ABC News: Zarqawi may have been killed [Confirmed DEAD by NBC] Now breaking on MSNBC & CNN

ABC News ^

[StJacques]

It's on ABC Late Night News Right Now

---

ABC News Update:

Iraqi PM: Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi Killed

By PATRICK QUINN

BAGHDAD, Iraq Jun 8, 2006 (AP)— Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, has been killed in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday evening along with seven aides.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2052072

[glad2bdad]

Now the MSM is playing up that the Zarqmeister survived the initial bombing, as though it was some kind of failure. What a bunch of pukes!

[pctech]

Yuo are right, I stand corrected.

[TexKat]

Zarqawi lived briefly after attack

By KIM GAMEL and ROBERT BURNS, Associated Press Writers

Physical Scientist Kristi Oberbroeckling carries a bag containing three boxes of biological samples believed to be from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or his associates to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia June 8, 2006. In one of the most significant developments in Iraq since the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Jordanian-born Zarqawi was killed on Wednesday in a joint U-S.-Iraqi operation helped by tip-offs from Iraqis and Jordanian intelligence. REUTERS/Kevin Wolf/Pool (UNITED STATES)

FBI agents deliver a package containing three boxes of biological samples believed to be from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or his associates to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia June 8, 2006. In one of the most significant developments in Iraq since the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Jordanian-born Zarqawi was killed on Wednesday in a joint U-S.-Iraqi operation helped by tip-offs from Iraqis and Jordanian intelligence. REUTERS/Kevin Wolf/Pool (UNITED STATES)

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A mortally wounded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was still alive and mumbling after American airstrikes on his hideout and tried to get off a stretcher when he became aware of U.S. troops at the scene, a top military official said Friday.

Also, U.S. troops conducted 39 raids late Thursday and early Friday based on information gleaned from searches in the hours after the al-Qaida leader's death. Fearing that insurgents will seek revenge, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki imposed driving bans in Baghdad and restive Diyala province, where the terrorist was killed.

Al-Zarqawi could barely speak when Iraqi police arrived at the scene of Wednesday's attack.

"He mumbled something, but it was indistinguishable and it was very short," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said at a news conference.

U.S. and Polish forces arrived intending to provide unspecified medical treatment, and al-Zarqawi was put on a stretcher, Caldwell said. The terrorist "attempted to sort of turn away off the stretcher, everybody reached to insert him back. ... He died a short time later from the wounds suffered during the airstrike.

"We did in fact see him alive," he said. "There was some sort of movement he had on the stretcher, and he did die a short time later."

Caldwell said the U.S. military was still compiling details of the airstrike, including the exact amount of time Zarqawi was alive afterward. He said an initial analysis of Zarqawi's body was done but he was not certain it constituted a full autopsy.

In an interview earlier Friday with Fox News, Caldwell was more descriptive of Zarqawi's actions before he died.

"He was conscious initially, according to the U.S. forces that physically saw him," Caldwell told Fox. "He obviously had some kind of visual recognition of who they were because he attempted to roll off the stretcher, as I am told, and get away, realizing it was U.S. military."

At the news conference, the spokesman also provided a revised death toll from the attack.

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, had said four people, including a woman and a child, were killed with al-Zarqawi and Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi, the terrorist's spiritual consultant.

Caldwell said it now appears there was no child among those killed. He cautioned that some facts were still being sorted out but said that three women and three men, including al-Zarqawi, were killed.

Pentagon officials have refused to say whether U.S. special operations forces participated in the al-Zarqawi operation Wednesday, but a comment Friday by President Bush suggested that some of the military's most secretive units may have been involved on the ground.

Speaking to reporters, Bush mentioned that among the senior officers he called to offer congratulations for killing Zarqawi was Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of Joint Special Operations Command, whose forces include the Army's clandestine counterterrorism unit, Delta Force.

Caldwell also said U.S. forces have conducted many raids over the past two days based on intelligence gathered from the scene of Zarqawi's killing.

A targeted individual was killed and at least 25 people were captured, he said. One raid discovered small arms, ammunition and other items hidden beneath the floor of a building in the Baghdad area.

Speaking to the British Broadcasting Corp., the spokesman said troops carried out 39 raids overnight in which troops "picked up things like memory sticks, some hard drives" that would allow American forces to begin dismantling al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq.

Those raids were based on 17 simultaneous raids U.S. troops staged Wednesday near Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province. The region is in the heartland of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency and has seen a recent rise in sectarian violence. Baqouba is 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

He said the latest information was helping U.S. forces unravel the source of al-Qaida's weapons and financing.

As Iraqi and U.S. leaders cautioned that al-Zarqawi's death was not likely to end the insurgency, Caldwell said another foreign-born militant was poised to take over the terror network's operations.

He said Egyptian-born Abu al-Masri would likely take the reins of al-Qaida in Iraq. He said al-Masri trained in Afghanistan and arrived in Iraq in 2002 to establish an al-Qaida cell.

Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri speaks at a press conference in this Jan. 20, 1999 file photo. According to U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, al-Masri would likely take the reins of al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

The U.S. military did not further identify al-Masri and his real identity could not immediately be determined. But the Central Command has listed an Abu Ayyub al-Masri as among its most wanted al-Zarqawi associates and placed a $50,000 bounty on his head.

Al-Masri, whose name is an obvious alias meaning "father of the Egyptian," is believed to be an expert at constructing roadside bombs, the leading cause of U.S. military casualties in Iraq.

The midday driving ban in Baghdad lasted four hours. All traffic was banned in Diyala from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for three days starting Friday.

The Baghdad ban fell when most Iraqis attend Friday prayers. Bombers have previously targeted Shiite mosques with suicide attackers and mortars hidden in vehicles.

The bans aim "to protect mosques and prayers from any possible terrorist attacks, especially car bombs, in the wake off yesterday's event," an Iraqi government official said, referring to al-Zarqawi's death. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to media.

Al-Zarqawi, who had a $25 million bounty on his head, was killed at after an intense two-week hunt that U.S. officials said first led to his spiritual adviser and then to him.

The U.S. military had displayed images of the battered face of al-Zarqawi and reported that he was identified by fingerprints, tattoos and scars. But Caldwell said Friday that authorities made a visual identification of al-Zarqawi at the site of the airstrike.

Biological samples from his body were delivered to an FBI crime laboratory in Virginia for DNA testing. Results were expected in three days.

Violence was unabated Thursday and Friday:

_Gunmen kidnapped Muthanna al-Badri, director general of state company for oil projects, or SCOP, while he drove Thursday in his predominantly Sunni Arab neighborhood of Baghdad, ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said Friday.

_A fire fight Friday west of Baqouba killed five civilians and wounded three, and demolished five houses, according to regional authorities.

_The torso of a man wearing a military uniform was found floating in a river Friday morning near Kut, 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, a morgue official said.

_Police found five unidentified bodies late Thursday of men who had been shot in the head in eastern Baghdad.

_Gunmen opened fire on Friday's funeral procession for the brother of the governor of the northern city of Mosul. Zuhair Kashmola was killed by gunmen on Thursday.

____

AP Military Writer Robert Burns contributed to this story from Washington.

[NonLinear]

"As Coroner, I must aver
I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead,
She's really, most sincerely dead."

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I could not for the life of me catch "aver", and was stumped.

[StJacques]

That was a lot Kat, thanks for a good read.

[StJacques]

"Now the MSM is playing up that the Zarqmeister survived the initial bombing, as though it was some kind of failure. What a bunch of pukes!"

My take on all of that is that the MSM may be trying to raise the question as to whether Zarqawi may have been "finished off" while in custody.

You can read the quote I'm about to post at this link.

". . . Asked whether al-Zarqawi was shot after U.S. ground troops arrived at the scene of the airstrike, Caldwell said he could not give a definitive answer based on what he had read in the latest official U.S. military report on the event. 'I’ll go back and specifically ask that,' he said. 'But no, there was nothing in the report that said he had received any wounds from some kind of weapons system like that.' . . ."

I'm waiting for the headline in the New York Times: "Was Zarqawi Executed by American Forces"?

Mark my words, they're fishing for just this kind of story right now.

[patriciaruth]

You're right that not everyone here is up to dealing every day with an onslaught of viciousness, rudeness, lies, distortions, and slander.

I grant you many of those people are our women on the right who are fine and courageous ladies, who have been raised with skills for keeping families together and polite and wise discourse with friends, but not for constant war of morale browbeating such as we often see here now. They are ones who generally help get out the vote, go door to door with literature and help raise enthusiasm for candidates.

These ladies have shied away from their former frequent contact with FR and some are just less frequently on the threads. That is the context in which I say that the harsh language and rudeness and slanders against them (the division in the right egged on by undercover lefties) have helped gain a win for the forces on the left.

It is for this reason that I don't want this forum open to more left wingers than are already here, as you have proposed.

You have the competitive edge of my husband. Many men are psychologically happy to do battle. Women often only do battle in extremis, when they believe their homes and families are at stake. I am here because I believe my country and the ideals which created my country, my home essentially, is at stake, and that I owe it to the children of this country to fight for its survival.

I happen to agree with you about RINO's. In blue states it is better to have a weak vote to organize the Senate than no vote, a weak vote to vote for cloture of a filibuster against judges and other legislation than no vote. I'm a realist when it comes to strategy, though an idealist when it comes to ultimate goals.

But I disagree with you about opening up this forum. You might enjoy the wholesale slaughter of wielding a free swinging sword, but I have seen what happens on other websites. They FLOOD the site with multiple repetitive posts, pictures, filth, whatever they can, to DROWN their opposition. There is no way anyone coming to the site can wade through all the blood and feces to find the intelligent discourse and to organize together for counter protest actions such as FReeps.

Such an action would completely destroy FR as a useful tool in advancing our right wing causes. There are several types of discourse that are common at FR now which have crippled its usefulness.

1. Ad hominems. Especially the type implying the person is a child or has a low IQ or has less academic learning and is hence stupid and inferior, thus their arguments are stupid and inferior and not worth discussing.

2. Slander. Calling anyone that disagrees with them a RINO, a neocon, Bushbots, cult of personality, etc. so that discussing alternative means to an end is not acceptable, and dismissed out of hand. This includes cutting off discussing the belief that loyalty to the commander in chief in time of war and presenting a common front to the enemy leads to better end results than letting the enemy know the leader has serious dissension in the ranks which can be exploited.

3. Holier than thou. No discussion is needed because only agreement with their point of view constitutes pure, righteous conservatism, patriotism, Americanism, Christianity, etc.

4. Rudeness and crudeness and mild profanity. for example: "Did someone pee in your cereal this morning?" The mild profanities allowed here are hard on our most religious members. A lot of people don't seem to realize that "OMG" and "Jeez" are profanities that are offensive to religious people.

It would greatly aid getting many fine conservative ladies back into active participation here if ad hominems were banned.

I'm not sure how to deal with the other types of arguments that aren't arguments but simply meant to chill and end discussion, such as slander, holier than thou accusations, and the rude and crude remarks.

The mild profanities are mostly lack of sensitivity about other peoples deeply held beliefs about reverence toward our Creator and Savior. The orthodox Jews probably find it very hard sledding here because of this.

Some have proposed having a sort of "Politics Polite" type of thread here that is protected from ad hominems and the other types of statements meant to chill or end discussion. A thread where one could learn ancillary information about the issues of the day through discussion and information sharing, and also politely discuss alternative strategies and philosophies about how to achieve conservative goals.

I don't have the time or energy to run one myself, but I would love to visit one regularly.

I really hate having to deal with people who ask me if someone peed in my cereal this morning.

[Miss Marple]

Agree. I am here less than I used to be. I know what I think, and am not ashamed of it. Howeer, on some threads my appearance is cause for multiple insult posts, and none of it is edifying to the lurkers.

I don't care if people think my opinion is wrong. I DO care when they sy that my opinion is wrong because I am a groupie, paid off by the RNC, etc.

I do think the motive for some of these people is to dive people away from FR, so I try to make inteligent and non-inflammatory posts. I do't know if I am effective, but that is what I attempt.

[DrDeb]

Excellent post patricia . . . I couldn't agree more!

BTW: On one of the threads Thursday, a Freeper posted several comments from DU and Koz (for our edification) . . . One or more of these comments revealed that posters at DU were signing up and posting at FR for one reason: to disrupt and demoralize the Repubican base in advance of the November elections -- a tactic that MANY of us had suspicioned for quite awhile!

[vox_freedom]

Get off the forum you big dope!

Yep.

[melancholy]

Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri speaks at a press conference in this Jan. 20, 1999 file photo. According to U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, al-Masri would likely take the reins of al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Correction: The picture is for Abu Hamza Al Masri, a cleric who resides (or used to) in London, England.

According to Maj. General Caldwell on TV today, the one who may take over in Iraq is Abu Ayyoub Al Masri

[nmh]

He's DEAD isn't that what counts?

How low will the media go in denying this magnificent victory?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you!

[Quix]

Once upon a time there was a chief angel.

Said chief angel decided he could become as God.

God had other ideas and plans.

Said chief angel has been desperately trying to throw whatever dust he can in God's face by destroying as many of God's favorite creatures--man--as he can get away with.

This era is the closing set of scenes of said play.

Which part of evil do you not understand?

[Quix]

Why are people who think as you do allowed to breathe????
- - - -

To make useless idiots look good?

Good question.

[patriciaruth]

armchairman was banned at post 2501. I love that post.

[Eagles Talon IV]

Thanks for your input on opening the forum to the loony left.

My experience with these mostly indoctrinated one trick ponies is that they go away quickly when they are held up for ridicule for their comments and positions. This is so very easy to do since they have no independent thought process of their own but rather depend on input from those they worship in the Party. These come in the form of the talking points they get religiously from the wacko lefty web sites. Really it takes little effort to expose the total lack of logic and consistency in almost everything they say. Just yesterday I was discussing with a liberal the past election cycles for president and made the point that Bush received more votes in 200 and 2004 then Clinton did in 2002 and 2006 and in fact Bush's lowest total exceeded Clintons highest. This man then blustered that Clinton SWAMPED Bush where it counted most, in the electoral vote. When I then said he was correct and asked if that was so important then why are some Democrats suggesting that the electoral college should be done away with and if it is so important why, in 2000 were the libs all screaming that Gore was the REAL winner because he won the popular vote?

The man looked at me for a few seconds and all he could manage to say was, and this is an exact quote, "It's not the same now". When I asked him to explain himself he sort of waved his hand and said "What's the point, you just don't understand"

These people are fools and it takes little to expose them and send them running for cover. The secret is not to ever get angry at them but to calmly ask for explanations to there absurd claims. Introducing facts and truth into a discussion with a liberal will in every instance confuse and befuddle them.

[patriciaruth]

I tried the calm reasonable discussion of fact and logic and had a couple great thinkers and fact finders along with me and a cadre of nice people at SpeakOut.com.

When the fascist libs realized they were losing the war of words they just kept posting trash to fill all the space so people coming to the forum couldn't find our calm and reasonable discussions. Then they went on to post multiple pictures of some unfortunate's genitalia.

By then most of the decent folk had left. And the website dissolved.

You underestimate the lengths these fascist liberals will go to assert total control if given an inch or to destroy something if they don't have total control. You also overestimate the stomach most people here have for a knife fight.

I strongly believe FR has been allowing too many nasty comments and too much mudslinging here for its own good, and letting libs in deliberately would destroy this place like it destroyed Speakout.com.

[Eagles Talon IV]

In my opinion you mistake a person unwillingness to engage the loony libs with an acquiescence to their mad world view. This is not the case. The wackos do not follow normal Americans into the voting booth. The lefty extremists have done far more to alienate Americans then they have to attract them over to their side.

Just read your 2nd paragraph over and you will see that you have made my point. They live an existence of lies and become unhinged when faced with the truth.