The Power Vacuum

"Judith Beheading Holofernes" by Artemisia Gentileschi 1611-12, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples

 

Yesterday's image on ATB, representing the head of the evil in Iraq, may well prove more prophetic than I initially had dared to hope. Over 40 raids carried out yesterday, many of which would have yielded yet again further intelligence leading to more raids, could end the current impunity with which these murdering thugs go about their grizzly campaign of terror.

Let me be bold and say, that we will look back at these days and say: "these were the days when the back of insurgency terror was broken in Iraq".

I think nobody has as yet realized the full extent to which these thugs have been sent packing; on their way to hell of course...; don't want them popping up anywhere else, especially not in US affiliated prisons - we've hopefully learned our lesson that it doesn't pay keeping any of them alive, only for the Bergs and Sheehans of this crazy world to drape themselves with stickers, buttons and nauseating sound-bites.

Andrew Sullivan disagrees and puts forward his trusted source who says:

You know as well as I do that Zarqawi's death will not change things dramatically here as that is seriously a micro-event. The financial incentive to keep this war going - illegal corruption in the oil sector under the cover of chaos - is a macro-event that is so much larger that it trumps any desire to end this thing. The intensity, which most think has increased has dramatically decreased against US forces and turned toward the easiest means to keep this going, which is to have the Iraqis kill each other. Zarqawi was a master at stoking those flames so it will (already has) get very interesting.

By assessing correctly that al-Zarqawi was a master at stoking the flames of sectarian violence our good soldier contradicts his opening assertion that things will not change dramatically, confirming in fact my opinion.

The future in Iraq looks brighter indeed, although for some of the learned conspiracy theorists on the left, accusing the Administration of a "psychological operations campaign run out of the Pentagon", peace of mind is far from secured. We even had the attack on the frame shot used by the U.S. military on al-Zarqawi's dead body with the usual: "chilling", "bizarre", "disturbing", "suggests a cynicism" and was nothing more than a "trophy". 

AP is scraping the bottom of the barrel today: "unidentified source claims a man looking like wounded al-Zarqawi was beaten by American troops". Oops sorry, apparently he was "pulled out of the ambulance and beaten".  CBS confirms the unsubstantiated "U.S. troops arriving on the scene wrapped the man's head in an Arab robe and began beating him." L.A. Times confirms that an Iraqi lieutenant witnessed soldiers taking him off the stretcher and in the process of attempting to question him, repeatedly stood on his chest causing him to bleed from mouth and chest.

I am shocked, shocked, at the possibility of this gross misconduct. Having dropped two 500 lb bombs in order to eliminate the terrorists in the first place, they really should have dropped to their knees and given the man immediate mouth to mouth resuscitation. In fact isn't killing a terrorist against the Geneva convention? Well if not the Geneva one, surely we can dig up some other agreement which this brutal act would contravene. Despite the setbacks “Democrats Vow to Fight On After Zarqawi Loss.”

CNN was reporting the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, had been "betrayed". Betrayed? Are these people completely crazy?

At this and other points in the press conference, Gen. Caldwell had the look, I thought, of a normal person who wonders whether he has been transported into a world of lunatics. It seemed that some of the reporters, at least, thought they were on to another "scandal"--Zarqawi murdered by U.S. troops! In cold blood, as Jack Murtha likes to say.

Ben Johnson, the talented editor of Front Page has a brilliant op-ed on the lunacy of the left in dealing with the murder of al-Zarqawi:

George W. Bush called it “a severe blow to al-Qaeda.” Donald Rumsfeld called it “a significant victory.” Joe Biden admitted it a was “very significant hit.” How did much of the Left describe the killing of al-Qaeda murderer Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi? A “transparent psychological operations campaign run out of the Pentagon”; “a double tragedy”; “part of a larger and tragic story of miscalculation”; a possible fraud; a conspiracy; not “moral”; an “obscene spectacle”; no “big deal”; and good cause to beat a hasty retreat.

Don't miss Jeff Goldstein's interview with ahem, al-Zarqawi: "I’d like to thank you for taking this time to sit down with me, an infidel dog, and a Jew infidel dog, to boot.  But I think it’s important that we as Westerners try really to understand what it is that motivates people like you—21st century Minutemen, the Thomas Paines and George Washingtons of the new Caliphate, to hear some speak of it.”

Followed by the audio from my two favorites, Hugh Hewitt and Mark Steyn bidding adieu to al-Zarqawi in case you missed it buried in my post yesterday. The transcript is here. Congratulation to my friend Mark Steyn for winning the Breindel Award for Excellence in Journalism. Could not have happened to a nicer and more talented guy. The middle finger is firmly up to the London Telegraph.

Linked to Wizbang Carnival, Stop The ACLU,

Comments

[RunningRoach]

MarcH,

You're right. This guy's comments don't pass the smell test of this former pilot.

JCC, Capt. USAF Ret.

[peter]

Move over Ann Coulter

[MarcH]

Alexandra,

You did well to focus on the Zarqawi hit as part of an important and coordinated offensive against Sunni terrorists in Iraq. This activity was a very encouraging display of the new ability of the US to integrate tactical intelligence collection and analysis, special operations forces, and high tech conventional forces in counter-insurgency operations in populated areas. The development of this capability is a tremendous achievement and suggests that the US has surpassed the capability Israel achieved on the West Bank in 2002/2003 during and following Operation Defensive Shield (http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/2016.cfm)

Your illustration was the correct metaphor. This was operation was clearly intended to decapitate the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. It may even result in “spin-off” investigations and operations around the world as evidence collected in the various raids is analyzed. Hopefully this will clear the decks for a move against Iran.

Concerning Sully, your discussion of his “trusted source”, supposedly a serving US military aviation officer in Iraq, was too polite. The source’s tone did not sound right to me. He sounded more like a Starbucks barrista whining about not getting enough tips from lawyers and bond traders.

[rich]

In Tony Snow's press conference He was asked why the White House did not announce the death of Al-Zarqawi immediately.

Snow replied that the announcement was to be made by the Prime Minister of Iraq, Al-Maliki.

Al-Maliki used the announcement as the introduction to his naming of the final appointments to his cabinet.

So, Iraq has a government, and the leader of the "insurgents" is eliminated on the same day. What better reinforcement of the strength and purpose of the new Iraqi Government.

The next day Al-Maliki has an article in the UK Times on his plan to build a new Iraq: "Brick by Brick, we will build unity." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2217612,00.html

It looks like this man is in for the long haul, and is both serious and capable.

Al-Maliki may fill the gaps mentioned in General McCaffery's After Action Report of his visit to Iraq earlier this year.

http://img.slate.com/media/57/AAR%20General%20McCaffrey%20Visit%20to%20Iraq%20April%202006%20USMA.pdf

The after action report says that the troops are doing a wonderful job, the best Army we have ever had. But he was concerned about the political developments.

Now there is a steady political hand plugging, brick by brick, the political gaps in Iraq.

God willing, Al-Maliki will go down in history as the father of a modern democractic Iraq. (With Al-Sistani, the Kurds and W as the midwives!)

This may be the turning point. It was very appropriate to have Al-Maliki make the announcement.

[gringoman]

To re-focus a previous gringomanic communique on the bagging of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi by Task Force 145:

A salute to the American warriors who did their job and did it superbly. Congratulations will be ready for President Bush---after the soldiers who served in Iraq and who are now in the brig in Camp Pendleton, CA are treated at least as well and humanely as are the jihad detainees at Guantanomo. For starters, unchain these young Americans. Remove the shameful shackles that tie arms to waist, and remove the leg irons.

For further details: www.patriotdefensefund.com/
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20060606-1521-probe.
html

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"Haditha Crucifixion." Illustrated.