Cool al-Zarqawi, Bin Laden in the Northwest Frontier, Iraqi Cabinet Stabilized

News Analysis

Al-Zarqawi at room temperature. ( Disclaimer: I plagiarized this cute term from a famous and controversial radio show host). They say he was killed during a meeting, which might mean that several other leaders of al-Qaida were also killed with him. After all, a leader usually meets with his top assistants and allies. Some Arab media also claim that one of his three wives was at the same house and was killed with him (I guess he was not too busy, or perhaps his jihad did not consume that much energy).

According to aljazeera TV, a spokesman for an organization called ‘The Arab Committee for Human Rights’ has complained that Americans showing pictures of Zarqawi in death is against the Third Geneva Convention on human rights. He claimed the Jordanian Zarqawi was a prisoner of war. I thought he looked like a dead outlaw, although he did not look as pretty as, say, Pretty Boy Floyd, or even Dillinger for that matter. I am not sure what the 3rd convention is. I certainly don’t know what the hell this Arab Committee for Human Rights is either. Never heard of them before, usually it is a human rights Society or Association. A Committee means a body composed of a few people, probably self-appointed. Besides I didn’t know we had enough human rights in the Arab World to require a gaggle of committeemen.

Most Iraqi street reaction, and Iraqi comments on the Internet, has been joyful in reaction to the death of this desperado. Egyptian comments have also reflected relief. Iraq has a full cabinet now. A Sunni got the Defense Ministry, and Shi’as got the Interior and National Security.

Arab reports have been talking of a shift in Afghanistan, where gruesome and indiscriminate Salafi-style killings are being slowly introduced by Taliban supporters. Violence in Afghanistan, especially in the area near the Pakistani border has increased. Meanwhile, friction has increased between Pakistani and Afghan governments over various issues, including where Bin Laden is holed up. For a while, Pakistani lobbyists in the United States had pushed the improbable idea that he was in Iran. Now the Afghans have burst that balloon for good by confirming that Bin Laden is in Pakistan- and this is certainly a more credible assertion. The idea of Osama leaving his base of supporters and handing his security, and his network, to those he considers the heretic Mullahs in Iran was always highly suspect.

Looks like things have calmed down for now on the US-Iran front. That should last only for a few weeks. Perhaps until after the final game of the World Cup in Germany. It would be interesting, and highly dramatic, perhaps even comic, if the United States and Iran reach the final game, the World Super Bowl, with G W Bush and AhmadiNejad facing each other in attendance, super cheerleaders for Das Gunfight at Das Okay Korral, nicht war? But, dommage, it is not likely that either team will get to the finals. Maybe the second round would be the best hope for the face-off.

Cheers
Mohammed