"Today Is A Good Day"

Al-Zarqawi Killed in Air Raid

From the AP:

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air strike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday, adding that his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a look at his face. It was a major victory in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides Wednesday evening in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, al-Maliki said.

Loud applause broke out among the reporters and soldiers as al-Maliki, flanked by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told a news conference that "al-Zarqawi was eliminated."

CNN:

Terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, was killed in a coalition airstrike near Baquba, jubilant U.S. and Iraqi authorities announced Thursday.

The 3-year-old insurgency has "lost its leader," Gen. George Casey, the U.S. military commander in Iraq, told reporters.

Details are still emerging of the operation against the self-proclaimed leader of al Qaeda in Iraq who pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden. (Watch how al-Zarqawi's body was identified -- 2:28)

But the killing of al-Zarqawi, who had a $25 million bounty on his head, is a major coup for the embattled coalition forces.

"Today is a good day," U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad told a news conference soon after cheers and applause broke out when Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced: "Zarqawi has been killed."

Well, we aren't exactly awaiting official confirmation.  Tony Blair opines:

Tony Blair has hailed the killing of the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq as "a very important moment for Iraq".

In a short statement released this morning Mr Blair said the US air raid that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would deal a severe blow to al-Qaida.

"A blow against al-Qaida in Iraq is a blow against al-Qaida everywhere," he said.

Throw in the *POSSIBLE* breakthrough with Iran on its nuclear program, and we might actually be reviving that old spirit of optimism around here.  In fact, I like this 9 hour old Bloomberg story with the BBC follow:

Bloomberg:

Oil fell for a third day in New York after a report showed U.S. oil and gasoline stockpiles increased and as Iran considered incentives to end its nuclear research.

BBC:

Oil prices have dropped sharply to below $70 a barrel on news of the death of the militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq.

Two key oil prices, for July delivery of US light sweet crude and UK Brent, fell to $69.54 and $68.35 respectively.

Prices had already been on the slide because of healthy oil stocks in the US and an easing of tensions with Iran.

Well, capturing Saddam had less impact than expected.  But today is a good day.

UPDATE:  The Captain has lots, and will no doubt have more.

MORE:  The tinfoil crowd should explain that this announcement is a transparent attempt to overshadow something else, but what?  The "Waiting for Fitzgerald" indictment of Rove?  The opening of the Yearly Kos?  C'mon, what is the story behind the story?

Comments

[Cecil Turner]

Interesting parallel view of the ramifications. The Captain:

The elimination of Zarqawi and his henchmen will kneecap the foreign insurgency.

And AP News:

But any hopes the Jordanian-born terror leader's death would help stem the violence in Iraq were dimmed hours later when a car bomb exploded in a Baghdad market, killing 12 and wounding 65.

I expect the truth is somewhere in the middle (how could it not be?).

[Lurker]

And this was the day...after 06/06/06? :)

Nah, Zarqawi's death won't slow things down but it should help wind things down. Like it did after WWII.

Now to capture or kill OBL and Zarahiri but they will all be replaced. Even with the replacement, AQ is weakening.

AQ is declaring Zarqawi a martyr. RIGHT!

[Bob]

How long before Al Jazeera claims it was a wedding party and 24 innocent women and children were also killed.

Oh happy Days... well maybe not for those 72 virgins!

[Jane]

It's a great great day!

[Lurker]

Since TM made a reference to KOS's Rove article, how about this:

CIA Leak Investigation as part of their annual YearlyKOS workshops (go to the main page).

RIGHT!

[PeterUK]

"his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a look at his face". I hope these elements were not too close together.

[PeterUK]

Alarmist Propaganda,
"But any hopes the Jordanian-born terror leader's death would help stem the violence in Iraq were dimmed hours later when a car bomb exploded in a Baghdad market, killing 12 and wounding 65."

Ignores the fact that the bombing operation might have been planned some time ago and was simply an ongoing operation.

[Bob]

PeterUK

"I hope these elements were not too close together."

Hopefully "his elements" were blown a few hundred feet apart. A little here, a little over there. Some in the back yard....

[Dwilkers]

Welp, nothing at TalkLeft, FireDogLake, Pandagon or Atrios. I was disappointed as I expected to see a new Hamsher post about how this had something to do with someone having Rove's "knob" in their mouth.

Can't say I'm surprised though. Sadly, nowadays good news for the US is bad news for the left.

It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person than Zarqawi. I suspect it is closer to Captain Ed's description than AP's. The recently captured AQ docs showed that AQ knew they were on the ropes whether the western press knew it or not.

The Iraqis democrats and US military in Iraq have momentum now. Let's hope they leap on this opportunity with both feet.

- Heh. Watching the glum report on the Today show now. Pretty funny.

[jerry]

Yes, thanks to KOS the WH stayed motivated and killed Zarqawi.

Great day regardless.

[Lurker]

Daily Kos actually did say something...

"From the Daily Kos response:

Some guy on ABC is saying this is a "nail in the coffin of Al Queda." Bull [expletive]. This guy was a face, a name, a few menacing lines about impending doom to us. The victory doesn't lie in removing this man, nor any other true terrorists in Iraq. Instead victory is in making a peaceful nation in a land fractured by ethnicity and then war.

Where is Osama?"

Wizbang and Hugh Hewitt had their responses well-prepared to this KOS response.

Al Jazeera, of course, said that Zarqawi's death will unify the AQ organization.

Right.

PeterUK, I knew that the AP's reported attack was pre-planned. Wanna bet that the number of attacks will decline?

Wonder what will happen with Somalia...

[Jane]

No one should expect an end to violence in Iraq as a result of this fabulous event. In fact I would expect it to escalate in the short term. But the Zarqawi forces have not even announced a replacement. It is fair to assume they are disjointed, and regrouping will not be easy. The back may have been broken but it will take a while.

[Dwilkers]

Unexpected bottom line from the Today Show's segment:

This strengthens AQ, because Zark-Man was in competition with Bin Laden for control. Now Bin-Laden can consolidate.

No, I'm not kidding.

[PeterUK]

Bob,Yes but slowly!

[PeterUK]

Needs spinning,"Top Democrat activists bombed by US warplanes"..Al Gore said,"This looks like tampering with the voting process".
Former presidential candidate John F Kerry said today,"Violence never solved anything"."Kerry criticized Bush for failing to "conduct a realistic, nonconfrontational policy with outsourced Democratic activists."

[Bob]

Exactly Jane! They all may be nut jobs and fanatics, but there are very few that can lead them like him. I'm sure it won't be long before they find a new leader, but this won't be easy under the pressure of the Iraqi and US forces.

[PeterUK]

"Now Bin-Laden can consolidate." Whereas Zarqawi most certainly can not,there are things that even duct tape cannot do.

[Bob]

PeterUK:
"Whereas Zarqawi most certainly can not, there are things that even duct tape cannot do."

Maybe they'll try that other "Western" marvel Velcro... it's not affected by blood, and it's re-usable too...

[Patton]

I think Francine Busby spilled the beans when she announced the Democrat plan for victory in November:

"You don't need papers for voting."

[Bob]

So you don't think the left can spin this!

Father Moonbat should hook up with Cindy!

"PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - 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 leader in Iraq and blamed President Bush for his son's death.

Asked what would give him satisfaction, Berg, an anti-war activist and candidate for U.S. Congress, said, "The end of the war and getting rid of George Bush."

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-06-08T122308Z_01_N08295664_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-ZARQAWI-BERG.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

[Florence Schmieg]

I increasingly see the Democrats as the party of adolescents, no matter what their age. Joe Biden was on CNN and predicting how 2 weeks from now there will be more students pulled off busses and executed. This is typical. Couple that with the ridiculous spin about the CA-50 elections from them and the media (NY Times' Nagourney headline on page 1 this morning that says the win shows how bad things will happen to Republicans since Bilbray was under 50-no mention of the 4% the Minuteman guy got of course showing Republicans got 53%). They act the way my 3 kids did in high school when things didn't go their way or their football team was losing. They should rejoice that this evil, horrible man is dead. They should want Iraq to have a decent future. So childish. So weak.

[Jane]

Michael Berg was on Fox News this AM and it was ugly. He said he mourned the death of anyone - even if that person killed his son. He also said he didn't trust the news because - he couldn't believe anything George Bush said. At that point the newscasters started to talk over him. It was U-G-L-Y.

[maryrose]

This is news I've been waiting for for years. It's like when they captured Saddam.
Now watch President Bush's poll numbers start to rise. Lieberman was on Imus and was very happy about the development. Imus offered Lieberman his support on air. Lieberman,one of the few sane voices.

[Tom Maguire]

...getting rid of George Bush."

Versus:

This guy was a face, a name, a few menacing lines about impending doom to us. The victory doesn't lie in removing this man...

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

Ann Coulter just got some more ammunition to beat up on Matt Lauer with this from Reuters:

'PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - 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 leader in Iraq and blamed President Bush for his son's death.'

So, Matt, what were you saying about the 9-11 widows?

[verner]

Praise Heaven. What a happy day. A fitting end to that murderous bastard.

And not only did they get him, but three others. AND it sounds like they are cleaning up cells all over the country.

And now the new government has finished selecting the cabinet.

Expect the MSM to start pushing Haditha even harder...

[cathyf]

adding that his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a look at his face.

I had to read that twice -- the first time I saw it as "his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and the look on his face."

cathy :-)

[Sue]

You guys should feel bad. Rejoicing at the death of Zarqawi. Where is the sympathy for those 72 virgins that now have to deal with him?

::grin::

Oh happy day...

...I never thought I would not feel any remorse at the death of another human being. I have comforted myself with the fact he wasn't human.

[Granddaddy Long Legs]

I think the "reality based community" will concoct conspiracy theories that Karl Rove orchestrated this news story to drown out the Haditha coverage.

[Sue]

and the look on his face

Could he have seen the 72 virgins? And realized someone lied to him? ::grin::

[cathyf]

Maybe he saw the 72 raisins?

(I always have this mental picture of the CA dancing raisins and Heard It On the Grapevine when they talk about shahid heaven.)

cathy :-)

[Sue]

LOL...

[lurker]

Any details on the other 17 raids around Baghdad?

Well, the words coming out Berg's mouth is going to hurt his campaign. He won't win.

[Clyde]

I hope that all 72 of his virgins look like Helen Thomas!

Sew his corpse up in a pigskin, weigh it down with heavy chains and dump it at sea.

[Bob]

And over at the Democrat Underground...

Man these moonbats are nut cases!

"It's all the distraction in the news media and that average people

can not keep it all straight. Anew I see the value of the DU, because of smart people who catch this sort of thing.

The Dems in Congress would be immediately attacked by Faux News and Limpball as crazy. Most of middle America would go along with it.

Maybe there is a bright side. We would go by grass roots instead of by leadership. Some sort of upwelling - granted no freeper is going to believe it but maybe with the internet there is a way to reach middle America.

The internet really rocks when it comes to this stuff. You can just see the military industrial complex shaking in their boots. They no longer control the flow of information the way they used to."

If you need more laughs go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/
discuss/
duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2327738

[Clyde]

Patton, for the Democrats, you don't even need to be ALIVE to vote! It was the cemeteries and homeless people that gave Washington state a Democrat governor after several recounts in 2004.

[Sue]

I just read a headline at one of the other blogs...

Zarqawi's meeting ended early.

::grin::

[Sue]

Clyde,

Need I remind you that LBJ told Kennedy he'd give him Texas? And by golly he did. ::grin::

[Pete]

Good riddance. May he rot in eternity.

[cathyf]

Just realized that they got Abdul Rahman, too.

(In commodity market news, crude oil prices down, raisin prices up in heavy trading...)

cathy :-)

[Sue]

Dead

A fitting headshot only for someone known to cut off heads, no?

[PeterUK]

Come and get me cutey pie If he gets a headache there is always Lynne

[noah]

It would really be great if one of the respected imams in Iraq would issue an opinion that the Z-man does not qualify for a martyr's death.

[lurker]

Yeap, LBJ sure gave JFK alot of fake votes.

Off topic: Too bad that in spite of the 75% vote in favor to move the cross to federal ground was halted by the stupid federal judge.

It's time to replace these activist judges and stop attacking our symbols. What's next...take down every cross at Arlington cemetery and renovate our US Supreme Court building to remove every one of those symbols?

[Other Tom]

Sure hope we didn't illegally tap his phone.

[clarice]

Yahoo--and I found something last night on the IT which along with other discoveries about Haditha which gives the "massacre" yet another whiff of a mediagenic scandal--Writing it up today. (Hint :in its Nov 20, 2005 writeup of the fight in Haditha Reuters' cameraman in Haditha mentions not a word about the "massacre")

[Paidserva]

Yearly COS is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. So is Joe Wilson. Wilson and Plame worked in Iraq. Al Zarquari(Jordan) was blown up today. He murdered the returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan(State Department)Foley; Plame's old boss.

So, it all looks good for the convention. Dems work in mysterious ways.......

[maryrose]

Clyde:
Your comment is so true. I followd that race for months and am convinced there was fraud and manufactured ballots. It was a deplorable situation. When Gregoris found out after about 5 recounts she had won she burst into tears because she knew the election was fixed and was uncertain if they had pulled it off. An absolute :theft in progress" which Kerry supported and funded. The dems in that state lied through their teeth. I hope Cantwell goes belly-up because this time the repubs are going to be watching for fraud like hawks.

[Extraneus]

Noah, I don't think that's possible. See here for some background on his claim to eternal fame.

[maryrose]

pete:
We agree on something-Excellent!