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Last update - 02:03 09/06/2006
Zarqawi killed / More important than bin Laden
By Yossi Melman

With respect to America's global war on terror, the assassination of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is even more significant than the assassination of Osama bin Laden would be. Zarqawi is the terrorist responsible for the greatest number of casualties in recent years, and therefore, his liquidation has operational significance. Bin Laden's liquidation would have only moral significance.

The Americans, like Israel, know that cutting off "the head of the snake" will not end terrorism. Over the past decade, the United States has laid hands on several al-Qaida "operations officers" - Yousef Ramzi, Sheikh Khaled Mohammed, Hambali of Indonesia and others; but their places were quickly taken by others no less daring and determined.

Zarqawi headed only one of several radical Sunni organizations, and his assassination will not affect the activities of the others. In any case, the terror attacks that have occurred since September 11, 2001, have pointed to a growing "atomization" of Jihadist networks: Local cells are operating independently. They may draw inspiration from figures like bin Laden or Zarqawi, but they have no organizational connection.

This process of atomization will make it even more difficult for the Americans and others to acquire intelligence on such networks and foil their plans. All the experts say that even though Zarqawi's death was a blow to morale for global Jihad, the struggle in Iraq will continue as long as the coalition forces remain there.

Reuven Paz, an expert in radical Islam, noted that Zarqawi's status in Iraq might have been waning over the past year anyway, due to his decision to wage a sectarian war against the Shi'ites. This may also have been what enabled the Americans to obtain information about his whereabouts and thus carry out the liquidation. Paz now predicts revenge attacks in the name of bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who will want to prove that the death of one of their most prominent adherents has not put them out of operation.

Over the past two years, Zarqawi has become the leading symbol of the struggle in Iraq, in the eyes of both the Americans and millions of Muslim admirers. But more than being a symbol, he was the world's most effective active terrorist, thanks to his organizational abilities, his ability to recruit devoted followers, and, primarily, his cruelty, which gave him the image of someone who stood boldly against the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the West in general.

His status was also strengthened by the fact that Zawahiri and bin Laden have largely ceased operations, due to the determined U.S. pursuit, their distance from the main front, and also failing health perhaps. In effect, over the last two years, Zarqawi became a leader in his own right, and even challenged their leadership. For instance, he did not hesitate to carry out attacks against Shi'ites, despite their opposition.

There are even radical Islamist Web sites that viewed him as the "emir" of the entire Middle East. This was in part because of his efforts to extend the battle to other parts of the Middle East by setting up cells in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Sinai and - less successfully, thus far - the Palestinian Authority.