I keep hearing about Iraq, what about Afghanistan? I thought our leaders said Iraq wouldn't distract us from the guy who caused 9/11. Kinda funny, it seems like it has. That's been my problem with this all along. I could care less about "liberating" anybody, I just want Bin Laden dead. 20,000 troops to the country where he was, 120,000 troops to the country where he wasn't, what was with all that "resolve" talk.

al-Zarqawi was good at promoting al-Zarqawi, he will be replaced by someone that is more effective at promoting al-Zarqawi's agenda. The governments will declare a win, they spent a few billion and they got him. A very, very expensive win.

I'd prefer it for the governments to get Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, for me he is 100 times more dangerous than al-Zarqawi.

High Fives to all our troops and coilition partners who made it possible to eliminate this "bad seed" of humanity! The Iraqi people now have a stepping off point in which to assert their right as a democratic people to live their lives in peace with their fellow Iraqi's.

With America's blood and money, we helped (with our partners) to free them from the bondage of a tyranical/murderous leader. Now the Iraqi's must stand up together to preserve themselves as a nation and individually if they want to see their children grow up, flourish in their country and have a future.

If they won't come together to preserve the rights of their neighbors and respect eachothers differences, then their country will be nothing but rubble and a waste land for the hate mongers to spu their toxic bile, accomplish nothing, build nothing, contribute nothing, and become a haven for the most contemptable examples of the human race.

I sincerely hope that the Iraqi people want more out of their existance and will work together for a better life. Like my husband tells me, "Don't tell me you love me, show me you love me!" Actions always speak louder than words. SHOW US IRAQ!

To those who think Zarqawi is easily replaced:

1. It is fallacious to assume that because he might be replaced it is without value to eliminate him. Is it not smart to eliminate a disease even if another one may or may not come again in the future? Should I not weed my garden in fear of the growth to come?

2. The special kind of leadership skills that can convince men to risk or give up their lives is not that common...especially by those that are willing to lead by example and risk their own lives. History shows us this over and over again. We are rarely made of the stuff of our fathers...organized movements suffer as leadership is passed on to other self-interested individuals. Zarqawi may well be replaced but it is almost certain that his replacement will not be as effective of a leader.
The fact that we will eliminate his successor makes the point moot and is scarcely considered a job perk even for a terrorist.

Is it really going to be easy to replace Zarqawi?

Does this not send the message that this will be the fate of each "successor"?

For every #2 we have taken out the #3 just moves up to take his place. This is not going to end but it does not mean that we do not stand and fight.
I am ashamed of the tactics used to put this war into play but I stand firm that we must fight for our democracy. But let it be known that our foe will also stand and fight for thiers.
The difference is that our democracy is one that "values" life and a quality of living. Our foe "values" death and the sancity of dying.
I am only afraid that in the long run there will be NO real winners and we will ALWAYS be on guard.

I think that most Iraqies are not much impressed by Zarkwai's death. But they must be VERY MUCH impressed by those women and kids massacred in cold blood by your mareens. So don't expect the end of bloodshed .

the masses are still being brainwashed I see..........people are saying this is a major win in the war on terror but what I want to know is why can't they track Osama? is it because they do not want to? this country and its policies are so contracdictory itrs not even funny...........9/11 was the reason this gov't went after terrorists and mainly Osama but amazingly Osama is not even mentioned anymore...........once again I say who is fooling who, because the voices of the dissent in this country know the truth but as long as the media and the gov't can blow smoke up the masses rear ends it really does not matter ...................I would love an explanation as to why Osama has not been found and this man is supposedly sick at that............their will be civil war in Iraq............you can not stop the inevitable peole wake up and realize this.

All the usual armchair generals downplaying and criticizing a hard fought well deserved victory. Long term effects are unknown, but this job had to be done. And it was done. You can read in to so many of the lines here the smug arrogance and immature idealism of so many people who have never had to make difficult decisions and struggle to get the best outcome they can for the benefit of others. That is what our imperfect leaders are doing on our behalf, and you should be ashamed of yourselves for not at least giving credit for the job being done protecting you. Grow up.

Instead of slinging mud at success and praising a president that got us into this miss-guided hornet's nest, praise the US military and those that tracked down this barbarian.Praise and laud the new Iraqi Prime Minister & govt. for their determination to create a new and free Iraq. Its this type of successes and those that happen daily in gathering intelligence that produce "cascades" thereby taking out the insurgents that are not publicized too often.Sure this animal will be replaced but I am sure we have Id'd who and where his replacement is.

Remember - no good is served by permitting terrorists to live free - none. We will always have more to gain by neutralizing terrorists, any way we can. We just have to keep it up, no matter how long it takes. Evil that is not confronted will always grow. ALWAYS.

EVERYONE said it wasn't another Vietnam, but we have American soldiers accused of war crimes in a "war" that has no rules. We are quickly approaching the number of Americans killed fighting the "war on terrorism" as we had killed on 911. Lindon Johnson didn't run for re-election because "Americans wouldn't accept 2 a day dead". If anyone thinks we're lucky to have George W. and fortunate to be winning the war on terrorism, you are a coward who never served in the military. Would someone please tell the stupid jerk we have for president the next time he says that "we're at war" that war can't be declared by the United States without the approveal of congress. We won't win this battle until we consider it the "worldwide crusade of the 2000's" make everyone's heads roll.

Yet again the media strikes. After countless days, weeks, perhaps months of hard work, our warfighters strike a blow against the figurehead of the insurgency movement and the media downplays it's importance. Even if Al-Zarqawi had been relegated to a strickly millitary role within the terrorist network his termination after his propaganda efforts is a wonderous occurance indeed. If his death causes enough confusion and disorder amongst his extremist peers and prevents, not tens or hundereds of innocent lives from being lost, but just one, I call it a fair trade. There will inevitably be another snake in the sands to replace Al-Zarqawi, thats just the way it is. That said however, whomever replaces him within the power scheme will have more internal strife amongst those he steps over for the place and therefor be less organized and easily handled. A heartfelt thanks to those whose hard work and sacrifice made today a little bit brighter, and the world a little bit safer.

As far Al Zarqawi is concerned Ta Da ta da ta da thats all folks....long overdue...now the rest of Al Quida,....get ready to meet Allah...cause yall are next..straight up or draped over the saddle, the Good OLD USA will find you...Sleep soundly if you if you canthere may be a bomb on its way to you as you read this...goodnight terrorist wherever you are.

We still have a long road left to us in Iraq. One life, one leader, will not stop this killing. I feel like I have been through the "permanent" press cycle of my dryer, since I have been subjected to so much "spin" lately. We need to be making exits plans from this war of attrition before thousands more (like the recently deceased Al Queda leader) appear in Iraq or at the world's doorstep again.

There is nothing more dangerous than a "true believer" in many arenas of life. It is sad. We need to take a look at our priorities as a nation. Americans fight, die, and and are transformed grisly raw materials for the production lines of those who profit from war. Let's be honest. Our soldiers die, our robber barons get rich.....the American way.
Figure out the geopolitics, quit posturing for mid-term elections, and attend to our people.

I can't believe all you people buy this story about Zarqwai. The Air Force drops two five hundred pound bunker buster bombs on one house, that looks to me from the video that the whole block around the house was destroyed including the house. It is also reported that there were several other people in the house at the time of the bombing. But the military was able to ID Zarqwai through finger prints and tatoos, and the picture of the supposed corpse is relatively in tact. These facts don't raise any questions? How is it that the people in the house have intact bodies? doesn't make sense to me. How is it that there is anything left but body parts? Give me a break, this is a lot like the terror alerts that Ashcroft would annouce when things wern't going so well for bush.

This is a great day. The head of the snake has been cut off, with the intel coming from local Iraqies. The locals can now breathe easier, and be more confident that they can give intel to our military on the whereabouts of the insurgents without harm to themselves. Hopefully the new Iraqi government can now take advantage of this victory to bring the people of Iraq together to fight the insurgents from the inside.

The war on terror takes second place in Iraq to secretarian violence created by groups that are interested in having a greater control in the future of Iraq without outsiders. Killing Zarqwai could be very significant on the war on terror against Al-Quida members bent on destroying the US but not against other terrorist groups or the militias concerned with controling Iraq. This is a two front war--the war in Iraq and the war on terror everywhere else.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, among other media, in 2002 the Pentagon drew up 3 different plans to take out al-Zaqawri when he was in the Kurdish area in northern Iraq out of Hessein's reach before the war. The Bush administration ignored the Pentagon presumably because they wanted to use al-Zaqawri as a terrorist manufacuring poisons in Iraq to promote the march to war. Remember Colin Powell's presentation to the U.N.? Al-Zarqawri served his purpose and thus, was able to perform horrible carnage as a result of the power the war afforded him to recruit more terrorists. Thank you, George Bush. I suppose your poll numbers will rise now that al-Zarqawi's been eliminated, 4 years too late and hundreds of terrorists recruited. Just as an after thought: I wonder if al-Zarqawi's body is actually missing a leg as the Bush administration claimed in order to prove that he was once in Baghdad for treatment.

Remarkable how pleased the left was to describe the war as a failure because we hadn't killed or captured Zarqawi and Bin Laden. Now, of course, we're told that Zarqawis' importance was over estimated all along. His death will have no real effect on the insurgency. Indeed, if anything it may lead to sudden increase in both recruiting and violence. You have to wonder if leftists-whether reporters or politicians-actually think people are too stupid to see through their glaring hypocrisy and contempt.

Zarqawi's dead, and that's great news. He was a muderous s.o.b., and got what he deserved; he was also pretty good at what he did, and Iraq's a better place without him. Will his death fix everything? No, of course not. There are still as many armed insurgents and terrorists with weapons today as there were yesterday, but their ability to use those weapons effectively has probably been reduced. Someone has to tell you where to point & shoot, and it won't be this guy anymore. I wouldn't say he was a genius, ever, but he was ood at the terror part, and I doubt if the next rat will be as good. Good job guys!
Also, to the other blogs, this war is about terror and oil. No one wants the terrorists; we'd all like to see them dead and gone. On the the hand, you don't see us taking an active role in Africa, where things are much, much worse do you? No oil. Oil is not just about your summer vaction; it's about almost every econmic facet of western life. Want to own a home, see your kids go to college? have a car, go out for fun in the weekend? Or be broke? Plastics to transportation and all in between, that's what oil is. Wish we could get off of it once & for all, and I'm not a huge Greenspeace guy, either. Anyway, grats on Zarqawi, Osma's next I hope.

What we all must realize is that there exists no final answer to this war, I myself am indifferent President Bush's warin Iraq.I only desire that the U.S. conserve their resources and find some solution to bring stability to Iraq. There has to exist a final solution, and my philosophy is one of winning the admiration of the general Iraqi public not obliterating the militants. The deaths of militant figure heads may inspire stronger resolve from the fanatics yet those who believe in the cause of the war, those who believe in the liberation of their country will rally behind the U.S. and the newly established Iraqi Government.

I BELIEVE GETTING ZARQWAI HELPS TREMENDOUSLY, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THERE IS MORE PURE EVIL OUT THERE, AND I BELIEVE IT TOOK PRESIDENT BUSH TO FINALLY START GETTING TO THE MURDERER'S OF 911, GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH, HE WILL FIND OSAMA TO, BUT THEY HIDE VERY CLEVERLY, INTELIGENCE DESERVES A BIG HANDSHAKE TO. I DO FEEL SAFER NOW, KNOWING THIS ONE MAN IS GONE. THIS MAN ZARQWAI WAS A WEAPEN OF MASS DISTRUCTION ALL ON HIS OWN.PRESIDENT BUSH WAS RIGHT, ALL THE TIME ABOUT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IT DOSENT ALWAYS COME IN THE FORM OF A BOMB, AS WE HAVE ALL SEEN NOW.

Wonderful. We get one extremist and all the Bush-fan yokels in the US rally around their leader and celebrate this as yet another turning point. Prior to this administration, I'd never been ashamed to be an American; I've never wished more for seccession from the idiots who still insist on sending my tax dollars overseas for wasted causes. I certainly hope the next attack on Americans targets more of the stupid ones.

Well, I for one am happy Zarqwai is dead. He was an evil person. I care little for the politics, reprisals from the terrorists, analytical debates, or hypothetical arguments regarding what his death means. He is dead, and for that I am glad.