake of him having to be instructed in the use of the weapon he heroically posed with may have embarrassed him, but it accurately reflected his own program and vision of himself. The pudgy mastermind was not made to fight, even to murder; he intended to command, once the Americans and ordinary Iraqis were out of the way. But they did not get out of his way, and death came for the arch-bomber.

 

How appropriate that the lingerie of his girlfriend was found in his safe house. He did not plan on sampling the 72 virgins any time soon; meanwhile, he would make do with earthly rewards. One hopes she was not harmed. We have no quarrel with Eva Braun.

 

Everyone who criticizes George W. Bush for not having caught or killed Osama bin Laden is now saying it doesn’t matter that Mr. bin Laden’s commander in Iraq has been killed, but let us take a sober view.

[rdb3]

At a minimum, Zarqawi’s death accomplishes three things. It disarranges the enemy’s command structure, at least temporarily. It’s not like Al Qaeda has a constitution, which lines up the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the president pro tem of the Senate. Al Qaeda is more like The Sopranos: Who takes over if Tony gets whacked?

Good question. We think we know, but I'm sure we will be ready for the next leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Okay, I don't watch the Soprano's but do you think there will be some infighting going on to see who takes over as top dog? And if so, won't some of those seeking to become top dog be killed during any infighting?

[rdb3]

And if so, won't some of those seeking to become top dog be killed during any infighting?

I'm fairly certain there will be. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Sally'sConcerns]

I'm fairly certain there will be. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Excellent! A little culling of the bad guys is always a good thing.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

al-Zarqawi was a psycho. He was a serial killer who liked it, just like Ted Bundy.

[solzhenitsyn]

Thank you for posting this outstanding article, rdb3.