If the US strategy in Iraq is valid...taking out a 25 Million Dollar Target like Zarqawi should bring a noticeable improvment on the ground--immediately.
The entire US game plan has been to "personalize" the war to a few high value targets... First there was Osama...remember him?
Then, the Neocons moved on to Saddam...if only he where captured everything would clear up.
Then, the Neocons moved to Zarqawi as the new "evil one" whose death or capture would redeem the policy of invasion and occupation. Now Zarqawi's gone...
CLEARLY THERE IS AN OPENING FOR A NEW "EVIL ONE" IN IRAQ...WHO DO WE BLAME NOW FOR ALL THE BAD STUFF?
PERHAPS THAT'S WHY SO MANY "REVOLUTIONARY" MOVEMENTS USED "FICTIONAL LEADERS"...LIKE "NED LUDD" OF THE LUDDITES...
When the cops showed up...Ned had already escaped out the back door...and no one saw a thing...!
Zarqawi's "mythic" status will be harder to replace for the US Neocons...
Than Zarqawi himself will be for the insurgents in Iraq!
Think about it...
