Zarqawi Dead, May He Rot in Hell (Updated)

Two 500 pound bombs met Abu Musab al Zarqawi yesterday evening in Iraq.  The meeting was arranged by Iarqi citizens, a Jordanian inside al-Qaeda, one of Zarqawi's own leutenants, the Iraqi military, the Iraqi police, coalition forces,  and the United States military.  The meeting was successful and we celebrate his death in the free world.

More good news, Shiite Jawad Polani nominated by Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as interior minister, Sunni Abdel Qader al-Obeidi as defense minister, and Shiite Shirwan al-Waili, has been also named to head national security won the parliament’s vote of confidence.  source

The world responds with praise and caution: 

“Today, al-Zarqawi was eliminated,” al-Maliki told a news conference, drawing loud applause from reporters as he was flanked by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "Today's announcement was very good news because a blow against al-Qaida in Iraq was a blow against al-Qaida everywhere,"

Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said al-Zarqawi's death would strike a blow to the sectarian violence wracking Iraq, but cautioned that it was too early to term it a turning point for the country.

Paul Bigley the brother of Kenneth Bigley, who was kidnapped Sept. 16, 2004, and beheaded said, "I think the world has rid themselves of a very evil person. I think all of his assistants and gofers and people who support him, I hope they meet the same fate,".

Michael Berg, whose son Nick was beheaded in Iraq in 2004, said on Thursday he felt no sense of relief at the killing of the al Qaeda in Iraq leader blamed for his son's death.

Robert Strang, the head of Investigative Management Group, says it shows that we're able to identify a major terrorist, go after him, and in this case kill him.  But he also warns the death could spark new terror attacks in other parts of the world ... al-Qaida could learn from al-Zarqawi's death, and may go back to working in a clandestine manner which is not as easy to identify and stop.

Zarqawi was a 39 year old Jordanian born terrorist, proclaimed leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.  He was wanted by Jordan where he had been sentenced to death in absentia twice.

The case against Zarqawi:

2005:

Dec. 27: Volley of rockets fired from southern Lebanon into Israel.

Nov. 9: Triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, killing 60.

Aug. 19: Rocket attack in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba, killing Jordanian soldier. One Katyusha rocket lands in neighbouring Israel — causing no casualties — and another misses a U.S. Navy ship docked at Aqaba.

May 7: Two explosives-laden cars plow into an American security company convoy in Baghdad, killing at least 22 people — including two Americans.

Feb. 28: Suicide car bomber strikes crowd of police and Iraqi National Guard recruits in the southern city of Hillah, killing 125 people.

2004:

Dec. 19: Car bombs tear through funeral procession in Najaf and main bus station in nearby Karbala, killing at least 60 in the Shiite holy cities.

Oct. 30: Body of hostage Shosei Koda, 24, of Japan, is found decapitated in Baghdad, his body wrapped in an American flag.

Sept. 30: Bombings in Baghdad kill 35 children and seven adults as U.S. troops hand out candy at the inauguration of a sewage treatment plant. Al-Zarqawi's group claims responsibility for attacks that day, but it is unclear if these include the explosions that killed the children.

Sept. 16: British engineer Kenneth Bigley, and U.S. engineers Jack Hensley and Eugene “Jack” Armstrong kidnapped in Baghdad. By Oct. 10, 2004, all three men have been confirmed beheaded.

Sept. 14: Car bomb rips through a busy market near a Baghdad police headquarters where Iraqis are waiting to apply for jobs, killing 47.

Sept. 13: Video purportedly from al-Qaeda in Iraq shows Durmus Kumdereli, a Turkish truck driver, being beheaded.

Aug. 2: Video from followers of al-Zarqawi showing shooting death of hostage Murat Yuce of Turkey.

June 29: Bulgarian truck drivers Georgi Lazov, 30, and Ivaylo Kepov, 32, are kidnapped. Al-Zarqawi's followers suspected of decapitating both men.

June 22: Kidnappers behead South Korean hostage Kim Sun-il; Al-Jazeera television says the killing was carried out by al-Zarqawi's group.

June 14: Car bomb attack on a vehicle convoy in Baghdad kills 13, including three General Electric employees.

May 18: Car bomb assassinates Iraqi Governing Council president Abdel-Zahraa Othman.

May 11: Kidnapped American businessman Nicholas Berg is beheaded while being videotaped, and the voice of the knife-wielder is identified as al-Zarqawi's.

March 2: Co-ordinated blasts from suicide bombers, mortars and planted explosives strike Shiite Muslim shrines in Karbala and Baghdad, killing at least 181. U.S. and Iraqi officials link the attacks to al-Zarqawi.

2003:

Aug. 29: Car bomb in Najaf kills more than 85 people, including Ayatollah Mohammad Baqr al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Aug. 19: Truck bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad kills 23, including top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

2002:

Oct. 28: Laurence Foley, a diplomat and administrator of U.S. aid programs in Jordan, is gunned down outside his home in Amman.

Others reporting:

Stop the ACLU
Hot Air
Gateway Pundit
Counterterrorism Blog
All Things Beautiful
Wizbang
Bright and Early
Florida Masochist
Captain’s Quarters
In the Bullpen
The Bos'un Locker
Iowa Voice

UPDATE: From Morning Coffee:

The Anti War Crowd are gonna be upset. The Poster Child for desertion Ehren Watada and the Haditha hanging will not be on the Front Page, nor the lead story on any news network. Perhaps Watada, and Murtha will want to attend the wake. Update: Maj General Caldwell in a news conference was asked by a NEWSWEEK Reporter if any of the other "Victims" of the Air Strike had been Identified… That anyone would refer to the leader of a Terrorist Group and his associates that have brutally Beheaded people, as a VICTIM is astounding…

From Public Figures Beware, " Al-Zarqawi Killed in Iraq; Joe Biden Not Happy"

Democratic Senator Joe Biden is already on the Today show saying he doubts this will bring about any significant change in Iraq, and it's only 7:10 A.M. CST. Is that wishful thinking?

From Assorted Babble:

Yes, this "Mini Satan" that some call the "Prince of AL-Qaeda" - Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was taken out and now is Dead; it has been 100% Confirmed. Our U.S. Military is more than AWESOME!!!! A huge "thank you" to our military forces and Special Ops

From Patnum Peperium, "Zarqawi, Peace Be Upon Him"

I said I wouldn't be posting but when there's good news, you've got to post : ZARQAWI HAS BEEN WIPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!!! By two 500lb bombs no less! Talk about pounding sand up his ----! I just adore overkill when it comes to rats like Zarqawi.

From Mujahideen Ryder, " Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had tatoos?"

The big (he looks kinda small) and bad (yeah he’s bad!) Al-Qaeda general had tatoos? You’ve got to be kidding me? Tatoos are haram (prohibited) in Islam. Maybe Zarqawi didn’t know. Maybe he didn’t grow up in a religious environment and later in his life he came closer to Allah.

Note: Zarqawi has tattoos on both lower arms. I do now have a description of the tattoos or images of the tattoos yet. He was known in his younger years as the "Green Man" because of the large number of tattoos on his upper arms and shoulders. Also there are reports he had some tattoos on his hands, but I cannot confirm this. His real name is reported to be "Ahmad Fadil ". Stuck on Stupid says may all virgins look like this (Helen Thomas, go see, heh). Plus there are several photos of the dead duck Zarquawi. Tanker Brothers says, " You Can Run, But You'll Only Die Tired...."

Yep...he's dead. Dead as a doornail. I would have some snarky comments, but President Bush said it best

Dive Desk reorts: "What a strange world we live in. Daily Kos and the Left are whining like little babies. You would think they just lost the 2006/2008 elections by their reaction." Six Meat Buffet, "al Zarqawi dead, main stream media mourns" Something - and Half of Something, "It's A Sad Day" Right Winged, "Al Qaeda In Iraq Leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed (UPDATES / VIDEO)" Planck's Constant, "U.S. Warplanes Bomb Innocent Villagers Drinking Tea"

U.S. Warplanes dropped two 500-pound bombs on innocent villagers in a quiet city in Diyala Province. Close friends and family gathered for a meeting to discuss local matters over tea when they were indiscriminately killed. Among the dead were a spiritual adviser Sheik Abdul Rahman and a community outreach organizer named Ahmad Fadhil Nazzal al-Khalayla. Full story Wash Post

Comments

[Debbie]

Fabio, we've missed your comments. Sure you can ask me anything you want. What's the question???

Didn't you enjoy my post of the "Evil Glenn Reynolds"? You know, he is the "Instapundit", famous blogger. We think he is EVIL and write terrible lies about him just for fun.

What would you like me to post about? Name your subject.

[fabio]

sweet debbie,i didn't show up here since long time,i was very busy with the exams,but i couldn't wait anylonger,i really would like to know the latest news about the same old things .....muslims immigrants etc..nothing new in the landscape...may i ask you a personal question honey?

[Debbie]

Mujahideen Ryder, you are actually correct. "Rot in hell" is just a slang we use to express our feelings that we are glad some evil person is dead.

In Christianity, when a 'saved person' dies their soul/spirit immediately leaves the body. The body, just a shell, is buried.

When Jesus Christ returns, the 'rapture' happens. Those who are still alive on earth are raptured up to be with God, the bodies of those who have gone before are raised up.

There is also a judgement day when all stand before God and our lives are shown to us in their entirety. The good, the bad and the ugly so to speak.

God check to see if our names are written in the "Book of Life". If yes, then we step out of line to be with God forever. If not, then we are cast out for eternal punishment.

It sounds similar to what you have described. In death there is a 'great chasm' between those who are separated from God. No one can cross that great gulf.

But in Christianity, no one can "be good enough" on their own to be worthy of salvation. We can only enter heaven after we accept the fact that Jesus paid the price for us. Or rather that he took the punishment upon himself, so that we would not have to be punished. It is his 'gift to us', a free gift, one that could never be won or earned by humans, because we are not perfect like Jesus is. Because Jesus is God is Spirit, three in one.

So when we humans 'accept the fact that we cannot do it on our own, and we accept Jesus as our 'savior', then we are entered into the Book of Life.

Our 'faith' has saved us, not anything we did or did not do on this earth. And by putting our faith in the one perfect Jesus, then we desire and strive to live a good life, a life of 'action', or good acts.

[Mujahideen Ryder]

Thomas Hamilton -

Actually, in Islam, the people who are going to hell will be thrown into hell on the Day of Judgement, right now anyone who is destined to hell, is currently suffering in their graves.

In Islam, the punishment of the grave is unimaginable. There are some descriptions like a snake will wrap around the whole body and squeeze it or the space will enclose and envelop the body decreasing the space thus sqeezing the body.

And that goes on for years and years and years until the day of judgement comes and then we are all resurrected in front of God, with all of our deeds displayed in front of us, our whole life is played back in front of you standing facing God. Did I mention your standing naked. And then to those who have sinned they will be thrown into hell for eternity.

the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "if you knew what Hell was like, you would not sleep at all"

so basically, dont sin, dont kill ppl, be good, peaceful and generous to everyone.

dont sin!

[Bud_007]

Well the terrorists will certainly avenge his death, but it's good that he's killed. Good job to the U.S. troops!

[Thomas Hamilton]

Let's hope that al-Zarqawi's first day in hell was a hot one and that tomorrow will be even hotter. Perhaps he's getting acquainted with Hitler and Stalin and Tojo and a few other of the guys.

[LindaSoG]

Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow. I hope it hurt. I hope it hurt a lot.

[Mrs. Peperium]

Debbie, have you seen this?
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/06/jordan_arrests_zarqawis_brothe.php#trackbacks

Yeah King Abdullah!

[Debbie]

You're right, Jack (and George). I expect the fighting and roadside bombs will continue. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to fix up one of those. From what I hear Zarqawi wasn't a genius. He was barely literate according to reports.

[George]

Thanks for the info on my blog. Fixed now.

[jack]

Yes this is a victory in the ongoing war of the ideology of death.

The Islamic ideology of death to the infidels is alive and kicking. It has been for 1400 years and continues today per the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad. Don’t believe that the death of al-Zarqawi will change that in any fashion. The ideology must be defeated not one follower of that ideology … and there are untold millions of followers of the ideology of death to the infidels as the Quran commands.