Possibly Breaking News al-Zarqawi Killed

[Annie]

Al Z on his way to 72 virgins? Nah, I don't believe it.

I think Allah said too much of a demand. Each one only gets 1, 72 year old male virgin.

 

[pegwinn]

I think Allah said too much of a demand. Each one only gets 1, 72 year old male virgin.

Made me spit mountain dew. System won't let me rep you. Go to TA and you'll find a bux donation.......... Best I could do.

 

[Annie]

Made me spit mountain dew. System won't let me rep you. Go to TA and you'll find a bux donation.......... Best I could do.

I think I love you! Though I am clueless to what TA is. I ripped that off someone else from somewhere else, if I knew, I'd credit!

 

[Annie]

From yesterday:

http://www.floppingaces.net/2005/11/19/did-we-get-zarqawi/

Seems he may have called it. Links and pics! I'm getting too hopeful. Someone calm me down!

 

[Annie]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1331400

The MSM is on this now. Google News has mucho links.

 

[manu1959]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1331400

The MSM is on this now. Google News has mucho links.

you gotta love the picture of this dude they release....makes him look like a saint

 

[Annie]

you gotta love the picture of this dude they release....makes him look like a saint

Where is my photo shop hero? Darin? Turn al Zarqwari into Satan, please!

 

[Mr. P]

Al Z on his way to 72 virgins? Nah, I don't believe it.

I heard that they ran out of virgins a couple weeks ago..

 

[Lefty Wilbury]

Officials Probing Whether Raid in Mosul Killed Zarqawi

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, November 21, 2005; A11



BAGHDAD, Nov. 20 -- An Iraqi police commander said Sunday that U.S. and Iraqi officials were certain that seven men who fought to the death in a house in northern Iraq were members of al Qaeda but were still trying to determine whether one of them was Abu Musab Zarqawi, the Jordanian insurgent leader.

U.S. and Iraqi forces remained deployed around the site of the three-hour gunfight Saturday at a house in the city of Mosul, north of Baghdad. Children stayed home from class on Sunday, a school day in the Islamic world, and other residents kept off the streets, presumably fearing that more fighting might result from the heavy military presence in the city.

Joint forces backed by U.S. military helicopters had surrounded the house after receiving a tip that led them to believe that Zarqawi might be inside, the governor of Nineveh province, Duraid Kashmoula, said Saturday.

Four of the fighters inside died resisting an intense air and ground assault by the U.S. and Iraqi forces, and three others blew themselves up with explosives rather than be captured, Kashmoula said. A woman was also found inside with the words "suicide bomber" marked on her chest, officials said. Brig. Gen. Said Ahmed Jubouri, a police commander in Mosul, said the force of the suicide blasts destroyed the house.

Fierce resistance on such a scale often indicates the presence of what the U.S. military calls high-value insurgent targets. U.S. intelligence officials said earlier this year that Zarqawi had vowed not to be taken alive.

Zarqawi is the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, a group allied with the larger al Qaeda organization and that is believed responsible for many suicide attacks in Iraq. Rumors about his whereabouts abound, although in recent months speculation has diminished. Kashmoula said U.S. officials retrieved the remains and were investigating whether Zarqawi was among the dead.

U.S. military officials believe it is possible that Zarqawi was killed in the raid but will not know with certainty until DNA tests are run, said a U.S. military intelligence official involved in Iraqi issues.

There is a "30 percent" chance that one of the bodies is Zarqawi's, he said. But he warned: "We've had dry holes before."

Over the past month, the official said, there has been a series of raids following a surge in tips from Iraqis unhappy with Zarqawi and his operation. These tend to be traditional Iraqi leaders -- sheiks and imams -- upset with the organization, especially its recent execution of Sunni Arabs in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar. "Their feeling is that al Qaeda in Iraq has overstepped its bounds," he said.

Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was killed by small-arms fire Sunday near the capital. The soldier was assigned to the Army's Task Force Baghdad. A Marine, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, died of wounds suffered the day before in Karmah, near a village outside Fallujah, the military reported.

In the southern city of Basra, a roadside bomb killed a British soldier, the British Ministry of Defense said.

 

[Annie]

Officials Probing Whether Raid in Mosul Killed Zarqawi

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, November 21, 2005; A11



BAGHDAD, Nov. 20 -- An Iraqi police commander said Sunday that U.S. and Iraqi officials were certain that seven men who fought to the death in a house in northern Iraq were members of al Qaeda but were still trying to determine whether one of them was Abu Musab Zarqawi, the Jordanian insurgent leader.

U.S. and Iraqi forces remained deployed around the site of the three-hour gunfight Saturday at a house in the city of Mosul, north of Baghdad. Children stayed home from class on Sunday, a school day in the Islamic world, and other residents kept off the streets, presumably fearing that more fighting might result from the heavy military presence in the city.

Joint forces backed by U.S. military helicopters had surrounded the house after receiving a tip that led them to believe that Zarqawi might be inside, the governor of Nineveh province, Duraid Kashmoula, said Saturday.

Four of the fighters inside died resisting an intense air and ground assault by the U.S. and Iraqi forces, and three others blew themselves up with explosives rather than be captured, Kashmoula said. A woman was also found inside with the words "suicide bomber" marked on her chest, officials said. Brig. Gen. Said Ahmed Jubouri, a police commander in Mosul, said the force of the suicide blasts destroyed the house.

Fierce resistance on such a scale often indicates the presence of what the U.S. military calls high-value insurgent targets. U.S. intelligence officials said earlier this year that Zarqawi had vowed not to be taken alive.

Zarqawi is the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, a group allied with the larger al Qaeda organization and that is believed responsible for many suicide attacks in Iraq. Rumors about his whereabouts abound, although in recent months speculation has diminished. Kashmoula said U.S. officials retrieved the remains and were investigating whether Zarqawi was among the dead.

U.S. military officials believe it is possible that Zarqawi was killed in the raid but will not know with certainty until DNA tests are run, said a U.S. military intelligence official involved in Iraqi issues.

There is a "30 percent" chance that one of the bodies is Zarqawi's, he said. But he warned: "We've had dry holes before."

Over the past month, the official said, there has been a series of raids following a surge in tips from Iraqis unhappy with Zarqawi and his operation. These tend to be traditional Iraqi leaders -- sheiks and imams -- upset with the organization, especially its recent execution of Sunni Arabs in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar. "Their feeling is that al Qaeda in Iraq has overstepped its bounds," he said.

Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was killed by small-arms fire Sunday near the capital. The soldier was assigned to the Army's Task Force Baghdad. A Marine, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, died of wounds suffered the day before in Karmah, near a village outside Fallujah, the military reported.

In the southern city of Basra, a roadside bomb killed a British soldier, the British Ministry of Defense said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

The White House is saying the reports are 'not credible', that Zarqwari was not there. Well I got one feel-good day out of that story!

 

[dilloduck]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

The White House is saying the reports are 'not credible', that Zarqwari was not there. Well I got one feel-good day out of that story!

The way I read it the White House is sure that Zarqawri was not killed.

 

[Annie]

The way I read it the White House is sure that Zarqawri was not killed.

 

[dilloduck]

I just wasnt sure why you thought it was good news.

 

[no1tovote4]

The way I read it the White House is sure that Zarqawri was not killed.

Reports are that they are downplaying it while testing DNA and fingerprints. It may be that they would deny it regardless as it would make him less of a martyr.

 

[Avatar4321]

Al Z on his way to 72 virgins? Nah, I don't believe it.

72 Virginians maybe

 

[dilloduck]

Reports are that they are downplaying it while testing DNA and fingerprints. It may be that they would deny it regardless as it would make him less of a martyr.

You think?----I think it would be the greatest PR the administration could come up with at this point in time. I can imagine that they would downplay it.

 

[Annie]

I just wasnt sure why you thought it was good news.

Ummm, yesterday however was enjoyable.

 

[Gunny]

Reports are that they are downplaying it while testing DNA and fingerprints. It may be that they would deny it regardless as it would make him less of a martyr.

I concur. The administration has to be so gunshy by now from all the incoming potshots taken the past 5 years, waiting conclusive ID prior to making any announcement would be the wiser course of action.