Zarqawi in the Dead Book

[John Uskglass]

Nothing unlikely about a pseudonym-using replacement after a week. It depends on a number of factors that none of us can have any clear picture of.

Well, I'd argue that it is unlikely that they could find an adaquet, fanatical, out of nowhere replacement, but that is besides the point. The point is that, because he is either alien to the terrorist structure of Iraq or because he has decided to use a psedonym, he will have almost no power, be it in his managerial position or his position as figurehead.

True, very true, mostly about this being an important point in the history of the modern Iraqi government. How much this hiccup will prevent the broad AQ organisation, let alone more independent terrorist cells, from further fucking up the country remains to be seen, though.

True. I think it is not unrealistic to have more hope now then say two months ago, though.

I still don't see the US' half-arsed effort in Iraq bringing any good anytime soon.

Soon? Maybe not. I expect to see a semi-functional Iraq in my lifetime at the very least.

 

[Brother None]

Well, I'd argue that it is unlikely that they could find an adaquet, fanatical, out of nowhere replacement, but that is besides the point.

Because there's a lack of adequate fanatical leaders in Iraq?

I think not. I. Think. Not.

The point is that, because he is either alien to the terrorist structure of Iraq or because he has decided to use a psedonym, he will have almost no power, be it in his managerial position or his position as figurehead.

That's not really how AQ works, though. It is pretty much an established fact that OBL is by this point either dead or completely incapable of leading from his hideout, but that doesn't really hurt AQ.

As an organisation it mostly works in cells, and not necessarily in a heirarchy either, which means they don't really *need* anyone in a managerial position to operate, only if they want to achieve some more difficult long-term goals (like the WTC attacks), not for causing riots and wars in Iraq.

As for a figurehead. That's hardly a demanding job and can even be done anonymously, in a Keyser Soze kind of way.

True. I think it is not unrealistic to have more hope now then say two months ago, though.

It's difficult to less hope than zero, certainly.

Soon? Maybe not. I expect to see a semi-functional Iraq in my lifetime at the very least.

Keep dreaming.

Depends on if the USA gets an even half-competent chief, I guess.

 

[Hovercar Madness]

Depends on if the USA gets an even half-competent chief, I guess.

You mean the half-competent chief who will pull out of Iraq?

I don't see how either republicans or democrats could possibly campaign on the prospect of 4 years of trillions-of-dollars-guzzling-thousands-of-american-men-and-women-costing insanity.

Seems like a botched "Iraqization" is a sure fire way out.

 

[John Uskglass]

 

[Ghoullove]

Zarqawi apparently lived for 20 minutes in agony after the missile hit. That still does not make up for the thousands of people he has killed and the barbaric beheading of foriegn nationals. May he rot in Allah's ass.

 

[Brother None]

Oh yes, that was *way* better than actual reply, Uskglass.

Frith on a stick, how terrible you've gotten at debating.

 

[John Uskglass]

Frith on a stick, how terrible you've gotten at debating.

That's actually kind of ironic. I've won quite a few awards in Debate.

How did I get 'terrible', btw? I think I just don't care as much. I tend to agree with you as often as not.

 

[Brother None]

That's actually kind of ironic. I've won quite a few awards in Debate.

How did I get 'terrible', btw? I think I just don't care as much. I tend to agree with you as often as not.

I assure you your awards are worth as much as the toilet paper they're written on.

Dodging, straw mans, divergence and other debating weaknesses seem to be your debating-style-of-the-day for some time now. Whether or not you agree with me is irrelevant.

 

[Ratty Sr.]

Dodging, straw mans, divergence and other debating weaknesses seem to be your debating-style-of-the-day for some time now.

In other words, his debating style hasn't changed a bit in the past two years?

 

[Sander]

That's actually kind of ironic. I've won quite a few awards in Debate.

How did I get 'terrible', btw? I think I just don't care as much. I tend to agree with you as often as not.

That's because debate awards are not won for proper debating style, but for winning the audience. Which means that if your opponent doesn't notice your fallacies, you can use them as much as you want.

 

[PhredBean]

That's actually kind of ironic. I've won quite a few awards in Debate.

How did I get 'terrible', btw? I think I just don't care as much. I tend to agree with you as often as not.

That's because debate awards are not won for proper debating style, but for winning the audience.

Most of the ones I've seen are purely on style. If you have established points, move smoothly between them, don't use filler, and make it LOOK like you know what you are talking about, you do well. That's why it's so obnoxiously frustrating, half those damn students and compeditors don't know what the hell they're talking about, they just read one article and called it good.

 

[Brother None]

Now this is a good sign. Killing Zarqawi is meaningless an sich, but if you crack-down while their morale is low(er), you can go places!

 

[Ghoullove]

The vital intel should cause the insurgency to quickly go deeper underground. The Americans and Iraqi secruity forces indeed have to strike while the iron is hot.