Sometimes the CNN-in-the-morning thing I complained about has its benefits: al-Zarqawi is dead.
…and?
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll not be shedding any tears over the man. He was a brutal monster, and the world is an objectively better place without him in it.
But to say that this is another corner turned, or another chance to “turn the tide” or whatever Bush said, is an overstatement at least. Gen. George Casey didn’t even try to spin it that way: “Although the designated leader of al Qaeda in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organization will continue to try to terrorize the Iraqi people.” They don’t call it a quagmire because it’s easy to get out of.*
As usual, Juan Cole has the best analysis of the situation.