U.S. officials heartened by outcome of airstrike

Published Thursday, June 8, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush and his military chiefs said today that killing terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi struck a severe blow to al-Qaida and opens a new opportunity for the fledging democracy in Iraq.

"This violent man will never murder again," Bush said in the Rose Garden as he announced the U.S. airstrike on the militant whom Osama bin Laden had dubbed the "emir," or prince, of al-Qaida in Iraq.

It was an encouraging sign in the war, but the White House was careful not to predict it will hasten the withdrawal of the more than 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

"The death of Zarqawi does not change overnight the situation," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. "Nobody expects a snap change."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said al-Zarqawi’s death "will not mean the end of all violence in that country."

Rumsfeld said it was apt that al-Zarqawi, who had tried to thwart Iraqi elections and formation of a new government, died on the very day that the new government in Baghdad finalized its cabinet.

Bush discussed the killing today by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Britain has been the Bush administration’s staunchest ally in Iraq, with about 8,000 troops on the ground.

The war has not seen the downfall of such an iconic figure since late 2003 when former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured in an underground bunker. A U.S. counterterrorism official predicted little disruption to al-Qaida activities because of the decentralized nature of the terror group but also said the charismatic al-Zarqawi will not be an easy figure to replace.

Al-Zarqawi provided guidance and strategy for insurgent attacks, was an able fundraiser and maintained a long list of foreign contacts far beyond Iraq, the official said. Without al-Zarqawi, the official said, it is unclear how well his organization will be able to launch attacks outside Iraq such as a hotel bombing last year in Amman, Jordan, that killed guests at a Palestinian wedding.

A U.S. defense intelligence official warned there could be retaliatory attacks in the United States or elsewhere. Both officials requested anonymity.

Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill were encouraged.

"The entire world of people who believe in freedom and peace can take solace in what happened," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

"I am more optimistic then ever that a free and stable Iraq can be achieved," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Bush will meet Monday at Camp David with his national security team and Cabinet to discuss the next steps in Iraq. On Tuesday, Iraq’s new ambassador to the United States will join the group for a teleconference discussion with the prime minister and members of the Iraqi cabinet.

Bush learned of the killing yesterday afternoon during an Oval Office meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, Snow said.