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.
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.