Veteran reservist: Euphoria over death likely short-lived

Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, June 9, 2006

The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a symbolic blow to the insurgency and could provide a morale boost for the Iraqi people, but it is unlikely to end the violence in Iraq, several local leaders said Thursday.

The al-Qaida leader's demise has given the Iraqi people "a lot of hope and optimism," said Joe Rice, a former Glendale mayor and -Army reservist who recently completed his second tour in Iraq.

"But it's not going to last forever," Rice said. "The Iraqi government (needs to be) capitalizing on this moment in time."

The death provides a good opportunity to "galvanize the Iraqi society against this type of insurgency," Rice said.

Al-Zarqawi was killed in Iraq in an airstrike at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday Baghdad time after the military was tipped to his location.

Officials believe he was the operational commander in Iraq who led a violent campaign of car bombings, suicide attacks and the beheadings of Americans.

As U.S. officials showed a photo of al-Zarqawi's face, bloated and bloodied, President Bush called his death a "severe blow to al-Qaida."

But the long-term impact remains to be seen, Rice said.

The insurgency will be "a little bit" demoralized, he said. "And I do mean a little bit."

He said violence is likely to continue, as dozens of insurgency groups still exist and "not all of them had ties to him (al-Zarqawi)."

"Their (coalition) is a coalition of convenience, and they have already been fighting among themselves. This is not the end-all, be-all of the insurgency," Rice said.

"This is a perfect time for the Iraqi government and security forces to attempt to show they have the ability to lead and establish order and security."

He said he wouldn't be surprised if, in a few weeks, the insurgency "comes out with a bang."

"I mean that both literally and figuratively."

Wadi Muhaisen, a Denver lawyer of Palestinian ancestry who teaches international law at the University of Denver, agreed with Rice.

"In the short term, it may provide a boost in morale, but it's unlikely to end the country's brutal war," he said.

Al-Zarqawi's death, however, offers another chance to build a "momentum of stability in the region. But if the effort stumbles, it won't have any more impact than the capture of Saddam Hussein."

One of the risks, Muhaisen said, is that some insurgents will make al-Zarqawi out to be a martyr.

"The killing was great, symbolically, but time will actually tell if its going to have some impact."

Imam Ammar Amonette of the Colorado Muslim Society said that while the death of al-Zarqawi may be seen as a victory, his death is not likely to stop others from continuing his policy of violence.

"The death of one person doesn't mean the death of one idea," Amonette said.

"He had a very cynical approach that if the country remains ungovernable, the United States will not be able to declare victory. He used murder as a tool, which, in Islam, is forbidden."