Links and Minifeatures 06 08 Thursday

Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi Killed in Air Raid Confirmed by face and fingerprint. Al-Qaeda also confirmed the information, while vowing to continue their terrorism. Several aides, including Rahman, his spiritual advisor, also dead.



Now this doesn't mean that al-Qaeda in Iraq is dead, anymore than removing bin Laden will end the war. It is very possible that we've cleared the way for a more capable subordinate to take charge (Think killing McClellan so that Grant could take charge of the Civil War earlier, or if Montgomery had been killed so Eisenhower could give the resources he wasted to capable generals).



Nonetheless, it is a significant blow organizationally against al-Qaeda, and unless a more capable subordinate does take charge, they've been hurt by this. Expect them to try something big soon, both for vengeance and for propaganda purposes.



Of course, the domestic political fallout will help the president, at least in the short term.



I'd rather have captured the small-minded weasel so that the Iraqis could put him on trial. Decency says that one should never feel gladdened by death, no matter how necessary, but I'm finding it difficult to be saddened by his. Okay, I'm finding it impossible, and my path to final enlightenment is doubtless somehow impeded, but that's existence. I'm very glad the troops got him, one way or the other, and I really hope it makes their lives easier and safer. It won't end the war, but it is likely to be a noteworthy milestone. Good job.



ROFASix has a nice summary, and links to the video of the airstrike.



via INDC Journal, some homegrown Iraqi reactions (severe language advisory). money quote:"Zarqawi would not listen to ballots, today there is no mistaking that he listened to the bombs."



Dean's World has more Iraqi reactions.



Gateway Pundit notes the reactions of that party that uses the stubborn animal for a symbol.



Captain's Quarters notes some other raids - 17 in all - now that Zarqawi is dead. Evidently a lot of intelligence was ready, waiting for the right time to strike, and now we've captured a lot of useful information.



Alright. I just can't resist a variation on an old joke.

Q: What was the last thing that went through Zarqawi's mind?

A: Shrapnel and the concussion wave.



Maybe he really will end up with 72 virgins. All of them named "Bubba."

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Daily Kos DeLay Says Goodbye To Congress He Corrupted



Leave it to them to pretend people like Thomas Foley and dozens of ex congresscritters had nothing to do with. William Jefferson must be just weak and corrupted by DeLay's bad example, right? There never was an Adscam scandal, right?



Don't get me wrong, Abramoff is a crook and it's possible DeLay is as well. The trial will settle that. But to pretend he was responsible for institutional trends that started before his father was born is just a little too hyperbolic to let pass.



I'm pretty certain that not many people could withstand the sort of attention that's been focused on Tom DeLay. Where Jefferson has so far received basically a free pass from everyone for blantant illegal actions, there's been a partisan DA after him with three grand juries until he found one willing to indict on some pretty technical charges, and there's evidence the DA lied to them. No excuses for DeLay, and I want him to face trial, but I want Jefferson et al out of Congress and into jail as well.



UPDATE: Presumption of innocence for me but not for thee. Congresssional Black Caucus (essentially a Democratic Interest Group) opposes removing Jefferson from leadership post. Didn't DeLay step down once indicted? Wasn't that a big fight about "ethics"? Culture of corruption indeed.



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Asymmetrical Information on abolishing the estate tax and the failed vote in the senate today.



I would like the estate tax gone, but it is so avoidable as to be, for all intents and purposes, a voluntary tax on stupidity and denial. Furthermore, charity benefits one heck of a lot from the planning done. All things considered, I'd rather they indexed AMT to inflation, or any number of other things. On the classic 10 scale of importance, abolishing estate tax might be as high as a 3.