I cannot think of any better news to have heard when, at 2:15 this morning, I was awoken by the excited voices of on the television that was still on in the living room where I had fallen asleep readingabout four hours before.

One of the leaders of the jihadi terrorists -- a man with the blood of countless innocents dripping from his hands -- is dead, and receiving his infernal reward.

Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, whose leadership of the insurgent group al- Qaeda in Iraq made him the most wanted man in the country, was killed Wednesday evening by an air strike near Baqubah, north of Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday.

The Jordanian-born Zarqawi claimed responsibility for hundreds of kidnappings, bombings and beheadings. His stated aim, in addition to ousting U.S. and other forces from Iraq, was to foment bloody sectarian strife between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

He was killed along with seven aides, officials said. They said his identity has been verified by fingerprints and other methods.

"Today Zarqawi was defeated," said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, appearing at a midday news conference with top U.S. General George W. Casey and American Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. "This is a message to all those who use violence killing and devastation to disrupt life in Iraq to rethink within themselves before it is too late," he added.

Zarqawi was killed in a rural house in the village of Hib Hib, 5 miles north of Baqubah, Maliki said.

The statement was met by applause among Iraqi reporters assembled in a briefing room. The announcement, which was confirmed by a Website linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq, was also met by celebratory gunfire in the streets of Baghdad.

Burn, baby, burn!

Posted by: Greg at 10:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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