Abu Musab al Zarqawi

Abu Musab al Zarqawi, "named as the link between Iraq and al Qaeda" and "thought to be one of Osama bin Laden's chief supporters", was "killed in a joint U.S. and Iraqi military raid north of Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced" June 8, 2006. 

Background
"The first high-level Bush administration references to Zarqawi came in October 2002 when President Bush, in a speech in Cincinnati, laid out the case against Saddam [Hussein]’s regime by emphasizing what he described as 'high-level contacts' between the Iraqi government and Al Qaeda. One prominent example cited by the president was the fact that 'one very senior Al Qaeda leader [had] ... received medical treatment in Baghdad this year'-—a reference to Zarqawi. Then, in his February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council, Secretary of State Colin Powell described Zarqawi as 'an associate and collaborator of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda lieutenants.'" --Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, Newsweek, June 23, 2004.

Zarqawi Myth?
The BBC profile of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi describes him as "Iraq's most notorious insurgent - a shadowy figure associated with spectacular bombings, assassinations and the beheading of foreign hostages."

Jennifer Schultz reported in November 2005 that terrorism expert Loretta Napoleoni asserts that:
 * The United States created the myth around Iraq insurgency leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and reality followed.
 * The myth of al-Zarqawi helped usher in al-Qaida's "transformation from a small elitist vanguard to a mass movement."

In October 2004, Steve Weissman described Zarqawi as being "the Jordanian leader of 'Monotheism and Holy War,' alleged beheader of Western hostages in Iraq, and the U.S. target of choice in and around embattled Fallujah." Weissman then asked whether "Zarqawi's freshly proclaimed allegiance of 'to the chief of all fighters, Osama bin Laden' boost Mr. Bush's election chances, giving the president what he could never before find - a pack of genuine, if newly rebranded, al Qaida terrorists to kill or capture in Iraq?

"Or, will the news highlight all the cock-and-bull that Bush, Cheney, and Powell previously told us about Zarqawi, showing voters yet again how the war in Iraq only makes the terrorists stronger and more united?"

"My problem is that you've got two stories made up of three elements: government PR, anonymous sources, and analysts from various think tanks, universities and previous administrations who are essentially speculating — and each story draws a different conclusion. How is the average news consumer supposed to know which story is more accurate?" --Stephen Spruiell, National Review, September 27, 2005.

Al-Ahram reported in June 2006 that "Zarqawi was no more than 'a US-made myth to plant the seeds of sectarianism.' Such views reflect a common understanding among Iraqis that Zarqawi's role was much inflated by Washington over the past three years to cover-up atrocities committed by US-led occupation forces in Iraq."

Arrest Warrant
On February 11, 2005, U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida gave notice that the Iraqi Interim Government had issued "warrants for the arrest of 29 individuals who are either members of the Former Regime or part of the Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi terrorist network," including Zarqawi himself:


 * "Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi (aka AMZ) - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a grave threat to the Iraqi people, and in September [2004] he announced the merger of his terrorists with al-Qaida. Al-Zarqawi’s foreign terrorists and criminals are undermining Iraq’s security and have brutally killed over 500 Iraqis in the last year. They continue to target Iraqi government and civilian targets with the intent of inciting a civil war. His terrorist network has attempted to destroy police stations, recruitment centers, oil and humanitarian workers and those laboring to build a new Iraq. Zarqawi’s criminal activities are also slowing the flow of humanitarian aid into Iraq and undermining reconstruction efforts. He has fled Fallujah during OPERATION AL FAJR. Multi National Forces in Iraq are offering a reward of $25 million for information leading to the capture of Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi."

Saddam on "lookout" for Zarqawi
On March 16, 2006, the Associated Press's John Solomon reported on "Iraqi documents collected by U.S. intelligence during the Iraq war and released by the Bush administration [which] show Saddam Hussein's regime was investigating 'rumors' that 3,000 Iraqis and Saudis had traveled unofficially to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks to fight U.S. troops."

Within the set of declassified Iraqi government documents, which were posted on the Pentagon's website, was a "letter from an Iraqi intelligence official, dated August 17, 2002, [asking] agents in the country to be on the lookout for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and another unnamed man whose picture was attached," Solomon wrote.

"The letter said there were reports the two could be in Iraq and directed Iraqi security officials to be on the alert as a matter of 'top priority.'

"Attached were three responses in which agents said there was no evidence al-Zarqawi or the other man were in Iraq."

The Pentagon website also "cautioned that the U.S. government 'has made no determination regarding the authenticity of the documents, validity or factual accuracy of the information contained therein, or the quality of any translations, when available'," Solomon wrote.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration talking points on Iraq
 * Nick Berg
 * The Power of Nightmares

Profiles

 * Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the Wikipedia.
 * Abu Musab Zarqawi at World History.com; includes timeline.
 * "Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi: Al-Qaeda Connection in Iraq?" ATS NN, March 17, 2004.
 * Profile: "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," BBC, November 10, 2005 (last update).
 * "Zarqawi: The Man and the Myth - The man is dead, and the myth will soon follow", Justin Raimondo, June 9, 2006
 * Zarqawi's double face, Al-Ahram, Jun 21, 2006, "Firas Al-Atraqchi reviews the legacy of a man who for the US public was the face of the insurgency and for many Iraqis was an invention of the occupation."

2003

 * Mike Boettcher and Henry Schuster, "Sources: Senior al Qaeda official may have been in Iraq," CNN, January 23, 2003.
 * Tom Squitieri, "Weapons man links al-Qaeda, Iraq," USA Today, February 5, 2003.
 * "Al Qaeda Operative Busted In Iraq," CBS News, April 30, 2003.
 * Bill Gertz, "U.S. says Iran harbors al Qaeda 'associate'," Washington Times, June 10, 2003.
 * Dan Darling, "Abu Musab Zarqawi," Winds of Change, June 30, 2003.
 * "Suspected Iraqi Leader Not Captured," Fox News, December 2, 2003. re Mowaffak al-Rubaie

2004

 * Peter Ford, "A suspect emerges as key link in terror chain," Christian Science Monitor, January 3, 2004.
 * Jim Miklaszewski, "Avoiding attacking suspected terrorist mastermind. Abu Musab Zarqawi blamed for more than 700 killings in Iraq," NBC News (MSNBC), March 2, 2004.
 * Pam Benson, "CIA: Zarqawi tape 'probably authentic'," CNN, April 7, 2004.
 * Bill Roggio, "The Full Zarqawi," The Fourth Rail, May 13, 2004.
 * Fred Kaplan, "The Buck Stops … Where? Stop blaming your henchmen, Mr. President," Slate, May 14, 2004.
 * Peter Grier and Faye Bowers, "Iraq's bin Laden? Zarqawi's rise. CIA says the Jordanian-born terrorist leader is the person shown killing a US civilian on video," Christian Science Monitor, May 14, 2005.
 * Robert S. Leiken and Steven Brooke, "Who is Abu Zarqawi?" Weekly Standard (FrontPageMag), May 17, 2004.
 * Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, "The World’s Most Dangerous Terrorist. Who is Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi? And why are so many governments scared to death of him?" Newsweek, June 23, 2004.
 * Jeffrey Gettleman, "Zarqawi's Journey: From Dropout to Prisoner to Insurgent Leader," New York Times, July 13, 2004.
 * "Report: Zarqawi captured on Syrian-Iraq border," Al Bawaba (Al Jazeera), July 30, 2004.
 * "The al-Zarqawi Assessment: Another Instance of 'Cooked' Intelligence? A collection of articles compiled by the Project on Defense Alternatives," October 5, 2004.
 * "CIA finds no Zarqawi, Saddam link," ABC News (Australia), October 6, 2004.
 * "Al-Zarqawi hand doubted," Newsday (The Standard), October 7, 2004.
 * Don Van Natta, Jr., "Who Is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?" New York Times (Truthout), October 9, 2004.
 * Dan Darling, "Zarqawi in Context: Is He al-Qaeda?" Winds of Change, October 14, 2004.
 * Paul McGeough, "Zarqawi: the new bin Laden," Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), October 17, 2004.
 * Steve Weissman, "Bin Laden and Zarqawi's October Surprise," Truthout, October 20, 2004.
 * Kevin Drum, "More Zarqawi," Political Animal/Washington Monthly, October 25, 2004.
 * Daniel Benjamin, "Holy Zarqawi. Why Bush let Iraq's top terrorist walk," Slate, October 29, 2004.

2005

 * "Purported Al-Zarqawi Tape Declares War on Democracy," Associated Press (Fox News), January 23, 2005.
 * Sharon Behn, "Zarqawi vows war on democracy," Washington Times, January 24, 2005.
 * News Release: "Iraqi Interim Government announces arrest warrants, award information," U.S. Central Command, February 11, 2005.
 * "Photos believed to show al-Zarqawi. Images seized several weeks ago, military sources say," CNN, March 6, 2005.
 * "Coalition forces hold alleged Zarqawi aide — an American," Associated Press (USA Today), March 31, 2005.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer, "Zarqawi Said to Be Behind Iraq Raid. Assault on Abu Ghraib May Signal New Tactics," Washington Post, April 5, 2005.
 * Bill Gertz, "Reports reveal Zarqawi nuclear threat," Washington Times, April 20, 2005.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer, "U.S. Says Zarqawi May Be Ill. Military Investigates Reports He Was at Ramadi Hospital," Washington Post, May 5, 2005.
 * Octavia Nasr and Jamie McIntyre, "Web sites claim al-Zarqawi wounded. Pentagon and U.S. intelligence officials question authenticity," CNN, May 24, 2005.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer and Saad Sarhan, "Insurgent Chief Wounded, Aide Says. Zarqawi Reportedly Shot; 9 U.S. Troops Die in Attacks," Washington Post, May 25, 2005.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer, "Reports: Zarqawi Shot in Lung. Marines and Iraqis Launch Major Offensive in Volatile West," Washington Post, May 26, 2005.
 * "Operation New Market," The Belmont Club, May 26, 2005.
 * B. Raman, "Move over Zarqawi," Asia Times, May 27, 2005.
 * Paul Harris, "Public enemy. He's the terrorist mastermind with a $25m bounty on his head. Last week rumours swept Iraq that he had been gravely wounded. But no one's really sure where he is, or even who he is," The Observer (UK), May 29, 2005.
 * Timothy Williams, "U.S. Says It Has Captured Al Qaeda Leader for Mosul Area," New York Times, June 16, 2005.
 * Billmon, "Form Over Substance," Whiskey Bar, June 17, 2005.
 * "Al-Zarqawi purportedly releases propaganda video," Associated Press (USA Today), July 1, 2005.
 * "Al-Zarqawi mentor back in custody," CNN, July 6, 2005.
 * Tom Engelhardt and Dahr Jamail, "The Zarqawi Phenomenon," LewRockwell.com, July 6, 2005. Scroll down for Dahr Jamail's "The Zarqawi Phenomenon."
 * David Morgan, "Zarqawi emerging as self-sustained force-US intel," Reuters, September 27, 2005.
 * Michael Tortorello, "U.S. forces fight Zombie army in Iraq: How many 'top lieutenants' can a man have?" The Blotter (Minneapolis/St. Paul), September 27, 2005.
 * Bradley Graham, "Zarqawi 'Hijacked' Insurgency. U.S. General Says Foreign Fighters Now Seen as Main Threat," Washington Post, September 28, 2005.
 * Kevin Whitelaw, "National Security Watch: Zarqawi clan a fraction of insurgency," US News & World Report, September 28, 2005.
 * Jill Carroll and Dan Murphy, "US is logging gains against Al Qaeda in Iraq. The US military says improved intelligence led to the killing of two key leaders of the group," Christian Science Monitor, September 28, 2005.
 * Jennifer Schultz, "Claim: U.S. Created al-Zarqawi Myth," spacewar.com, November 10, 2005.
 * Bill Roggio, "The Wrath of Zarqawi, The Ruin of Zarqawi," The Fourth Rail, November 10, 2005.
 * Brian Ross, "Portrait of a Killer: Abu Musab Zarqawi. Terror Mastermind Claims Responsibility for Amman Hotel Attacks," ABC News, November 10, 2005.
 * DHinMI, "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Al Qaeda’s Robespierre," The Next Hurrah, November 13, 2005.
 * Josh Marshall, "What do we know exactly about Abu Musah Zarqawi?" Talking Points Memo, November 24, 2005.

2006

 * Operation Iraqi Freedom Documents, Foreign Military Studies Office, Joint Reserve Intelligence Center, Ft. Leavenworth.
 * John Solomon, "First Declassified Iraq Documents Released. Bush Administration Releases First Set of Declassified Documents From Iraq Before U.S. Invasion," Associated Press (ABC News), March 16, 2006.
 * Sallie Buzbee, "Documents: Dubai Threatened by Extremists," Associated Press (FindLaw), March 16, 2006.
 * Thomas E. Ricks, "Military Plays Up Role of Zarqawi. Jordanian Painted As Foreign Threat To Iraq's Stability," Washington Post, April 10, 2006.
 * Michael Smith, "Al-Qaeda leader plans an Iraq army," The Sunday Times (UK), April 30, 2006.
 * Mariam Karouny, "Iraq PM says al-Qaeda's Zarqawi killed," Reuters, June 8, 2006.
 * Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer, "Insurgent Leader Al-Zarqawi Killed in Iraq," Washington Post, June 8, 2006.
 * Juan Cole, "Zarqawi Killed in Baquba," Informed Comment, June 8, 2006. Also see Cole's Zarqawi file.
 * Michel Chossudovsky, "Who was Abu Musab al Zarqawi?", GlobalResearch (Canada), June 8, 2006.
 * Dexter Filkins, Mark Mazzetti, and Richard A. Oppel, Jr., "How Surveillance and Betrayal Led to a Hunt's End," New York Times, June 9, 2006.
 * Danny Schechter, "The "Elimination" of Zargawi: A New Episode of the Media War", Znet, June 10, 2006.
 * Greg Palast, "Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation", Znet, June 10, 2006.
 * "The Zarqawi docs... seriously, now," Abu Aardvark, June 15, 2006.
 * Miguel Marquez, "EXCLUSIVE: Rest in Peace: Al-Zarqawi Buried in Unmarked Location," ABC News, June 30, 2006: "In an e-mail, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security advisor, said: 'Zarqawi's remains were buried in an unmarked location at an unspecified place in Iraq. The Jordanian government refused to take his body back to Jordan.'"