Posted on 06/08/2006 7:09:47 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
As President Bush and Iraqi leaders on Thursday welcomed the announcement that coalition forces had killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, some in the anti-war community used the development to call for troop withdrawals while others downplayed its significance.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who was beaten by President Bush in the 2004 presidential race and had recently renewed his call for speedy troop withdrawals from Iraq, on Thursday praised the service members involved in Zarqawi's killing.
Coalition forces "did an incredible job hunting him down and destroying him, and all of America is proud of their skill and commitment," Kerry said.
He called Zarqawi's killing "another sign that it's time for Iraqis to stand up for Iraq ... and run their own country." He said American troops "have done their job in Iraq, and they've done it valiantly. It's time to work with the new Iraqi government to bring our combat troops home by the end of this year."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada also issued a statement praising the U.S. military and intelligence community. Calling Zarqawi a "cold-blooded killer who got what he deserved," Reid said his death and the naming of Iraqi national security and defense ministers made Thursday "a day to recognize these important achievements."
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who on May 18 said "we have done everything we can do militarily in Iraq," said Thursday in a statement that the death of Zarqawi would "have a significant impact in reducing the amount of violence in Iraq."
But Murtha renewed his call for troop withdrawal, saying that because of the development, "we should be able to substantially reduce our presence in Iraq and redeploy our military outside of Iraq."
But not everyone in the anti-war movement agreed that Zarqawi's death would have a great impact.
"If you look at recent violence, most of the violence now is happening between different religious folks, not necessarily so-called terrorists that are now creating the violence, so I think it's tough to say this is something that's going to turn the tide in Iraq," said Paul Martin, an activist with Peace Action.
The American people, Martin said, are "ready for us to move on and to give this to the Iraqis to deal with and to focus our financial energies on rebuilding the country so they're able to take care of themselves."
Michael McPhearson, a spokesman for Veterans for Peace, said that "if you really think about the makeup of the insurgency, I think you have to realize that there [are] very different people making it up."
"With al-Zarqawi gone, you still have the same dynamics that created the groundswell of anger and agitation by the people there in Iraq," McPhearson said. "Just because al-Zarqawi's gone doesn't change the facts on the ground that people are upset and want us to leave."
McPhearson added that Zarqawi's death might mean "there won't be so many attacks on civilians and Shia by insurgents, but certainly there will be retaliation against American forces with new vigor because their leader's been killed."
Bloggers on the Democratic Underground website criticized Americans who believe the Bush administration's assertion that Zarqawi's death marks a turning point in the Iraq war.
"There will be a bunch of sheeple in America tomorrow morning, who when they wake up from their blissful sleep after watching a bunch of reality shows, they will hear about the Bogeyman Terrorist Zarqawi being dead, and they will suddenly think the world is safer and everything is okay," one blogger wrote.
Others questioned whether Zarqawi even existed in the first place. "Do we even know if this guy ever existed?" one asked, adding: "And even if he is who they say he is, so what?"
The sorta make me laugh, though. Especially Kerry. Murtha makes me ill. Kerry's funny, though. Imagine him as president??? lol.
OK, but what does the third stooge Al say?
"The American people, Martin said, are "ready for us to move on and to give this to the Iraqis to deal with and to focus our financial energies on rebuilding the country so they're able to take care of themselves."
If this were 1944, this guy would have said, "The American people are ready for us to move on and give this to the French to deal with and to focus yada yada yada"...
Wait a minute? "Coalition forces" ?? B-b-b-but weren't they saying two years ago that the U.S. was "going it alone" ???
Ahhh, but now I see that the phrase "coalition forces" isn't part of Kerry's actual quote .......
Has there ever been a war where Kerry has not wanted to surrender. He probably would like the Pats to give up at halftime, to avoid any more bloodshed. On the other hand, Murtha is a poor, pathetic, senile old git. Most countries give people like Murtha jobs selling pencils in front of the courthouse, we send them to congress. Ahh, I feel better now.
How I wish President Bush would respond:
"Many people would like us to get the troops out now. But the job isn't finished, and I know how some of you feel about us saying "Mission Accomplished" too soon."
Opens too many old wounds though, I guess.
Now is not the time to bug out. There is still a vacuum in Iraq, and the vipers that remain after the major snake is destroyed can and will inflict a serious amount of damage.
We leave only after there is sufficient calm across the land, so busloads of school children and families engaged in the business of daily commerce are not being blown up by some maniacal self-immolating bomber or a stray IED.
NOw that Zarqawi is dead, I am hoping that some dry, sunny weather returns to New England.
God must be looking out for this Country. A close call of Gore being President and a couple 100,000 votes in Ohio and we would had Kerry.
They're both putting this out there because it's a win-win: If Bush pulls any troops, they'll say "We said so first," and if he doesn't, every single problem will mean these two will be on the tube saying "Well, I said we should be out by the end of 2006..."
Dumb and Dumber issuing gastrointestinal noises again?
Old cut and run JFINGKERRY at it again when will he ever STFU.
Al Zarqawi peut être l'histoire mais nous perdons toujours . Son temps à skeddadle de l'Iraq avec un drapeau blanc maintenant!
French all the way, mon Cheri. If you changed, I'd be scared. As it is, I'm completely reassured you learned nothing from your defeat in November 2004.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
If he was President we'd already moved out of Iraq and Zarqawi would still be alive.
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