Zarqawi "eliminated"! (warning: graphic photo)

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda in Iraq leader who led a brutal insurgency that included homicide bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, was killed in an airstrike on a building north of Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi officials announced Thursday.

Officials said the terror leader's identity was confirmed by fingerprints, facial recognition and known scars.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides Wednesday evening at around 6:15 p.m. local time in a bombing raid on a building in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province.

Loud applause broke out at a press conference in Baghdad as Al-Maliki, flanked by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, announced that "Zarqawi was terminated."

Click here for complete coverage of Zarqawi's death.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Zarqawi's death "is a severe blow to Al Qaeda and it is a significant victory in the war on terror."

"We have tough days ahead of us in Iraq that will require the continuing patience of the American people," he said in an address from the White House.

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Zarqawi's death "a strike against Al Qaeda in Iraq and therefore a strike against Al Qaeda everywhere," but added that there were no illusions that the insurgency in Iraq would immediately crumble.

"We know that they will continue to kill, we know that there are many, many obstacles to overcome," he said at his monthly news conference.

In a statement posted on the Web, Al Qaeda in Iraq confirmed the death of Zarqawi and vowed to continue its "holy war."

"We want to give you the joyous news of the martyrdom of the mujahed sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," said the statement.

Zarqawi's death came just six days after an audiotape was posted on the Internet, in which the Jordanian-born terrorist leader called on Sunnis to battle Shiites in Iraq.

At a press conference in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell showed a photograph of Zarqawi's body and video of U.S. F-16's dropping two 500-pound bombs on the house near Baqouba.

"The days of Zarqawi are over," Gen. Caldwell said. "Iraqis can take great pride in this achievement."

Gen. Caldwell said there was "100 percent confirmation" that Zarqawi was in the house prior to the attack. He added that six other people were killed in the attack, including one woman and one child.

Video from the scene of the attack showed children playing among mounds of cinderblocks and concrete that had clearly been a structure at one point. Parts of the roof of the building appeared intact lying on top of the ruble as if the walls of the building had merely collapsed under the impact of the bombs.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said the killing of Zarqawi was "enormously important" for the fight against terror in Iraq and around the world.

"Let there be no doubt the fact that he is dead is a significant victory in the battle against terrorism in that country and I would say worldwide," Rumsfeld said from Brussels where he was attending a NATO meeting.

Zarqawi himself is believed to have wielded the knife in the beheadings of two of the Americans — Nicholas Berg and Eugene Armstrong — and earned himself the title of "the slaughtering sheik" among his supporters.

Countrywatch: Iraq

A Jordanian official said that Jordan also provided the U.S. military with information that helped in tracking Zarqawi down. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was addressing intelligence issues, would not elaborate, but Jordan is known to have intelligence agents operating in Iraq to hunt down Islamic militants.

Some of the information came from Jordan's sources inside Iraq and led the U.S. military to the area of Baqouba, the official said.

Gen. Caldwell said U.S. and Iraqi intelligence found Zarqawi by following his spiritual adviser Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi who was identified weeks ago with the help of "somebody inside the al-Zarqawi network."

Baqouba has in recent weeks seen a spike in sectarian violence, including the discovery of 17 severed heads in fruit boxes. It was also near the site of a sectarian atrocity last week in which masked gunmen killed 21 Shiites, including a dozen students, after separating out four Sunni Arabs.

"Those who disrupt the course of life, like Zarqawi, will have a tragic end," al-Maliki said. He also warned those who would follow the militant's lead that "whenever there is a new Zarqawi, we will kill him."

"This is a message for all those who embrace violence, killing and destruction to stop and to (retreat) before it's too late," he said. "It is an open battle with all those who incite sectarianism."

Khalilzad added that "the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi is a huge success for Iraq and the international war on terror." He also gave a thumbs up and said it was a good day for America.

Zarqawi became Iraq's most wanted militant — as notorious as Usama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States put a $25 million bounty on Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.

U.S. forces in Iraq said the killing was a major victory.

"We killed him, and it's always great when you can remove someone that has caused this much harm," said Maj. Frank Garcia, public affairs officer for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. "We're one step closer to providing stability to the region."

Ret. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney told FOX News that "this is better than good news … it will reverberate through that whole region. It means the moderates are starting to win and the extremists are being taken out because the moderates are giving us intelligence we didn't have before."

Iraqis had mixed reactions.

Thamir Abdulhussein, a college student in Baghdad, said he hopes the killing of Zarqawi will promote reconciliation between Iraq's fractured ethnic and sectarian groups.

"If it's true Zarqawi was killed, that will be a big happiness for all the Iraqis," he said. "He was behind all the killings of Sunni and Shiites. Iraqis should now move toward reconciliation. They should stop the violence."

Amir Muhammed Ali, a 45-year-old stock broker in Baghdad, was skeptical that 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.

In the past year, he moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a Nov. 9, 2005, triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, that killed 60 people, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.

U.S. forces and their allies came close to capturing Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003.

His closest brush may have come in late 2004. Deputy Interior Ministry Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realize who he was.

In May 2005, Web statements by his group said Zarqawi had been wounded in fighting with Americans and was being treated in a hospital abroad — raising speculation over a successor among his lieutenants. But days later, a statement said Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq. There was never any independent confirmation of the reports of his wounding.

U.S. forces believe they just missed capturing Zarqawi in a Feb. 20, 2005 raid in which troops closed in on his vehicle west of Baghdad near the Euphrates River. His driver and another associate were captured and Zarqawi's computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.

U.S. troops twice launched massive invasions of Fallujah, the stronghold used by Al Qaeda in Iraq fighters and other insurgents west of Baghdad. An April 2004 offensive left the city still in insurgent hands, but the October 2004 assault wrested it from them. However, Zarqawi — if he was in the city — escaped.

Linky-poo

All I can say is it's about damn time! Woohoo! What a beautiful day! This guy was our #2 man that we wanted to get and we finally got him. This is great news for Iraq, the War and surprisingly oil prices (they dropped after his death, something I must admit I don't understand). Man, I just got this real stupid smile on my face right now. Justice is served.

Last edited by Riot on Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

it's been all over the news here.

Finally they got the bastard, now for Bin-Laden.

I find it fairly ironic that people are celebrating because they killed someone they hated, for killing.

And it's "eliminated", the war on spelling never ends.

I find it fairly ironic that people are celebrating because they killed someone they hated, for killing.

I was going to say that too, but I've been coming across as an argumentive jerk lately so I figured I'd wait for someone else to say it, and then agree with them.

Well I don't like to see people dead but I guess I have to be a little happy because I'm an american.

That's nice!

The best thing is that he thought he was going to "heaven" because of his "work", now he can rot in hell with Hitler and some other bad-boys.

USA! USA! (I'm not from the states though )

I find it fairly ironic that people are celebrating because they killed someone they hated, for killing.

And it's "eliminated", the war on spelling never ends.

We hate him because he spent his whole life targeting innocent civilians and American troops. Justice was served and you know it.

Yes, I made an awful spelling mistake on the topic title (which is a big no-no). But, I think I can be given a mulligan because of the excitement of the news I brought to you guys.

Well if a terrorist/murderer lived near you would you want him alive?

We hate him because he spent his whole life targeting innocent civilians and American troops. Justice was served and you know it.

So we went and killed him (and many, many others) because their views are different than ours.

What do they do that bothers us and makes us want to kill them? Well, they go around killing people because their views are different than theirs.

Wait....

We hate him because he spent his whole life targeting innocent civilians and American troops. Justice was served and you know it.

So we went and killed him (and many, many others) because their views are different than ours.

What do they do that bothers us and makes us want to kill them? Well, they go around killing people because their views are different than theirs.

Wait....

You are actually trying extremely hard to spin this and, in my opinion, making you look like a jackass. Nothing pleases you guys, does it? If America doesn't catch him you criticize America for not being able to catch him and when they do finally get him you insult them for catching him. And now here you are talking like America is as bad as they are because we want the dead. He is targeting INNOCENT Iraqi's and other civilians across the globe. His whole goal is to create as much loss of life as possible because he doesn't believe in the pro-western influence.

You could say the same thing about anything, Dontatello. Hitler thought what he was doing was right and if he would have been successful you could argue that the world would be a less violent place (no racial barriers). Every team has it's own opinion and view on what is the truth, but that does not mean they are right. I think we both know that they are wrong and you are just trying to stir up a debate.

We went and killed him because he has the blood of thousands on his hands. We killed him because he was not going to stop until he was dead. We killed him because the Iraqi's are scared to death of him and they wanted him dead just as bad as we did.

I hope you are starting this debate just to fire me up and not because you actually believe in what you are saying.

You are actually trying extremely hard to spin this and, in my opinion, making you look like a jackass. Nothing pleases you guys, does it? If America doesn't catch him you criticize America for not being able to catch him and when they do finally get him you insult them for catching him.
I hope you are starting this debate just to fire me up and not because you actually believe in what you are saying.

Nope, I'm not trying to spin it at all I don't criticize America for not being able to 'catch him', and I never have. And I'm not necessarily insulting them, because I understand the reasoning for doing it. But- someone who has different beliefs than our country could look at Bush and see how many he's killed and think the same thing. It's all a point of view issue. Nobody should take joy in death. Period.

We hate him because he spent his whole life targeting innocent civilians and American troops. Justice was served and you know it.

So we went and killed him (and many, many others) because their views are different than ours.

What do they do that bothers us and makes us want to kill them? Well, they go around killing people because their views are different than theirs.

Wait....

You are actually trying extremely hard to spin this and, in my opinion, making you look like a jackass. Nothing pleases you guys, does it? If America doesn't catch him you criticize America for not being able to catch him and when they do finally get him you insult them for catching him. And now here you are talking like America is as bad as they are because we want the dead. He is targeting INNOCENT Iraqi's and other civilians across the globe. His whole goal is to create as much loss of life as possible because he doesn't believe in the pro-western influence.

You could say the same thing about anything, Dontatello. Hitler thought what he was doing was right and if he would have been successful you could argue that the world would be a less violent place (no racial barriers). Every team has it's own opinion and view on what is the truth, but that does not mean they are right. I think we both know that they are wrong and you are just trying to stir up a debate.

We went and killed him because he has the blood of thousands on his hands. We killed him because he was not going to stop until he was dead. We killed him because the Iraqi's are scared to death of him and they wanted him dead just as bad as we did.

I hope you are starting this debate just to fire me up and not because you actually believe in what you are saying.

You are so Amera-centric. Do you Just search the internet for crap that makes our country look better than any other. Why dont you just Jennicide all of the muslims you fucking racist. Sure this guy may have been bad but not all muslims are. I see a trend in most of your thread about wanting to kill muslims. Your a sick bastard.

Good job america...make another martyr...so someone else can step up and be even more motivated than the last.

Even though I am very much against the war, and all the subsequent wars that are going to come from this one (Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia), just because of all the civillian casualties, but I will admit that this is something that had to be done, and I'm glad they got him, and I hope they get the rest of those leaders, and maybe even the best hide and go seek player, bin Laden.

You are so Amera-centric. Do you Just search the internet for crap that makes our country look better than any other. Why dont you just Jennicide all of the muslims you fucking racist. Sure this guy may have been bad but not all muslims are. I see a trend in most of your thread about wanting to kill muslims. Your a sick bastard.

Oh...now I'm a racist.

Listen, maybe if the majority of the terrorists weren't Muslim we wouldn't be having this problem. I have never in my entire life said I wish we would kill innocent Muslims. If you can show me an exact post where I say innocent Muslims should die I will concede defeat. The point is I want the people who are responsible for these terror attacks on my fellow countrymen and other people around the world.

If I was racist I wouldn't care what the fuck we did in Iraq or any other place in the Middle East. I would let them blow each other up. But I see good that come out of Iraq and the Iraqi people didn't deserve to be under a guy as evil as Saddam. They deserve a democracy and that is why I support the War in Iraq. Calling me racist is childish and you should be ashamed of yourself. Do not throw any race card into this mess, Big-D. You are a fool and ignorant if you think this issue has to do with race. It has to do with a group of guys, who mostly are of Arab decent, who target innocent civilians to cause terror. They deserve to die.

Are the innocent casualties sad? You bet they are. I wish we could limit them but it's urban warfare and whenever you have a group of soldiers in an urban setting going up against a cowardly opponent (dressing up like civilians and using babies and women as bombs) it is hard to determine who is friend and who is foe. World War II had a shit load more innocent casualties than this current war, but I think we can all say that worked out just fine.

Good job america...make another martyr...so someone else can step up and be even more motivated than the last.

Sorry for the double post, I just saw this.

You are right in one sense, this will not stop the violence in Iraq. However, maybe this is create a state of confusion in the terrorists of Iraq. Also, they found a bunch of information in the building that he was in which led to even more U.S-led raids.

I thought they blew up the building? And it would be nice, but I doubt they found a map that says "You are here" and "Osama is here."
Maybe they can take over some of their assets which is good, but hopefully they turn it over to the Iraqi government.

I thought they blew up the building? And it would be nice, but I doubt they found a map that says "You are here" and "Osama is here."
Maybe they can take over some of their assets which is good, but hopefully they turn it over to the Iraqi government.

Yes, they found a map that has a big photo of Osama Bin Laden's head with an arrow pointing where he is.

The Iraqi's actually led the raid and they were the first ones on the scene of the raid.

I know about this situation but glad that he is dead.

Just stop before you make the entire world hate america, oh wait they already do.... I wonder why?

You are so Amera-centric. Do you Just search the internet for crap that makes our country look better than any other. Why dont you just Jennicide all of the muslims you fucking racist. Sure this guy may have been bad but not all muslims are. I see a trend in most of your thread about wanting to kill muslims. Your a sick bastard.

Oh...now I'm a racist.

Listen, maybe if the majority of the terrorists weren't Muslim we wouldn't be having this problem. I have never in my entire life said I wish we would kill innocent Muslims. If you can show me an exact post where I say innocent Muslims should die I will concede defeat. The point is I want the people who are responsible for these terror attacks on my fellow countrymen and other people around the world.

If I was racist I wouldn't care what the fuck we did in Iraq or any other place in the Middle East. I would let them blow each other up. But I see good that come out of Iraq and the Iraqi people didn't deserve to be under a guy as evil as Saddam. They deserve a democracy and that is why I support the War in Iraq. Calling me racist is childish and you should be ashamed of yourself. Do not throw any race card into this mess, Big-D. You are a fool and ignorant if you think this issue has to do with race. It has to do with a group of guys, who mostly are of Arab decent, who target innocent civilians to cause terror. They deserve to die.

Are the innocent casualties sad? You bet they are. I wish we could limit them but it's urban warfare and whenever you have a group of soldiers in an urban setting going up against a cowardly opponent (dressing up like civilians and using babies and women as bombs) it is hard to determine who is friend and who is foe. World War II had a shit load more innocent casualties than this current war, but I think we can all say that worked out just fine.

Im the ignorent one. I have a 3.7 GPA with ap classes at one of the best schools in the country. You can get your ass shot to pay for your little community college. You have the mentality of a racist and your so dissolutioned that you think its the truth that all muslims are racists. Dont reply until you drop a sack and admit your a racist.Btw you would actually be a decent person if you werent a jackass, and racist.

Im the ignorent one. I have a 3.7 GPA with ap classes at one of the best schools in the country.

Oh, shut the fuck up. I don't care what your GPA is or what school you go to. I don't care about you what-so-ever.

You can get your ass shot to pay for your little community college.

I assume you are talking about taking college courses in the Army, right? Which is actually taught by actual college professors and acts just like a regular college system. Perhaps I'm the smart one by realizing I can get a free college education? Let me know how you long it will take you pay off all your student loans and crap.

You have the mentality of a racist and your so dissolutioned that you think its the truth that all muslims are racists.

1. Who made you the expert on racist mentality? To be an expert I actually thought you had to know what you are talking about. So far in this "debate", you have shown me that you are a prick who is looking to get in a fight with me.

2. When did I say Muslims were racist? Are you putting words in my mouth (again)? Can you read this? [b]I do not like terrorist and extremists Muslims. I don't like terrorist or extremists Christians. I don't like terrorist or extremists Jews. I don't like anyone who wants to harm innocent civilians. Get that through your fucking head. If I was a racist I wouldn't be willing to my life on the line to install a democracy in Iraq.

Dont reply until you drop a sack and admit your a racist.

Whoops, I replied to your post and guess what? I'm not a racist.

Btw you would actually be a decent person if you werent a jackass, and racist.

That really doesn't make much sense, Mr. Harvard.

I have a 3.7 GPA with ap classes at one of the best schools in the country.

Absolutely pathetic that you have to bring up your GPA to prove how intelligent you are.

First of all, Muslims aren't a "race", so you can't even pull out the race card no matter how hard you try. You're basing your opinion that Riot's "racist" because he hates people who openly plan to destroy our way of life in America? Please...at least find a better way to support your argument.

BTW..I don't think Zarqawi's death is going to do anything besides enrage insurgents...but as Riot pointed out, at least it's a place to start.

Well Riot I certainly don't think you're a racist, and I'm pretty sure most people here feel the same. The fact is that the vast majority of terrorists in the world all come from the same region, and are all muslim. It's a fact. I certainly don't assume that every muslim believes the same things that these terrorists do. I see that muslims take their religion much more seriously than any other race, and unfortunately it has led to a lot of bloodshed and senseless murder, like many other religions have, but maybe not to the extent of others, and the biggest problem is that it not only has continued into modern times, but it has intensified.

That being said, I don't see it ever ending. Killing the terrorists is only going to make more terrorists, and onnocent civillian casualties don't exaclty help the casue either. Establishing an Iraqi democratic society is not going to happen, no matter how many years the US keeps its troops there. Its a fundamental mistake to believe that its a War on Terror. To quote a great man, they might as wll declare a War on Jealousy. Evil people who feel wronged are part of the human condition, and will resurface in every generation.

Now after I say that, I wonder, Riot, why is it that you want to go over there and fight? Is it simply the 'free' education? It may seem like a great deal, but you may feel differently if you get injured or worse. I know that a lot of people believe they are defending freedom, but I don't consider it freedom when your government takes on multiple wars against countries that have never attacked them. Clearly there was a problem with having Saddam in power, but going over the UN's head isn't the way to go. Its very obvious that the UN has faults, so wuldn't the more effective action be to fix those problems? If the rules are wrong or aren't inforced, you don't just ignore the rules, you do your best to develop a new system of rules that helps everyone.

edit: I remember seeing this a while back, and I was wondering Riot if you've been asked to partake in it already.

Good job america...make another martyr...so someone else can step up and be even more motivated than the last.

Sorry for the double post, I just saw this.

You are right in one sense, this will not stop the violence in Iraq. However, maybe this is create a state of confusion in the terrorists of Iraq. Also, they found a bunch of information in the building that he was in which led to even more U.S-led raids.

Sense of confusion? You mean like in the past when killing somone and making them a martyr has? No my friend, killing them accomplishes nothing. Capturing them might..but not killing.