Monday, January 23, 2006

Zarqawi's Preferences

Sunday's London Times has this article by Hala Jaber on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The article quotes Sheikh Abu Omar al-Ansari, leader of a Sunni resistance group called Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura (Army of the Victorious Sect), who met al-Zarqawi two weeks ago.

Note: The Times calls Sheikh al-Ansari "a leading insurgent" and calls al-Zarqawi "Iraq's most wanted man" and a "terrorist." It's encouraging to see that the Times is willing to use the "T" word, at least for al-Zarqawi.

According to Sheikh al-Ansari, Zarqawi never takes off the suicide belt he wears.

“He told me: ‘I would rather blow myself up and die as a martyr — and kill a few Americans along the way — than be arrested and humiliated by them’.”

I'm good with that plan (not the killing a few Americans along the way, but the rest of it). If we arrest him and he finds that humiliating, great! If he wants to blow himself up, even better.

The fewer terrorists there are blowing up innocent people, the better off the world will be.

The Sheikh's account was passed to the Sunday Times by an intermediary and was a report of a two-day meeting with Zarqawi.

“He is known by America and the world as the prince of beheadings, the murdering sheikh of innocents, the blood spiller,” said Ansari.

By contrast, he said, Zarqawi seemed a “simple” man and put on a show of humility at a two-day meeting to secure the co-operation of the Army of the Victorious Sect and other groups with Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The meeting led to the subsequent announcement about an umbrella body called the Mujaheddin Council, which posted a statement on the internet two weeks ago. The council claims to be representing Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Army of the Victorious Sect and the four lesser-known Sunni groups. Other leading Sunni groups were conspicuously absent.

The development suggested to some Middle East watchers that despite his reputation, Zarqawi may be struggling to consolidate his grip on the resistance. Many Iraqis have tired of violence and politicians were beginning negotiations this weekend to form a coalition government after election results announced on Friday.


“Zarqawi is not in the position he used to be before — he seems to have lost the hospitality that he enjoyed in the past in Iraq,” said Dr Nimrod Raphaeli, a specialist at the Middle East Media Research Institute in Washington. “He is trying to find a new base and new links with other groups.”

Every new indication of a slip in Zarqawi's grip on terrorist power is good news. Every time the Iraqis, especially the Sunnis, grow more disillusioned with the terrrorists, it's good news. The best news will be when Iraqi or coalition forces catch up with Zarqawi and give him the chance to choose his own fate. Insha'Allah, it will be soon.

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