« Barry McCaffrey on Afghanistan | Main | Brave New World, Here We Come »
June 8, 2006
al-Zarqawi Dead!
News outlets are reporting that the must wanted terrorist in Iraq, Abu Musabal-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, has been killled. From an AP story posted on MSNBC
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida’s leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air strike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday, adding that his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a look at his face. It was a major victory in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror.Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides Wednesday evening in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, al-Maliki said.
Loud applause broke out among the reporters and soldiers as al-Maliki, flanked by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told a news conference that “al-Zarqawi was eliminated.”
That's what I call good news to wake up to.
What I found most interesting was that we discovered his whereabouts through tips provided by Iraqi citizens
Al-Maliki said the airstrike was the result of intelligence reports provided to Iraqi security forces by residents in the area, and U.S. forces acted on the information. Casey said the hunt for al-Zarqawi began two weeks ago, and his body was identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.
CNN adds that jihadist websites have confirmed his death
A Web site used by Al Qaeda in Iraq confirmed al-Zarqawi's death and urged its followers to continue the insurgent fight.Another Web site used by the group issued a statement: "People of Islam, God will not let our enemies celebrate and spread corruption in the ground. Expect the right that was stolen to come back to us and destroy the Crusaders" -- an apparent reference to U.S. troops in Iraq.
Here's a quick roundup from the sources I think provide the best analysis
Iraq the Model has some additional information (hat tip Belmont Club)
Bill Roggio, writing on The Counterterrism Blog, attributes his death to Task Force 145
Task Force 145 was very likely the linchpin in the success in killing Zarqawi, Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman, his spiritual adviser, and seven other lieutenants during a high-level meeting. Over the past two months, TF-145 has conducted numerous raids and killed or captured numerous high-level members of Zarqawi's organization in the area directly north and west of Baghdad. ...The tightening of al-Qaeda's network in and around Baghdad provided Task Force 145 an opportunity to focus on Zarqawi's organization. Task Force 145 systematically began to dismantle al-Qaeda's organization from the bottom up. Cell leaders, financiers, facilitators and military commanders were rolled up in a series of target raids, slowly degrading al-Qaeda's capabilities while opening a window to al-Qaeda's organization and operations. The raids provided intelligence for follow-up strikes, which ultimately led to the attack of Zarqawi's safe house.
I don't need to tell you to read the whole thing.
We get these details of who makes up Task Force 145 from StrategyPage
Currently, TF 145 is divided into four sub units. Task Force West has several dozen commandoes from the U.S. Navy SEAL DevGroup, and a company of U.S. Army Rangers. Task Force Central has several dozen men from U.S. Army Delta Force and a company of Rangers. Task Force North has a about a dozen men from Delta Force, and a company of Rangers. Task Force Black has a few dozen SAS commandoes, with a company of British "Rangers" (the new Special Forces Support Group). TF 145 has a small headquarters element, plus a large intelligence operation, most of which is back in the United States, and connected in real time via satellite. There are also SOCOM helicopters and aircraft present.
Today marks a great victory in the War on Terror, or the War on Islamic Radicalism, if you prefer. No it does not mean that the insurgency is over, or even that final victory in Iraq is assured. No doubt the naysayers, anti-war left, and other assorted cynics will sniff that it "doesn't change anything" or "about time" or whatever. We need not listen to them. This is not a war that will not be one World War II style, as we learned shortly after marching into Baghdad in April of 2003. Defeating an insurgency is more like eating soup with a knife; it's messy and takes a long time, but if you persever you can achieve victory.
Posted by Tom at June 8, 2006 7:49 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.theredhunter.com/mt/refer.cgi/675
Comments
I would love to add someting but you said it all so well. God Bless Our Military and President Bush for remaining ever forward!!
Posted by: linda bergin at June 8, 2006 11:07 PM
Thanks, Tom! TF-145 was on my "TO DO" research list, and you did it for me. It sounds to me like we would have been done with WOT if we didn't have to contend with lawyers and politicians!
Posted by: DagneyT at June 9, 2006 9:19 AM
What a perfect confluence of events. The key posts in the Iraqi government finally filled on the same day that we got the monster.
And even better that the monster was conscious when US forces arrived to provide a RED WHITE AND BLUE escort to hell.
It's the victory our troops have worked hard to achieve for years. And it gives the Iraqis, and us momentum.
It doesn't hurt the political situation in this country too. Proof of that is offered by so many Democrats denying that the monsters death changes anything.
They've been braying "where's bin Laden?" just as they did "where's Zarqawi?"
When we finally get bin Laden they will say it changes nothing and let's impeach Bush anyway.
Posted by: Mike's America at June 12, 2006 1:23 AM
