Zarqawi In A Ten-Gallon Hat

[theHandpuppet]

Not that I'm mourning the demise of one psycho murderer, but I've mostly stayed out of the Zarqawi threads because when it comes down to brass tacks, Zarqawi was a mere amateur in the world of global terrorism compared to George Bush and his NeoCon Terrorist Network.

Seriously, what charges against Zarqawi have I read (even) here have not been trumped by Bush on an exponential scale?

Destabilizing the Middle East?
Slaughter of civilians?
Torture/kidnapping?
Flaunting of international law/Geneva Convention/U.N.?
Appealing to religious fundamentalists to fuel an agenda of violence and hatred?
Creating even more terrorists in the region?

Among these charges, of which could GWB be found innocent? If Zarqawi is considered a "foreign fighter" interfering in Iraqi affairs, what the hell does that make GWB? Seriously, does it make us feel any better about the war crimes committed in our name to celebrate Zarqawi's demise when the greatest threat to the modern world sits comfortably at the seat of power at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? Shall we do a comparative body count?

Oh, it's easy to paint a portrait of Zarqawi the "barbarian", the Jordanian thug. Poor, uneducated, Muslim, an Arab. Why, he beheaded Nick Berg with a sword -- he MUST be a barbarian! I guess it makes one less of a barbarian to order warplanes to drop 500 lb bombs on Iraqi neighborhoods, launch missles from aircraft carriers, or have your minions carry out policies of torture and imprisonment. Yes, certain images play better for the camera, such as the juxtaposition of the well-born, white, Yale-educated terrorists in suits and ties and overstocked portfolios against the bearded, dark-skinned man in a turban. At least the Bushreich is making a profit from global terrorism, so there's a plus for those who are looking for some distinction between THEIR terrorists and our own. Too bad there isn't as much national will to fight terrorists here at home as there is the march to fight them abroad. Our freedom and democracy faces infintely more danger from the cabal of sociopaths in Washington, D.C. than from this one rogue psycopath in Iraq.

Make no mistake -- I'm shedding no tears for Zarqawi. As much as I sincerely aspire to be a true pacifist there are those times when I DON'T mourn the passing of a mericless killer. So in that regard I'm a failed pacifist and disappointed in that realization. For in my idle fantasy there's a new showdown at the O.K. Corral, with Zarqawi and Bush facing off with six shooters and neither one of them walking away. I wouldn't be sorry.

[nickgutierrez]

1. I don't see the contradiction...

between pacifism and not mourning the death of a killer. Zarqawi was a murderous thug, and you'll never catch me saying I'm not glad he's dead - and I fall just short of pacifism myself.

Now, of course, you're dead on when it comes to the relationship between Zarqawi's crimes and the crimes of the Bush admin...

[AndyA]

2. Zarqawi in a ten-gallon hat...this is what I expected to see:

[theHandpuppet]

3. Bingo!!

And I know who scares me more.

[wizdum]

4. Bush's nose is looking more like an arrow pointed staight down everyday.