Oh say can you see Osama yet?

From my mailbox today, in regard to the welcome demise of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted terrorist in Iraq.

Antonia,

My  condolences.

But keep your chin up.  Hopefully, someone will step up to take Zarqawi's     place.

It's from somebody named R. Lara. Or so the email said.

I dunno. Personally, I still haven't gotten over mourning Uday and Qusay, whose killings three years ago were to have signaled the end of the war. Then there was the capture of their daddy Saddam, and how that was supposed to bring the end of the insurgency. And now, Zarqawi's number came up, for the nth time apparently -- at least according to this 2004 MSNBC report.

NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself — but never pulled the trigger.

In June 2002, U.S. officials say intelligence had revealed that Zarqawi and members of al-Qaida had set up a weapons lab at Kirma, in northern Iraq, producing deadly ricin and cyanide.

The Pentagon quickly drafted plans to attack the camp with cruise missiles and airstrikes and sent it to the White House, where, according to U.S. government sources, the plan was debated to death in the National Security Council.

“Here we had targets, we had opportunities, we had a country willing to support casualties, or risk casualties after 9/11 and we still didn’t do it,” said Michael O’Hanlon, military analyst with the Brookings Institution.

Four months later, intelligence showed Zarqawi was planning to use ricin in terrorist attacks in Europe.

The Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it.  By then the administration had set its course for war with Iraq.

“People were more obsessed with developing the coalition to overthrow Saddam than to execute the president’s policy of preemption against terrorists,” according to terrorism expert and former National Security Council member Roger Cressey.

In January 2003, the threat turned real. Police in London arrested six terror suspects and discovered a ricin lab connected to the camp in Iraq.

The Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the National Security Council killed it.

Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi’s operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam.

The United States did attack the camp at Kirma at the beginning of the war, but it was too late — Zarqawi and many of his followers were gone. 

And so Zarqawi went on, the apparent inspiration for countless vicious attacks against U.S. troops as well as Iraqi men, women and children -- anot to mention the spate of horrific beheadings that began with U.S. businessman Nick Berg.

Went on, that is, until he was eliminated. (Much celebration here.)

Funny thing is, Berg's father isn't jumping with joy over the news.

"I think al-Zarqawi's death is a double tragedy," Michael Berg told The Associated Press after learning a U.S. airstrike had killed the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. "His death will incite a new wave of revenge. George Bush and al-Zarqawi are two men who believe in revenge."

And here, via the almighty Crooks and Liars, is Berg on CNN, as Soledad O'Brien struggles to get him to say something pro-war. It's a must-see. (Transcripts are here.)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: There's an alternate reading which would say at some point Iraqis will say the insurgency is not OK. That they'll, in fact, be inspired by the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the sense of he was turned in, for example, we believe, by his own Iraqi, you know, number two, number three leadership in his ranks and that that's actually them saying, you know, we do not want this kind of violence in our country. And experts who we've spoken to this morning have said, this is sort of the critical moment where Iraqis need to figure out which direction the country's going to go. That would be an alternate reading to the scenario that you're pointing to.

BERG: Yes, well, I don't believe that scenario because every time that news of new atrocities committed by Americans in Iraq becomes public, more and more of the every day Iraqi people who try to hold out, to try to be peaceful people, lose it and join the -- what we call the insurgency, what I call the resistance against the occupation of one sovereign nation.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: There's a theory that a struggle for democracy -- I mean we have, you know . . .

BERG: Democracy? Come on. You can't really believe that that's a democracy there when the people who are running the elections are holding guns. That's not democracy.

(A majority of Americans seem to see it the same way, at least according to an AP-Ipsos poll published today.)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: There is a theory that as they try to form some kind of government that, in fact, it's going to be brutal, it's going to be bloody, there's going to be loss and that's the history of many countries, that that's just a lot of people pay for what they believe will be better than what they had under Saddam Hussein.

BERG: Well, you know, I'm not saying Saddam Hussein was a good man, but he's no worse than George Bush. Saddam Hussein didn't pull the trigger, didn't commit the rapes. Neither did George Bush, but both men are responsible for them under their reigns of terror. I don't buy that.

Iraq did not have al Qaeda in it. Al Qaeda supposedly killed my son. Under Saddam Hussein, no al Qaeda. Under George Bush, al Qaeda. Under Saddam Hussein, relative stability. Under George Bush, instability. Under Saddam Hussein, about 30,000 deaths a year. Under George Bush, about 60,000 deaths a year.

I don't get it. Why is it better to have George Bush be the king of Iraq rather than Saddam Hussein?

And here's Bush looking king-like today after having run his victory lap.

I would like to believe that Zarqawi's death means that fewer innocent people will be killed, that war will soon be over , that the troops will be able to go home and that they will live happily ever after in Iraq, but, if recent history is any indication, this will only renew the terrorists' resolve.

And so, back to my keening and wailing.

UPPITY DATE: Wonkette has the best post of the day.

You know who the real winner is now that al-Zarqawi’s gone? The people of Iraq? No, they’re pretty much still screwed. It’s the editors of The Atlantic, who have a huge Zarqawi profile in their July/August issue, conveniently added to the website yesterday. Abu Musab al-Zarqari: Terrorist mastermind, total idiot.

UPPERMOST IN MY MIND DATE: Who collects the $25 million reward on Zarqawi's head?

UH-OH DATE: Here's Loretta Napoleoni, author of Insurgent Iraq: al-Zarqawi and the New Generation as well Terror Incorporated, talking to Amy Goodman (Robert Fisk) on Democracy Now about all of this.

I mean, killing al-Zarqawi is not going to solve the problem. In fact, to be honest, I think killing al-Zarqawi is turning this individual into a super martyr. Because, let's face it, it's the first leader of Al Qaeda who's actually died fighting, on the field, coalition forces. So tomorrow we'll see the proliferation of the al-Zarqawi brigades. People who want to vindicate the death of the master.

Those who think that – what Robert said is very true about Al Qaeda. In fact, I wouldn't talk so much about Al Qaeda, this so-called transnational organization which existed before 9/11. I would talk about Al Qaeda-ism, which is this new global anti-imperialist ideology , which has been embraced by the jihaddists, which has been created from the ashes of Al Qaeda, the transnational organization, through the fight in Iraq. In that, al-Zarqawi, a man we created out of nothing -- because let’s not forget that al-Zarqawi was presented to the world as the link between Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden on February 5, 2003, when in reality he wasn't [audio lost] Al Qaeda. So I think, you know, this man has embodied the icon of Al Qaedaism, and in death he will be even more powerful than in life.

Comments

[Stephen Reeves]

"BERG: Well, you know, I'm not saying Saddam Hussein was a good man, but he's no worse than George Bush. Saddam Hussein didn't pull the trigger, didn't commit the rapes. Neither did George Bush, but both men are responsible for them under their reigns of terror. I don't buy that."

That is the biggest piece of crap that I have read since the Iraq war, and the at is saying much, what a fool Berg is.

So Bush has a reign of terror in the U.S.!!!! and you believe this Antonia, boy , you must do if you reprint it here, with seeming approval.

[Antonia Z.]

It's pretty clear to me that he was referring to bush's reign of terror over IRAQ.

It ain't exactly a picnic there, Stephen

[JDot]

Zerb

Can't you just be happy this scumbag is gone.

I know you hate the USA right now, but this is a good thing, not huge ufortunetly but good.

It is sad the US missed him many times but today he got his jus-dues.

You can blame the US all you want but this guy needed to be delt with.

Who ever gets the 25 mill, is the hell out of Iraq I bet.

[Antonia Z.]

DID IRONY GET KILLED TODAY TOO???

[JDot]

zerb

There is a little smoke in the air. That Irony thing went right over my head.

[JDot]

zerb

Never mind I get it, now I'm going to watch family guy.

[Stephen Reeves]

Ok I am confused the insurgents who are killing more of their own people than they are Americans, are not under the orders of the Americans or George Bush .A true resistance does not kill its own poeople, am I the stupid one here or what, I just dont get it.
George Bush is not the one lopping heads off,
sending in suicide bombers or whatever.
So how can it be his reign of terror?
Ok so the Democracy thing is not working,so the U.S should install a strong man like it did in the old days,???
Or get out, and let them fight it out to see who the next strong man will be.I dunno you tell me.

[Lloyd Fister]

It's like ra-a-ai-iin on beheadin' day-yay
A frrreee ra-iiide when you're already slayed
Good advice that ya just wouldn't take...
A 500 pound bomb? It figgguuures...

[Dana]

No, Z., irony was never alive in them.

It won't matter to these bludgeon wielding neandercons whether every single Iraqi alive steps up to a microphone and tells the US to get out. It won't matter if they drop an A bomb on Iran. It won't matter if Bush changes the orders of battle to "kill them all, god will know his own".

The dishonesty and duplicity of the US in starting this useless war clearly doesn't matter to them and neither does the outstanding incompetence of their conduct of it. None of the violations of Geneva bother them - they defend and celebrate them in fact. Abu Ghraib is a shrine for them. The massacre in Fallujah is adored. Haditha is, for them, a justifiable homicide.

These idolaters, members of the Bush cargo cult they are, will still sing hymns of praise to the boy king from Texas.

[Stephen Reeves]

Some of the "Stoppers" are mourning the death
of Zarqawi, not because he is dead, but apparently it is a (apparent)victory for Bush
oops but Bush is the cause of the 'reign of Terror" so why would
Bush want to kill one of the Chief foot soldiers of the 'Reign of Terror" surely Zarqi should have been kept alive to carry on
Bush's reign of terror according to Berg's logic.
I dunno maybe I am being ironic, maybe Berg was.
Favorite quote from thos who see Zarqi as one of the causes of this Reign of Terror, rather than Bush.
"Of course, the liberal mass media is already running stories trying to undermine this great day. Nick Berg's father, described as a Green Party pacifist, does not think this is that great of a victory because it is just more killing. This wimp is not even worthy of living in the land of Oz. Even the munchkins celebrated when the first wicked witch had a house dropped on her."

[Todd]

Heavens! Look what happens when you don't genuflect along with 'em: they get all pissy because the crap's still only on their knees . . . .

[Diana-Marie]

Yeah, I think irony is dead today, for sure!!
Thought I was all Zarqawi'd out till I saw that dynamite video and the efforts to get Mr. Berg to join the sheep and baaaaa in all the right places. But he wouldn't be moved, and sincerely believes that violence begets violence, endlessly. How can anyone argue with that in the disaster that is Iraq?
Doubtless those who have a problem with courage will disparage Mr. Berg and his convictions; Coulter comes to mind for some reason.

Truth is, who was Zarqawi anyway? An opportunistic tagalong to the al Quada 'brand name' and a sadistic killer - plenty of those in the world and doubtless more will follow. After all, it's been said a number of times that even if bin Laden was caught or killed the autonomous groups using the name would still exist.
Going back to Mr. Berg, from the point of view of essential services and freedom to walk the streets (unveiled)and less death and destruction, Iraq certainly seems to have a better place to live under Saddam Hussein - though families of his victims might differ on that issue.

[Stephen Reeves]

"Going back to Mr. Berg, from the point of view of essential services and freedom to walk the streets (unveiled)and less death and destruction, Iraq certainly seems to have a better place to live under Saddam Hussein - though families of his victims might differ on that issue."
-------------------------------------------
Yes and that is how dictatorships are justified they bring stability, and order to the nation, of course if Harper done the same
thing, it would be different would'nt it.
Eh these Arabs need a dictator to look after them, not like us nice Anglos Saxons.

I am starting to think I am walking into Monty Python land, we the left so supportive of dicatorship,fascists, head choopers sigh!

[Diana-Marie]

Stephen Reeves:
"Yes and that is how dictatorships are justified they bring stability, and order to the nation, of course if Harper done the same
thing, it would be different would'nt it.
Eh these Arabs need a dictator to look after them, not like us nice Anglos Saxons."

Not disagreeing with you Mr. Reeves, just pointing out life today vs life then! However, it's not quite the same as if Harper tried it. We already have a democracy, the Iraqi's didn't (and don't yet, may never, hope so, but who knows).
As for dictatorships, benign or less so, they may be a thing of the future, since nothing longterm will ever be accomplished on the state of the worlds environment under the democratic system of votecatchers on four-year cycles. But that is many decades down the road and long after my time!

BTW, where was it written that I support headchoppers & fascists?

[Dana]

If you don't faithfully parrot the American Enterprise Institute line, Rush, Michelle, Ann et al then the support of head-choppers and fascists is axiomatic.

[CapitalCat]

Letterman monologue June 8:

"al-Zaqawi was the leading insane crackpot. But now he's dead so Ann Coulter takes over first place."

[Jiminy C]

For Mr. Reeves benefit - Nick Berg's father was also interviewed on CBC As It Happens last night!
Seems there are others - even more vocal than Mr. Reeves - in condemning Mr. Berg Snr.'s criticism of President Bush and the war in general.
He mentioned that some - presumably wishing to make a visual statement of some dubious kind - were seen to be waving a banner (he estimated maybe 10 feet long) replete with a still photo taken from the Net video of his son's beheading - just after the point when the sword swished down!!!

I can only say Stephen - if they are on your side - I hope there are more than 50% plus one of the other guys in the US in 2008 to keep them in check, otherwise our neighbour to the south is going to slide deep into the moral dumper well before this century is over!

[Todd]

Mr. Reeves said:

"Yes and that is how dictatorships are justified they bring stability"

Isn't it the Right which is always going on about "Rule of Law"? If markets and their free-marketeering mouthpieces want stability and rules (ie their rules), dictatorships are wonderful vehicles for that vide. Chile under Pinochet.

[fanofzerbisiasnot]

Berg's statements put the lie to Maureen Dowd's loopy statement that the "moral authority of parents who bury children killed in Iraq is absolute". He doesn't have to jump up and down at the death of Zarqawi. But he doesn't have to get in Zarqawi's grave and make love to him either.

[sooey]

maybe the idea is to convince the american public of the parallels to world war ii. zarqawi is... speers? i dunno. the important thing is that bush comes out of this with everybody confusing him with churchill. ...they don't impeach in england, do they? just sniff, look away and cut the fellow cold? that sort of thing? yikes! and behead, i guess... gawd. history is hard.

[Bill-Muskoka]

Funny how Zarqawi looks like any other POS, and a great deal like some biker trash!

Nice targeting by the F-16 pilots!

Oh, and Antonia, do you have a backlog of laundry that needs 'ironing', I see another reference to 'loss of irony' in your post? LOL

[Bill-Muskoka]

Anyone have a clue as to why Zarqawi, who was convicted of rape and theft as a teen was even still alive in a country where 'off with their head' has been a standard punishment?

He was a total loser POS his entire life.

[Bill-Muskoka]

Regardless, it has become clear why Sodumb Insane ruled with an iron fist. Look at the fighting amongst the Iraqi people. It's like a bunch of street punk gangbangers. I see no difference, other than they have more advanced weapons like RPG's.

Its watching a larger version of Toronto, Scarborough to be precise, and those that worry about their precious little innocent children will surely raise their voice declaring they need understanding.

What they needed was a father, fair discipline, and a good swat on their little arses when they deserved it. Today's youth are often worse than the adult criminals, and the girls are even more vicious than a lot of the boys.

Look at our own problems and see the parallels. What people should be fearful of is that, unchecked, our own streets could be just as bad, except we wouldn't be having military fighters and bombs blowing every thing and everyone to tiny bits.

[miz g]

It just seems like bad strategy on the US' part to create a martyr. The international celebrations will only serve to inflame his followers and strengthen their resolve. Hello, revenge?

Before anyone jumps down my throat, I am not saying that Zarqawi should just run free and continue beheading innocent people. But wouldn't it benefit the US to instead shoot insurgent leaders in the kneecaps, drag them into custody and put them on trial? Interview them, do a little intelligence gathering?

I betcha Bin Laden is loving this- we'll get a new video in a week or so with him saying, "Thank you Bush, for killing Zarqawi and providing me with thousands of new recruits..."

Scary stuff indeed.

[Ti-Guy]

God, what a disgraceful interview Soledad O'Brien conducted. She did most of the talking and suggested "alternatives" for how Mr. Berg should feel about Zarqawi's death.

What an abysmal human being.