Liverpool FC Forum

[metalhead]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the coalition's most wanted man in Iraq, was killed in an airstrike near Baquba, jubilant U.S. and Iraqi authorities announced Thursday.

Al-Zarqawi's death gives Iraq a chance to "turn the tide" in the fight against the nation's insurgency, President Bush said at the White House.

"The ideology of terror has lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders," Bush said. "Zarqawi's death is a severe blow to al Qaeda." (Watch the celebration following the announcement -- 4:31)

"Special Operations forces, acting on tips and intelligence from Iraqis, confirmed Zarqawi's location and delivered justice to the most wanted terrorist in Iraq," Bush said.

"Zarqawi personally beheaded American hostages and other civilians in Iraq," Bush said. "Now Zarqawi has met his end and this violent man will never murder again."

Later, U.S. military officials displayed a picture of al-Zarqawi taken after the attack and showed aircraft video depicting the strike.

U.S. and Iraqi officials first announced the attack at a news conference in Iraq.

The 3-year-old insurgency has "lost its leader," said U.S. Gen. George Casey, the highest-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq. Casey was joined during the announcement by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Although details of the attack remain elusive, sources at the Pentagon said that a U.S. military aircraft dropped two 500-pound bombs on a safe house with al-Zarqawi inside.

Casey said al-Zarqawi and a key lieutenant, spiritual adviser Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman, were killed at an isolated safe house outside Baquba at 6:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m. ET) on Wednesday. In addition, four others died in the attack, the military said. (Map of target)

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.

CNN could not verify the authenticity of the Web messages.

Al-Zarqawi was the self-proclaimed leader of one of the nation's many insurgent factions -- al Qaeda in Iraq --who pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

He had a $25 million bounty on his head, led foreign and Iraqi fighters in a series of dramatic and high-profile attacks against U.S. and Western targets and was seen as leader of one of the factions in Iraq that fomented sectarian strife between the Sunni and Shiite communities.

His killing is a major coup for the embattled coalition forces.

"Today is a good day," U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad said at the news conference. "Zarqawi has been killed."

Khalilzad called al-Zarqawi "the godfather of sectarian killing and terror in Iraq" -- and said the death "marks a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror." (Watch how al-Zarqawi's body was identified -- 2:28)

"His organization has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in Iraq and abroad."

The 39-year-old Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi was accused of terrorist links before the Iraq war and soon led the insurgency after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. (Watch how al-Zarqawi murdered his way to the most-wanted list -- 2:50)

Multiple attempts have been made to capture or kill him and he was held briefly by Iraqi security forces in 2004 but was released because no one knew who he was.

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called al-Zarqawi's death "a very important moment in Iraq. A blow for al Qaeda in Iraq is a blow for al Qaeda everywhere."

Insider tips
Casey wouldn't provide many details about the action but said that "all of these operations are the result of a long, painstaking process where tips and intelligence are received, processed and checked out."

"Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates who were conducting a meeting approximately eight kilometers north of Baquba when the airstrike was launched," Casey said.

Baquba is a volatile area northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province, a mixed Shiite-Sunni jurisdiction. There have been many roadside bombings and shootings throughout the province and within the week, severed heads were found in fruit boxes there.

"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the airstrike, and elements of Multi-National Division North, arrived shortly thereafter," Casey said. "We have been able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."

This particular operation had been in the works for a couple of weeks, leading to the location of the house in a wooded area and the meeting, he said.

Al-Maliki indicated that the strike on al-Zarqawi was the "result of cooperation" with ordinary Iraqis, saying that authorities many times have asked the citizenry to provide information.

"This is a message to all those who take violence as a path."

Khalilzad said the demise of al-Zarqawi won't end the violence in Iraq, but it is "an important step in the right direction."

CNN's Jamie McIntyre, Barbara Starr, Henry Schuster and journalist Randa Habib contributed to this report.

-----------------------------

1)What is your reaction?

2)Will this affect the attacks on Iraq or on any other nation from Al-Quada?

3)Have Al-Quada dealt with a big blow by the death of Al Zarqawi? or will they appoint another leader who will be more far dangerous than him?

[dawson99]

the face u see is never the main man, its the face behind the face we need to beware of. it means nothing. one man killed wont stop the terrorists. just means tomorrow a new game starts with a new player

[account deleted by request]

my main reaction is apathy - you kill one another will only take his place (probably more). On a more optimistic note, if noone claims the $25million can I have it please.

[Judge]

gotta start somewhere

well done, and death to insurgency

[Sabre]

1)What is your reaction?

Indiference. While his deeds of beheading people etc provoked me terror and hate, his death doesn't make me feel any better

2)Will this affect the attacks on Iraq or on any other nation from Al-Quada?

No, now he's a martir. And right now there are dozens of young fanatic people prepared to kill.

3)Have Al-Quada dealt with a big blow by the death of Al Zarqawi? or will they appoint another leader who will be more far dangerous than him?

Al-Quaeda can we weakened progressively, but not because the death of a leader. The new leader will try to stablilsh himself as a leader probably being bloody and ruthless.

[JBG]

Death to insurgency Judge?

[Judge]

Death to insurgency Judge?

what i mean is not death in its purest form (ie kill people), i mean this may go along way to killing off insurgency.

personally, i dont think it will, but you have to start somewhere with terrorism i suppose.

I saw the news this morning, and iraqi officials are happy that he is dead, so i am happy for the iraqi people

[dawson99]

insurgency

n : an organized rebellion aimed at overthrowing a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict

kill the rebellian scum... in star wars luke skywalker was an insurgent

[Judge]

on the side of good

[JBG]

So if Germany had successfully invaded Britain in 1940 and conquered it, those men and women who inevitably would have resisted the occupying force by blowing up railway lines, setting off roadside bombs to attack Wehrmacht convoys, machine gunning SS soldiers on the streets or blowing up cafes frequented by the enemy should be put to death because they committed the crime of insurgency?

[dawson99]

So if Germany had successfully invaded Britain in 1940 and conquered it, those men and women who inevitably would have resisted the occupying force by blowing up railway lines, setting off roadside bombs to attack Wehrmacht convoys, machine gunning SS soldiers on the streets or blowing up cafes frequented by the enemy should be put to death because they committed the crime of insurgency?

you're talking about the film red dawn... wolverines.. a complete classic!!!

[JBG]

So if Germany had successfully invaded Britain in 1940 and conquered it, those men and women who inevitably would have resisted the occupying force by blowing up railway lines, setting off roadside bombs to attack Wehrmacht convoys, machine gunning SS soldiers on the streets or blowing up cafes frequented by the enemy should be put to death because they committed the crime of insurgency?

you're talking about the film red dawn... wolverines.. a complete classic!!!

I wasn't actually referring to any film but seeing that we are now talking about films:

It Happened Here.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055024/

[dawson99]

lol..red dawn is a bit...cheesy. 5 schoolkids fight back... starring patrick swayze, charlie sheen, c thomas howell, jennifer grey and lea thompson...

its pure 80s cheese... but they did become insurgents after russia and cuba invaded there small american town

[Igor Zidane]

I'ts the cliche , one man's Freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

As far as i'm concerned it's a strike against terrorism , but i'm sure there will be another 100 to take his place. It's going to be a long process and we've got to be prepared to be in it for the long term. If not , then pull  out now and leave the country to implode on itself.

[Honolulu Bob]

lol..red dawn is a bit...cheesy. 5 schoolkids fight back... starring patrick swayze, charlie sheen, c thomas howell, jennifer grey and lea thompson...

How dare you!! Those guys saved America!!   

On a lighter note...

Don't agree with the Iraq war and don't think his death will make much difference either way but at least it's one less evil bast.ard on the planet. Hope that evil cruel fu.ck died a horrible death and that they cut his balls off shove them in his gob and bury him in 6 feet of pig shi.t.