From a death to a view

Responses to the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi:

Someone's had fun with his wikipedia entry (as seen at 15:50 BST).

Justice was served. It's too bad this scum got off easy. The world would of loved to have seen this pig prosecuted in a court of law and then executed. Some say he's in heaven - yeah right....

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a Salafi Muslim militant, terrorist, a guerrilla eader, and the self-proclaimed leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. One or more individuals identifying themselves as Zarqawi took responsibility, on several audiotapes, for numerous acts of violence in Iraq, including the killing of civilians and the taking of hostages. He was also allegedly responsible for many other acts of violence, including the beheading of hostages in Iraq.

As an Islamist militant, Zarqawi opposed the presence of U.S., Israeli and Western military forces in the Islamic world. In September 2005, he reportedly declared "all-out war" on Shia Muslims in Iraq, and is believed to be responsible for dispatching numerous Al-Qaeda suicide bombers throughout Iraq, and especially to areas with large concentrations of Shia civilians.

Brian Whitaker, Middle East editor of The Guardian:

Zarqawi: don't celebrate too soon:

Rather than being a blow against al-Qaida, the death of its leader in Iraq could relieve the terror group of a problem and give it a martyr.

Omar, from Baghdad, at Iraq the Model:

Al-Maliki explained that Zarqawi (and 7 of his aides) was killed in an air raid in the little town of Hibhib 8 km north of Baquba after receiving tips from residents in the area......

General Casey mentioned that Zarqawi's identity was confirmed through his fingerprints.


CONGRATULATIONS TO IRAQ, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE WORLD ON THIS VICTORY.

Hibhib is a small town several kilometers to the northwest of Baquba and most of its people are from the Azzawi tribes.
This small town was traditionally nicknamed Um al-Arak as it was famous for producing some of the finest Arak in Iraq, an industry that flourished in the area for the abundance of date palms. It's even said that Hibhib's Arak can make the fox get drunk!

Of course that was before the Salafi Zarqawi tide reached this once peaceful town.
It was quite visible lately that Hibhib became a place for intense terror activity, especially after the phenomenon of severed heads appeared. Severed heads of civilian Iraqis were found twice in fruit boxes in and around Hibhib; a terrible crime that shocked Iraqis

.
Also a few days ago 19 passengers, mostly students were murdered in cold blood just north of Hibhib which indicated that a seriously bloody terror cell was in this area.

There had been several reports about Zarqawi fleeing Anbar to Diyala after the tribes in Ramadi turned against al-Qaeda but obviously, Diyala and its suburbs and Iraqi tribes were not willing to endorse the head chopping criminal.

In the first official confirmation, PM al-Maliki said that Jordan has provided intelligence that was used in the raid on Zaraqwi's hiding place but he also stressed that tips from locals were the primary lead to Zarqawi's exact location and these were the information according to which the missiles were guided.

Al-Maliki said that among the 7 killed with Zarqawi were two women who were responsible for collecting intelligence for the al-Qaeda HQ cell.

Via Michael Totten, an anonymous Kurdish Iraqi from Erbil:

Yes, Zarqawi was killed and sent to the dustbin of history...

Congratulations to all the Iraqi people...

Congratulations to the families of Zarqawi victims, civilians, children, Iraqi army and police...

Congratulations to the families of the fallen brave American GIs and multinational forces helping transfer Iraq from dictatorship to democracy...

Congratulations to all the gallant Peshmerga forces who are actively participating in hunting down Al-Qaeda and Zarqawi's mercenaries...

Congratulations to all freedom and peace lovers all over the world...

To hell Mr. Zarqawi ...

May Bin Laden be next...Amen...

From the Black Iris, a Jordanian blogger:

I have to admit it’s a bittersweet moment to finally see this guy dead. I know everyone in Jordan should be cheering but I’m saying to myself so what? And I think in the days to come a lot of people will say the same thing.

As a terrorist who attacked our country and caused massive damage to our neighbours to the east I personally feel that a US air strike was not the way I wanted him to go. I really wanted to see the guy captured and brought to Amman and executed. If anything, it would’ve brought about a greater sense of justice. And I think that’s what I feel is missing from this guy’s death today…a sense of justice.

Apparently it was a joint US-Jordanian operation that involved Jordanian intelligence but it will obviously be seen as a sole US victory over the terrorists. Some major news outlets haven’t even bothered mentioning it.

Either way, as has been said, cutting off the head of this beast does not make it any less lethal. Iraq is still occupied and the flood gates for terrorists such as Zarqawi to enter have been open for quite some time. AlQueda in Iraq will most likely not subside. In my opinion, the killing of Zarqawi and the fact that Jordanians were involved in the operation will only strengthen the belief that Jordan must be attacked. There is likely the possibility for retribution, which makes us a prime target now more than ever.

From Hamas, the elected government of the Palestinian people, via Reuter's

The ruling Palestinian faction Hamas on Thursday deplored the killing by U.S. warplanes of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, describing him as a casualty of a crusade against Arabs and Muslims.

Hamas had distanced itself in the past from violence abroad blamed on al Qaeda, but in a statement faxed to Reuters after Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. air strike north of Baghdad on Wednesday,it said it mourned the Jordanian-born insurgent as a "martyr of the (Muslim Arab) nation".

"With hearts full of faith, Hamas commends brother-fighter Abu Musab ... who was martyred at the hands of the savage crusade campaign which targets the Arab homeland, starting in Iraq

From the father of Nick Berg, victim beheaded by Zarqawi, via AFP and Harry's Place

The father of Nick Berg, a US businessman allegedly beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said Thursday he regretted the death of his son’s murderer and warned of an upsurge in violence in Iraq.

“The death of every human being is a tragedy,” Michael Berg said in a statement.

“The death of Mr. Zarqawi means a continuation of the violence and revenge that took the life of my son,” he said. “This will mean an increase in violence and resistance to the occupation of Iraq by the US military.”

From the citizens of Baghdad, via the Kuwait News Agency and Mick Hartley:

Iraqi citizens took to the streets celebrating Abu Musaab Zarqawi's death on Thursday.

Joy filled Baghdad's hot streets, as gun shots sounded through the air, and cars packed with overjoyed Iraqi's roamed the streets. Iraqis were sharing sweets with people outside their homes.

Civil organizations paraded as they condemned violence chanting "death to Zarqawi and Saddamites." Thursday's celebrations could be compared to the jubilation in Baghdad's streets the day Saddam Hussein was captured.

UPDATE: Robert Fisk wins my accolade for the most grotesque comment of all

Zarqawi's end is not a famous victory, nor will it bring Iraq any nearer to peace

So, it's another "mission accomplished". The man immortalised by the Americans as the most dangerous terrorist since the last most dangerous terrorist, is killed - by the Americans. A Jordanian corner-boy who could not even lock and load a machine gun is blown up by the US Air Force - and Messrs Bush and Blair see fit to boast of his demise. To this have our leaders descended. And how short are our memories.

Ah. So that's why Zarqawi went in for all that head-chopping. He just didn't know how to lock and load a machine gun....

Comments

[Neal]

While I do not believe it right to celebrate anyone's killing, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will not be missed by me. I might add: not only has HAMAS stood with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi but his village, Zarqa, stands by him as well.

Guardian propagandist Brian Whitaker's comment was, I think, the most interesting when he writes that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death gives al Qaeda a martyr. My question would be, why should his martydom concern us? Everyone who dies in a Jihad is treated as a martyr anyway. And, even if he is become an important martyr, how would Mr. Whitaker propose to deal with al Qaeda? Perhaps, he would have us invite the group to a tea party.

[Eamonn]

Although technically you are right Neal - "While I do not believe it right to celebrate anyone's killing", I think we can let our hair down a bit on this one. With all the bad news we get fed from Iraq, we can forgive ourselves with at least a little satisfaction over this one.

[Family Cohen Yerushalayim I"H]

The Brian Whitaker take on this is classic. I once engaged him in an exchange of emails when he complained at the length of time it took to pass through security at Ben Gurion Airport in one of his many rants against the Jewish State. He was offended at the thought the Jews took security so seriously even when I explained to him that ultimately it was for his own benefit. Why I asked did he not blame those people who had carried out the attacks or threatened to do so which made such security checks necessary? I still await his response. Now thanks to his friends he has the ignomy of body searches wherever he goes.

[Lynne]

Neal and Family Cohen:

Have either of you seen Whitaker's "Comments is Free" re: Wafa Sultan, Aayan Hirsi Ali, Irshad Manji and any other Muslim woman who denounces Islam for inspiring all sorts of repugnant things as shrill sell-outs making a buck?

Like the feministas who opposed the removal of the Taliban because they validate their claims to victim status by identifying with any anti-US, anti-modern force, no matter how repressive and regressive, the gay Whitaker finds common cause with extreme homophobes. What a cretin!