Ragheads in focus: Abu Musab Zarqawi

New, improved terrorism CEO out-Osamas bin Laden

by Regina Marracco

Amman, Jordan — Triple suicide bombings this week in Jordan marked a spectacular debut for Islamic terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi, who is being hailed as the "New and Improved Osama bin Laden".

Zarqawi: Traditional Zarqawi has sought for years to overthrow the monarchy in his native land, Jordan, and has been highly successful in recruiting Islamic extremists to fight US forces in Iraq. His network has opened posh offices in Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Additionally, despite the presence of over 150,000 American troops in Iraq, Zarqawi continues to move about freely attending galas and premiers at locations not targeted for bombings.

Zarqawi met bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1999, and received a grant to establish a Jordanians-only training camp. In a letter last year, written on Republic of Niger stationery, Zarqawi pledged his loyalty to al-Qaeda and changed the name of his Jihad to al-Qaeda Iraq Subsidiary.

However, Zarqawi has been mildly chastised by other al-Qaeda executives for kidnapping Arabs, executing his rivals, and masterminding attacks that killed "innocent Muslims just going about their daily business of protesting the occupation". Abu Mohammed Maqdisi, a radical Jordanian cleric, told reporters: "Abu is not helping our cause by blowing up lots of Muslim women and children, but hardly more than one or two occupier Americans at a time." In response, Zarqawi's website, www.AlQaedaIraqInc.org posted pictures of six North African Muslims, who were working in Iraq, who were executed for "supporting the infidels".

In the terrorism community, Zarqawi is seen as a more traditional strategist than bin Laden, using tried but true methods such as roadside bombs, kidnappings, beheadings, and suicide attacks. In addition, he has a very high Q factor, and does not shun publicity as Osama does. His pledge to annihilate Israel is also popular with fanatics, while bin Laden's agenda continues to be focused on the West.

European intelligence officials fear that Zarqawi is quickly becoming the "face of al-Qaeda" and could depose bin Laden easily in a board take-over. "Abu Musab Zarqawi is a role model," said a high-ranking official of MI6. "Crazed Muslims believe it is a great honor to carry out horrific attacks in his name. How often lately has Mr bin Laden been glorified? Zarqawi IS the new and improved bin Laden."

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Ragheads in focus: Abu Musab Zarqawi

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