Belated Bombings

A little late, given his expiration several days ago but I have a comment on the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Al-Zarqawi was killed when the US military, often the victim of false intelligence, got it right and blasted a hole in his hideout. He died shortly thereafter, probably while dreaming of all those sweet virgins to come. I hope he's not disappointed but something tells me he will be.

This event actually takes me back several years to the deaths of Saddam Hussein's two sons, Qusay and Uday following the invasion of Iraq. The circumstances of their deaths are very similar to al-Zarqawi's. Arguably, since the US military had solid intelligence they could have attempted to take the "terrorist" leader alive; the military was on the ground, administering first aid to the dying man, within a matter of minutes. Instead they chose to blow up the house and ask questions later. Similarly, Uday and Qusay were destroyed despite the fact that they could have been taken alive and, I recall, they were attempting to surrender at the time. Qusay's 14 year old son was also killed; perhaps surrender would have saved him death but in Iraq you never know.

Immediately like al-Zarqawi, their bloated, broken bodies were flashed around the world. What message did this send? Look at our handiwork. This is the ultimate reward for dictators. They are really dead, there can be no doubt. All these messages resonate with the image of dead icons including al-Zarqawi.

Assassination lacks justice though it does provide closure I expect. How much better would it have been to put these men, Uday, Qusay and al-Zarqawi on trial for their many crimes instead of blasting them into martyrdom? A trial is more complex than a bullet though and in Iraq, I guess, you make the most expedient choice. Even more could not these men have come in the fullness of time, following a trial, to repent their crimes and seek forgiveness (sorry to sound preachy but it's true). George Bush should be well versed in this methodology since it is apparently the message of his personal saviour and favourite philosopher, Jesus Christ.

Given the bodycount, something tells me that he's ignoring some parts of his beloved Bible in favour of others. Expect more dead icons to come.