For the vast majority of Americans — and Westerners in general — news of Zarqawi's death is cause for celebration. But in the darkest corners of the blogosphere, where the illiberals lurk, the death of Zarqawi takes on a different meaning, altogether:
"In all the hours and hours of coverage, has anyone mentioned that the President could have killed Zarqawi before the Iraq War but chose not to? Or that he was caught and then released to kill again by an incompetent Iraqi government?"
That' s the spin that the Daily KOs is putting on the story. Rather than congratulating our armed forces on a job well done, the KOs see Zarqawi's death as an opportunity to attack President Bush. Real classy.
Next door at the Huffington Post, Eric Alterman writes about Zarqawi's death in a post entitled "Four Years too Late." The first sentence of Alterman's post exudes pride and excitement: "It's nice that they got Zarqawi." Take it easy, Alterman. That level of excitement can only lead to a coronary.
Alterman's first sentence is immediately followed by a familiar leftist rant:
"It's nice that they got Zarqawi. Too bad they didn't try harder before the invasion, when they lied about his membership in Al-Qaeda to create their phony link between bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Remember, in arguing for war, Bush referred to a "very senior al-Qaeda leader who received medical treatment in Baghdad this year." But the administration has given no indication that Abu Musab Zarqawi collaborated with senior Iraqi officials."
The remainder of Alterman's post is dedicated to the belittling of the Bush Administration and the war effort in general. Like the KOs, Alterman saw no need to congratulate the US military or the coalition forces. Then again, after spending so much time belittling their efforts, any such acknowledgement would have been something of an insult.
Next up, we have TalkLeft, another illiberal blog that not only refuses to thank our troops, but also raises doubts about the news of Zarqawi's death:
"Because this Administration has so little credibility and a history of distracting us with terror news when it is hurting politically, like now, I can't help but wonder if al-Zarqawi wasn't killed some time ago and they just decided to announce it today and tell us he was killed in yesterday's raid. Everyone hates al-Zarqawi, even the Iraqis, particularly because of the wedding bombings."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
I was going to write something on the coverage of and reaction to Zarqawi's death, but this is so good, so directly on point, that I'm not sure what I'd write. Damn you for doing such a great job. Now I'll have to figure out a whole different angle.
BTW, I like the use of the term 'illiberal'. It's a good choice, since I'm a genuine liberal and I'm in the GOP because there's nothing liberal about the socialist hatefest that the Dems have become.
Dave
2 - Arch Conservative
Yes the far left is incapable of giving credit where it's due if it does not fit into thier agenda to take over america. if something is obviously good for the nation but not them they will desparately spin it to make it look bad.
then they wonder why they can't win a fucking election with the people they back.
fuck em
3 - Dr Politico
Thanks Dave.
While I'm a conservative, I have nothing but lover for my liberal friends, which includes everyone in my family (except the ones I don't like:)
4 - Dr Politico
"nothing but love" is what I meant to type. Now my above comment sounds a little perverted.
5 - JR
So you guys have no problem with Bush taking four years to get al-Zarqawi?
6 - Arch Conservative
It was such an easy thing to do.... we should have had him in 2 weeks right?
7 - Clavos
So, because it took four years it's NOT a good thing?
8 - Arch Conservative
of course it's not clavos because it's bush and he's not playing left field so he gets no objectivity from the moonbats
bush could cure aids tomorrow and give the cure away for free and JP would say
So you guys have no problem with Bush taking four years cure Aids?
9 - td
I think it comes down to how you define 'support'. The support liberals offer is a 'best wishes' type of support. It's more of a 'hope you don't die' support rather than a 'good luck killing the militants' support.
I don't support the war. And so maybe I don't support the actions of the troops either. But I think that this is a far cry from willing them harm.
Most liberal-centrists (ultra lefty's excluded) do support taking action against islamic terrorism. As such you cannot simply deem that lack of support for the current actions of the military translates to support for islamic militants.
Let's go back 10 years to the Clinton administration. During the 90's most conservatives did not support the actions of the military, being that it was not very active.
Can I conclude from this that at the time most conservitives sided with our enemies and hoped our troops were bombed in there barracks? Or should I assume that the conservative contention was not against the actual troops, but the policy makers behind their actions, or lack of actions.
Now i'm not defending Zarqawi, or the militants. I want them rid from this earth as much as Bush. And I agree that many comments from the left would fit in better on the tabloid conspiracy sites then in a serious political discussion. But if you label me anti-west because I believe that a strategy exists that will rid us of this scourge faster than the current bush strategy then what do I get to label you when if it turns out i'm proven right.
Just ones point of view. Now please, label away.
10 - Dr Politico
JR,
Obvously, it would have been nice to catch this jerk sooner, as the devil was getting lonely. But it's not as though this guy was hanging out in public places with a bright orange shirt (instead he was probably hiding behind children as most of these cowardly terrorists do).
Perhaps people can put aside their partisan views for just one day and celebrate our armed forces' amazing achievement.
11 - DazeyMai
So what's the big deal? Killing Zarqawi will be about as effective as the killing of Saddam's sons and the capture of Saddam. I still laugh at myself for the excitement I felt when those events happened. We are losing this war, and we need to get the hell out of Iraq.
12 - Clavos
We are losing this war, and we need to get the hell out of Iraq.
We just killed their general in Iraq, the organization's third-ranking scumbag, and this is your take on it? Amazing...
13 - JR
Dr Politico: Perhaps people can put aside their partisan views for just one day and celebrate our armed forces' amazing achievement.
So whenever the military achieves something, nobody should say anything critical for a day? That's quite a free pass Bush gets. I can imagine Bush supporters suddenly finding hundreds of amazing achievements.
I think it's sad that the guy who got in the way of killing al-Zarqawi four years ago isn't held accountable. It's not fair to the armed forces who offered to do the job but were held back, it's not fair to the soldiers and the thousands of Iraqis killed by al-Zarqawi since then, and it's not fair to the American public Bush promised to protect.
14 - DazeyMai
Yes, that is my take on it!!!! What did we accomplish when Saddam's sons were killed. Real big shots, remember? and what did we accomplish when Saddam was captured? That was going to be the day of all days.... Have things improved since then? NO!!!
15 - sr
DiseyMai. Sure glad you were not around during WWll. You are what old Doc Hitler ordered. Put your rump to the wind and run like hell. Would that have been your views during the Revolution? That would be the war of independence. Maybe you were absent at history class that day. So let's just give up, smoke a peace pipe and sit around out little pink TP and sing cubaya. Im feeling sooooooooooo senitive today. Well let me vomit dipstick.
sr
16 - Clavos
Yes, that is my take on it!!!! What did we accomplish when Saddam's sons were killed. Real big shots, remember? and what did we accomplish when Saddam was captured? That was going to be the day of all days.... Have things improved since then? NO!!!
Nothing above proves your assertion that we're LOSING the war, and you ignore first time ever free elections, a constitution, and numerous other tangible accomplishments, including the death of this scumbag. Wonder why the Iraqis are celebrating if it's no big deal?
17 - sr
Clavos, Right on and guess what. These shit heads are all DEAD. Can almost smell them rotting away. Just wish a big fat pork chop was shoved up their ass before they meet 75 arab sluts in HELL.
18 - Dr Politico
Check out PART 2: Zarqawi’s Death from the Illiberals’ Perspective " Elected democrat officials are endorsing the illiberals’ views.
Or check out a full day of terrorist whacking coverage here.
19 - Dave Nalle
Dr. P. Do you want to amend your BC article with the additional material? We could edit it in.
Dave
20 - RJ Elliott
"So you guys have no problem with Bush taking four years to get al-Zarqawi?"
Do you guys have any problem with Clinton repeatedly turning down offers to have Osama sent to the US for prosecution?
21 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Dave (comment #1),
Call yourself a liberal or whatever else you like, but please don't insult socialists by calling the Democrats in the States by that title. Yeah, they sorta go along with the ideas of social democrats in Europe (sometimes) but they wouldn't know socialism if it slapped them in the face.
The fact that the Clinton administration named Osama bin Laden by in the 90's and didn't attempt to capturew the bastard then says something to counter the illibeal whiners Dr. Politico writes about.
22 - shArk
Dr. Policito sez: "...Sadly, I think the ultra-illiberals would prefer news of Americans dying."
Shark sez: Wow! Ann Coulter is now writing on Blogcritics?!
=========
IRONY OF THE DAY:
Right Wing Blowhards
promoting their politics
by accusing "liberals"
of using news of Zarcowie's death
to promote their politics.
Feh.
PS: Mission Accomplished!" -- right, boyz?
double heh.
23 - shArk
WORST HYPOCRITICAL IRONY OF THE DAY:
Dr. Politico -- who in his "essay" about says that a large group of Americans would "PREFER" news about AMERICAN SOLDIERS DYING -- says in comment #10:
Dr. P: "...Perhaps people can put aside their partisan views for just one day and celebrate our armed forces' amazing achievement."
FUCKING ASTONISHING.
=================
Where does Blogcritics come up with these people?
And must Shark come out of semi-retirement to balance out the Fucking Nut-Bar Right Wing Blather around here with a smidgen of solipcistic (thanks, Olsen!) TRUTH TO POWER?
Make my day, punks.
24 - shArk
PS: I have a "liberal", patriotic confession to make:
Knowing there are people like Dr. P and Coulter in this nation makes me -- at least for a few nanoseconds in the throes of emotional disgust -- WANNA BECOME A FUCKING TERRORIST.
================
Now, while I'll admit the above statement is only hyperbole meant to get a reaction [I trained at the Rush Limbaugh Memorial Media Manipulation Center!] -- I'd still be interested in yall's home address.
Thanks in advance,
: )
S
25 - shArk
...oh, and did anyone mention that Zarcowie being turned over by his own crew only emphasizes the fact that Iraq is in...
whoops,
dare we say or think it
in the current political atmosphere
around here...?
...A FUCKING CIVIL WAR?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IRAQ: WE *LOST.
*see "Abu Ghriab" for more