WT Forums

<font size=6><font color=red><b>Iraq Al-Qaeda chief Zarqawi killed in air strike</b></font id=red></font id=size6>

by Jay Deshmukh 15 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Al-Qaeda's chief in
Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in an air strike on a safe house where he was holding a meeting, the prime minister announced, ending the hunt for the country's most wanted fugitive.


Zarqawi, blamed for a string of bloody attacks and kidnappings that have bedevilled Iraq in its transition "has been eliminated," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a news conference.

"What happened ... is the result of collaboration from people who facilitated the operation conducted by Iraqi police and multinational forces," Maliki told reporters.

"This is a message to those who choose the path of violence to change their direction before it is too late. I thank our forces, our police and the multinational forces for what they are doing in pursuing the terrorists."

General George W. Casey Jr, head of US-led forces in Iraq, told the press conference that Zarqawi and one of his key lieutenants, spiritual advisor Sheikh Abdel Rahman, were killed at 6:15 pm (1415 GMT) Wednesday in an air strike on an isolated safe house.

He said Zarqawi's death "is a significant blow to Al-Qaeda and another step toward defeating terrorism in Iraq.

"Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates, who were conducting a meeting approximately eight kilometers (five miles) north of Baquba, when the air strike was launched."

Baquba is located about 60 kilometres (36 miles) north of the capital.

"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multinational Division North, arrived shortly thereafter. Coalition Forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."

Casey said Zarqawi and Al-Qaeda in Iraq "have conducted terrorist activities against the Iraqi people for years in attempts to undermine the Iraqi national government and coalition efforts to rebuild and stabilize Iraq.

"Although the designated leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organization still poses a threat as its members will continue to try to terrorize the Iraqi people and destabilize their government as it moves toward stability and prosperity," he added.

"Iraqi forces, supported by the coalition, will continue to hunt terrorists that threaten the Iraqi people until terrorism is eradicated in Iraq."

US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said "Zarqawi's death is a good omen ... for our overall efforts in the global war against terror.

"I congratulate Prime Minister Maliki. Today is a good day. There will be difficult days ahead but together Iraqis and coalition forces will fight terrorists and those who want Iraq to fail."

In Amman, a senior Jordanian official said "Zarqawi was killed in Baquba ... in a joint operation involving the Jordanian intelligence, the US intelligence and American special operations forces."

"It was a land operation with air cover," he added.

According to the official, Jordanian-born Zarqawi was "presiding over a meeting of his terrorist group" at the time of the operation.

"He died ten minutes after the operation, along with eight to 10 of his partisans," the official added.

"He was identified by the agents that carried out the raid who compared recent pictures of Zarqawi with the body," the official said.

And in another step aimed at returning security to the insurgency-wracked country, Maliki also made long-awaited appointments to the defence and interior ministries.

Jawad Polani was named as interior minister, Abdel Qader al-Obeidi as defense minister and Shirwan al-Waili to head national security.

The candidates read out their credentials and experience to the parliament prior to a vote. Parliament members were also given the opportunity to question the candidates.

----------------------------------------------

<b>MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!</b>
<img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/saevil.gif border=0 align=middle>

And to the boys that got him!!!

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>
<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>
<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

That's <b>2 out of 3 so far boys.</b>

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/OnTheJobEnhanced.jpg" border=0>
<b>"One post, One Kill".</b>

Good on ya boys. I hope you shot crooked and made a bloddy mess of him.

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory

_________________
YGBSM !

I think he is not gonna get his 70 virgins in heaven.

For those that fallen under his suicide attackers and bombers and for them that beheaded thru him personly.
<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

Salute Dutchy
------------------------
Termites do it in the dark!
(47FS Barksdale afb)

_________________
73-1664

Hot damn! Wonder who provided air cover/strike.

The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Best news I've heard in a while. Hope it was the Air Force that got the bastard.

SALUTE to the boys in blue..

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget, in time, that men have died to win them."
Franklin Deleano Roosevelt

from what I heard this morning it was a UAV Hellfire that took him out with SF laser siting. Not sure how accurate this info is as I'm shocked it would be out so quickly.

Either way, 2 down and hopefully all eyes on the lead rag head<img src=newicons/bounce.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://www.x-plane.org/home/topgun/sigs/A10logo.jpg" border=0>

http://topgunphotography.milavia.net/index.htm

_________________
If it Flys, shoot it

Nope, a F-16 with a pair of 500lb'ers. Here's the end result...

<img src="http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20060608/2006_06_08t105036_450x323_us_iraq_zarqawi_reaction.jpg?x=380&y=272&sig=qzGt3Iw381iAbVCYpacdNQ--" border=0>

Adios, asshole!

Cheers! M2

You can see the bombing on CNN (if you want)

Salute Dutchy
------------------------
Termites do it in the dark!
(47FS Barksdale afb)

_________________
73-1664

Actually, it might be good if he does get his 70 virgins. Seein' how he just got his balls blown off! How's that for a special version of Hell?

Thanks men, you've done us all very proud.<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Slow is Fast - Fast is Slow"

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

so heard the news on howard stern, i was in the truck and i started laughing. about 5 min later, inside mcdonalds, they were showing his face on CNN and i said to my partner: "i bet a a-10 bombed the house" he says: "that would make your day wouldnt it?" with a big smile on my face, heres me making a 5 sec sound of the gun and the hog pulling away. he looked at me like an idiot. he just doesnt understand...........

_________________

Two GBU-12's (500 lb LGB's) dropped by a two-ship of F-16's using targeting pods. Unfortunately no A-10's involved and, thank goodness, definitely no UAVs or cruise missiles. All glory to the Air Force once again.

PILSUNG!

"A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing."
-Brigadier General Robin

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I think he is not gonna get his 70 virgins in heaven.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Too bad they all look like Bea Arthur. Good riddens!

_________________
Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

Dying from an unsuspected 500 pounder was too easy a way for him.
Better him running away from a GAU 8 that he knows he can't out run and spending that brief time knowing we got his ass.
db

Being responsible means sometimes pissing people off.
Gen Colin Powell ret

Dead is dead and that's good, regardless. What his nest mates need to understand from watching the hit is that we identified that one building among all those and dropped hell into it with only minimal collateral damage from shockwave/debris. Gave him the 4F treatment:

Find him
Fly them
Fry him
Forget him


The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

I sure hope that when I get to our heaven=ing his hell I'll find and give him a taste of his own medicine.....

We need to Give ST.PETER more visitors but not OUR FOLKS, MORE OF THEM .
WE NEED TO FIND "BINNY"

But it wasa Good shot! But I want the HOG to get "BINNY" That'll be just TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Goose

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin,
(1706 - 1790)

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

It was one GBU-12 and one JDAM...plus a couple of hundred rounds of strafe.

And it was a Guard guy.

Good work by all.

Coach

Have to say, who ever the pilots were, my hat's off to them. I also have to include the guys from Task Force 145, and the rest of the guys that made this happen (Those that work out there that have no name). So here's to all of you, who ever you are, way to go.

The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction. -Lt. Col. Tim Collins

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Two GBU-12's (500 lb LGB's) dropped by a two-ship of F-16's using targeting pods. Unfortunately no A-10's involved and, thank goodness, definitely no UAVs or cruise missiles. All glory to the Air Force once again.

PILSUNG!

"A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing."
-Brigadier General Robin

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

No, It was a GBU-12 and then a follow up with a GBU-38. The Jets were out of Balad.

Hutch
Weapons Loader 23 TFW / 76th AMU 1988 - 1991

_________________
Robert \"Hutch\" Hutchins
23rd TFW / 23rd AGS / 76th AMU / Weapons Flight

Hey HUTCH


GOOSE

I called the VA to see why I was sent a Death Notification letter To tell them "I'M ALIVE! ,but the VA told ME "No your Mistaken We show you as being DEAD.
THE GOVERMENT DOESNT MAKE MISTAKES so its a problem on your end that you need to CORRECT.

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"