Killings Rose in Iraq After Zarqawi’s Death

Staff / Truthdig Jul 6, 2006 Baghdad's morgue received 1,595 bodies last month, 16% more than in May, showing that the pace of killing has actually increased since the death of terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al Zarqawi. This is some of the most disheartening news to come out of Iraq in a long time. It's yet more proof that we're fighting a Vietnam-like insurgency that can survive and even prosper after the death of its leaders. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Zarqawi Buried in Unmarked Location

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2006 Iraq's national security advisor won't publicly disclose the burial place of the slain terrorist leader. A man claiming to be Bin Laden said in a new tape that "What scares you after the death of Zarqawi is your knowledge that, left alone, Muslims will give Zarqawi a huge funeral, which shows the sympathy of the Muslims with their sons of holy warriors." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Identifies Zarqawi’s Successor

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2006 The U.S. military released info on the man claiming to be the new Al Qaeda leader in Iraq: Abu Ayyub al Masri, an Egyptian with ties to Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al Zawahri. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Oil, Politics and Bloodshed Corrupt an Iraqi City

Staff / Truthdig Jun 13, 2006 The southern Iraqi city of Basra, once a pro-American oasis, has now changed its tune as mafia-style warlords terrorize the population. It's a reality check for the world in the wake of the euphoria that greeted Zarqawi's death. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Molly Ivins: Hope, Hope, Hoping Along in Iraq

Molly Ivins / Truthdig Jun 13, 2006 Is it possible our continued presence in Iraq will make things better? Sure. Hope away. Because all the evidence points in the opposite direction. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Buzzflash: Why Not Just Put Zarqawi’s Head on a Pike?

Staff / Truthdig Jun 12, 2006 The editors at Buzzflash argue that in displaying the picture of Zarqawi's dead, bloated face the way it did, the Bush administration is once again displaying the same kind of sophomoric bravado ("Bring 'em on") that it used to its great detriment in the past Read Truthdig contributor Nir Rosen's account of the life, death and intellectual underpinnings of Zarqawi Also: Buzzflash just won two Project Uncensored awards for contributor columns about U civilian detention camps and "net neutrality". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Successor to Zarqawi Is Announced

Staff / Truthdig Jun 12, 2006 Al Qaeda in Iraq said in a Web statement that a militant named Abu Hamza al Muhajer had been chosen as the group's new leader. Nothing is immediately known about Muhajer, except that his last name is Arabic for immigrant, implying that he is not Iraqi. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Insurgents Post New Beheading Video

Staff / Truthdig Jun 11, 2006 Beheading videos were the favored means of propaganda of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, and this new one was clearly made to quash hopes his death would hamper the insurgency. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Raids Follow Zarqawi’s Death

Staff / Truthdig Jun 10, 2006 American forces carried out almost 40 raids in the wake of the airstrike death of the terrorist leader But as Truthdig contributor Nir Rosen writes, the absence of Zarqawi is likely to lead to greater sectarian bloodshed in Iraq (Also: Zarqawi survived the attack and tried to escape) . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Middle East

The Many Faces of Abu Musab al Zarqawi

Nir Rosen / Truthdig Jun 10, 2006 He led Al Qaeda in Iraq, but who was he? What drove Zarqawi to his murderous ends? And what can we learn from his death? Nir Rosen, one of the only Western journalists to have reported extensively from inside the Iraqi insurgency, lays out some answers. Acclaimed Iraq journalist Nir Rosen explores the life, death and intellectual underpinnings of the terrorist who led Al Qaeda in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 18 Min. Read )

Experts: Zarqawi Death Unlikely to Stop Insurgency

Staff / Truthdig Jun 9, 2006 The death of the Al Qaeda leader is likely to downgrade sectarianism in the medium term, an expert on terrorism tells the Washington Post. "But," he added, "the dynamic of sectarian violence is probably past the point of no return." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

How the U.S. Got Zarqawi

Staff / Truthdig Jun 9, 2006 The Washington Post and the N Times have accounts of how US forces killed the highly sought-after Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Apparently, they tracked him through his spiritual leader . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )