They Just Don't Know

Why is it that I want to name almost every post "Are you freaking kidding me?" No matter the topic, though it usually has something to do with the Bush Administration, I don't know why my mouth goes ajar when I read some of this stuff. Now, since I am a regular listener of Democracy Now!, I heard something along these lines several months ago. They don't know who, what, where, why or how this man is. Heck! They aren't even sure if they have the name right. Yet they keep fronting about this "big, bad wolf" who is at the heart of all the attacks in Iraq. Yet another attempt at perpetuating these larger than life images of evil black (or almost) people who can outwit, outfox, outlast the entire United States Military. Now, he might be a composite?:

"Some in the military assumed Zarqawi had been holed up in Fallujah. But marines based near that city believe the local Sunni leadership may have had a falling out with Zarqawi's group, the target of repeated airstrikes in the city. Military officials now think Zarqawi moves around Iraq. Indeed, he was most likely in Baghdad when the two Americans were beheaded last week, suggesting movement that military officials hope to exploit. 'He'll make a mistake,' says Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, 'and he'll only get one mistake.'

Already, a senior defense official says, half of Zarqawi's top leadership has been killed or captured. Unfortunately, military intelligence does not necessarily back up that assessment. Analysts do not know how many lieutenants Zarqawi had or how many disciples have risen up to take the place of the fallen. 'No one has hard numbers,' says another defense official.

The only thing certain is that nothing's certain, even his name. Zarqawi is thought to be a Jordanian whose real name may be Ahmed Fadil Khaylayleh. One top analyst thinks he may be a composite, not a single person. 'He's become this mythical creature,' agrees Larry Johnson, a former State Department counterterrorism official. 'The truth is we just don't know.' "

So, again: Are you freaking kidding me?!