US Search for Al-Zarqawi After Mosul Raid

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following a U.S. military raid in Mosul, Iraq. Participants explore implications of his possible demise, including the future leadership within al-Qaida and the broader context of U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants speculate on who might succeed al-Zarqawi if he is indeed dead, with suggestions including Moqtada al-Sadr.
  • Others argue that al-Sadr is fundamentally different from al-Zarqawi, emphasizing that al-Sadr is not a terrorist and has a community-focused agenda, despite opposing U.S. occupation.
  • A participant notes that recent news casts doubt on whether al-Zarqawi was killed in the raid.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that the cycle of violence will continue as long as U.S. foreign policy remains imperialistic, indicating a belief that military force alone cannot resolve the conflict.
  • One participant expresses surprise at al-Sadr's age, indicating a perception of his influence despite being relatively young.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of al-Zarqawi's potential death and the nature of al-Sadr's role in the conflict. There is no consensus on these points, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various historical and political contexts regarding al-Sadr and the U.S. military's actions, but these contexts are not universally agreed upon and may depend on differing interpretations of events.

Astronuc
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Al-Zarqawi May Be Among Dead in Iraq Fight
By ROBERT H. REID, AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. forces sealed off a house in the northern city of Mosul where eight suspected al-Qaida members died in a gunfight — some by their own hand to avoid capture. A U.S. official said Sunday that efforts were under way to determine if terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was among the dead.

Insurgents, meanwhile, killed an American soldier and a Marine in separate attacks over the weekend, while a British soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in the south.

In Washington, a U.S. official said the identities of the terror suspects killed in the Saturday raid was unknown. Asked if they could include al-Zarqawi, the official replied: "There are efforts under way to determine if he was killed."

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

On Saturday, police Brig. Gen. Said Ahmed al-Jubouri said the raid was launched after a tip that top al-Qaida operatives, possibly including al-Zarqawi, were in the house in the northeastern part of the city.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051120/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq (link good for about 1 week)
 
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hmmm... If so...who will take his place.
 
kat said:
hmmm... If so...who will take his place.
Maybe we'll see a Moqtada al Sadr comeback?
 
Al Sadr is very different than Al Zarqawi. Al Sadr is not a terrorist and he is certainly not affiliated with al Qaida - he is looking out for his community. He does oppose the US occupation, but in the beginning of the occupation, the US had a chance to work with al Sadr, and refused to do so.

Muqtada al-Sadr (Arabic: مقتدى الصدر, also transliterated as Moqtada Alsadr) (born c. 1974) is the son of the famous Iraqi Shia cleric Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr. As of early 2004, he was the de facto ruler of the Sadr City section of Baghdad and commanded the loyalty of the Mahdi Army, an insurgent force making a bid for power in Iraq. Clashes with U.S. forces in April were followed by a truce in June, and mixed signals from al-Sadr after his promises to disband his militia and become involved in the political process. The Coalition Provisional Authority had on several occasions threatened to arrest al-Sadr, and in early April 2004 issued an arrest warrant, alleging his involvement in a homicide. U.S. military commanders expressing an intention to "capture or kill" him. Al-Sadr had agreed to disband his army and join the political process, and he was given assurances that he would not face arrest and be allowed to stand in the 2005 elections. However, tensions rose again in August, and U.S. and Iraqi forces decided to move against al-Sadr and neutralize him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqtada_al-Sadr
 
The news is now saying it's doubtful that they got Zargawi.
 
kat said:
hmmm... If so...who will take his place.
This is why we cannot win this through force. As long as there are others willing to fill the vacancies. As long as we continue our Imperialistic foreign policy there will always be others willing to fight.

You cannot win their hearts and minds by killing their families.
 
Astro said:
Muqtada al-Sadr (Arabic: مقتدى الصدر, also transliterated as Moqtada Alsadr) (born c. 1974)
Wow, that's pretty young for someone with his kind of power and following ! I'd thought he was at least in his 40s. Guess not.

Umm...sorry for the digression. Back to Zarqawi.
 

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