Rumsfeld: Ironic That Zarqawi Dies on Eve of Iraq Government Successes

Defense News ^ | Kathleen T. Rhem

[SandRat]

Rumsfeld: Ironic That Zarqawi Dies on Eve of Iraq Government Successes
By Kathleen T. Rhem American Forces Press Service	behave in a way that assures the people of that country that they are, in fact, going to be fair to all elements of the society -- the Kurds, the Shiia, the Sunnis and others,” Rumsfeld said. Rumsfeld also said he was particularly impressed that Maliki proposed a reconciliation process and that he announced he would make it a top priority to deal with militia forces within Iraq to try to end violence there. “(Maliki has) demonstrated he’s the kind of person who can make decisions; he can make tough decisions,” Rumsfeld said. “He’s willing to stick to his guns, and I think his early months as a relatively new political leader in Iraq, one has to give him very high marks.” The secretary added that he’s optimistic about the political process in Iraq because of the decisions Maliki is making. Rumsfeld also praised Army Gen. George Casey Jr. and the coalition forces who carried out the mission that killed Zarqawi yesterday. “General Casey and his team just deserve a lot of credit,” he said. “They have been tracking that individual for a good long time -- come very close on a number of occasions.”
ABOARD E-4B AIRCRAFT EN ROUTE TO WASHINGTON, June 8, 2006 — It’s ironic that terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed yesterday just as the Iraqi government he tried to derail scored some significant successes, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today. Rumsfeld announced the Jordanian terrorist mastermind’s death during a session of a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels earlier today. He expanded on the subject on the flight home. “This has to be a shock to the al Qaeda system, not just in Iraq but elsewhere. The benefit is enormous for the Iraqi people,” Rumsfeld told reporters traveling with him. “Here’s a man who has killed literally thousands of people -- innocent men, women and children. He has incited sectarian violence. He was a center of the financing network and of the operational network, and the link between the Iraqi operation and elements outside of Iraq.” This blow, coupled with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today announcing he had named people to the key Cabinet positions of defense and interior, is “a stunning shock” to the insurgency in Iraq, Rumsfeld said. Rumsfeld noted that Maliki had come under criticism for the delay in naming Cabinet ministers to these crucial posts. Ministers of defense and interior are vital because these two posts oversee the military and police forces, respectively. But Rumsfeld today praised the Iraqi leader for the careful way he made his decisions. He said Maliki made the right decision in naming Cabinet officers who were not part of the “spoils system” of politics but who would perform their duties fairly. “The success of the government is dependent upon those people being competent and those people being willing to

[SandRat]

The Irony of the Z-man's assuming room temperature today.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

I disagree with Secretary Rumsfeld. It's not ironic, it's poetic.

[IncPen]

Zarqawi died of surveillance.

Surveillance has killed too many.

There must be no more surveillance.

[SandRat]

is that you Reid-Biden-Murtha???

[AirBorn]

Thanks for the Great Post Sand Rat!!

Also for the side reminder too that:

-----AMERICA owes our hard Working & Diligent Military the WORLD for all the work they do everyday that doesn't get Noticed..it ALL ADDS UP to this point when their efforst come together and BAAM!!: another murderer down!!

also it's a reminder that:

----WE also have those dedicated to AMERICA like Rummy!!
Thank GOD & Bless this Administration !!

Other wise...we'd be STUCK in " Appeasement-Ville" again with the likes of :

---MAD "Not-So-Bright"!!!...or

---SANDY BURGLER-BERGER!!...or....

---SCHRILLARY would have FORCED her way into a position
( probly thru blackmail on all SHE has on everyone!!) in KERRY'S administration in some key role that would have DISTROYED all Pres. Bush & our Military has worked for already!!

---or any OTHER " CLINTONESTAs " Libbies, End-the-War-Now would be incharge and AMERICA would be screwed!!

Great Post!

Darth Airborne : " Women Crave me...Fish Fear me!!!"

[Paleo Conservative]

And the day that the USS Cole set sail for the Mideast.

USS Cole Deploys To Middle East

[jazusamo]

This has been a big set back for the naysayers of a free Iraq but you wouldn't know it from the MSM. They can't hold out forever because both TV and print are slowly going down the tube.

[jmc1969]

The most pathetic liberal bull about Zarqawi I heard today that he was the line that he was some idiot thug that hit the jackpot with Bush's attack on Iraq.

The fact is that Zarqawi found the only possible course for victory for him and presued it agreesively despite of all the attacks on him from everywhere including al-Qaeda central for attacking Shia. The only way Zarqawi could destabilize Iraq and force the US out was to cause a civil war. A nationalistic uprising wouldn't work for al-Qaeda, because the Shia and Sunnis would have no need for foreigners. Zarqawi played every crack in the ethnic and religious faultlines of Iraq.

Zarqawi also knew in late 2003 in his letter to Bin Laden that the second democracy comes to Iraq it would be over for al-Qaeda and they would have to in his words pack their bags or die fighting.

Zarqawi did make mistakes, but by in large he was the most agressive and intelligent enemy we have faced in the War on Terror. For all the bluster about Bin Laden the man is a coward who took himself out of the fight against the West shortly after 911 and went so deep in Pakistan he is probably living in the 12 level of hell.

[Wiseghy]

Nothing ironic about it. He was losing, big time and AQ, uh...fired him.

Not exactly a golden parachute in AQ.

[jmc1969]

al-Qaeda didn't fire him. al-Qaeda central has zero control of al-Qaeda in Iraq. al-Qaeda in Iraq is over 90% Iraqi and the foreign fighters in the network Zarqawi used as leaders or sent out to blow themselves up.

There is no top down leadership for al-Qaeda worldwide. Bin Laden today had no more control of Zarqawi from his hole in the middle of nowhere then Karl Rove. Dispite the stories out tonight on DU.

There has been a dozen different storys out yesterday about this intel source or another led to his death, but I suspect the reality was it was alot of things working together helped to find him.

I actually thought Zarqawi would leave Iraq over the past many months rather then die fighting, but unlike Bin Laden he was actually willing to go out fighting.

[shield]

;o)

[JennysCool]

Well, if hangin' in the "safe-house" can be considered "fighting."

[Marine_Uncle]

Couldn't agree more with what you said. To many downplay zman's accomplishments. He was ruthless and calculating. He knew exactly what strings to pull. And the dopes you refere to, where amoung those strings.