Kiss of Death

[bemildred]

Does Zarqawi have an infinite supply of lieutenants/deputies/aides/associates/second-in-commands/etc., or do we just arbitrarily declare that every 100th insurgent we capture or kill is "a top aide" to Zarqawi?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Below is an almost comprehensive list (I'm sure I missed a few) of Zarqawi's "top lieutenants" we've captured, killed, or acknowledged over the last two and a half years. I count 33.

Abu Azzam (9/27/05)

* "The No. 2 official in the al-Qaida in Iraq organization.'
* "The top deputy to Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."


Much More

[marmar]

1. Like bin Laden...

He seems to have more No. 2s than a pencil factory.

[frogmarch]

2. boogeyman

I doubt Zarquawi exists. I think he was probably created by Bushco to put a face on the insurgency, to try to win support for our troops staying in Iraq.

[TheWraith]

5. Well, I'm pretty sure he exists, in the sense that he was born...

...but also in the sense that he died, around March/April 2004. At least, so said AP, the Army, and the CIA. No explanation was ever offered for his later miraculous resurrection.

[TheWraith]

3. "Free top lieutenant with every new car purchase"

It's the latter. Anybody can be a "top lieutenant" when they're dead or in prison--that way nobody really knows that he was really the official pizza delivery man of the insurgents.

[TahitiNut]

4. "Kiss of Death"??

[Silverhair]

6. Probably has an easy time recruiting #2.

Simply promotes the old #3. Usually, in that type of organization, the duties of a #2 will have him more exposed and taking higher risks. Attrition rate of #2s will be higher.

Contrary to popular belief here at DU, the U.S. military is NOT stupid.

[TheWraith]

9. I don't think that the implication is that they're stupid.

I think that the implication is that they're dishonest.

[mcctatas]

10. Actually, I think the implication is not so much that the military itself

is dishonest, more that the leaders in the Pentagon, the White House, etc. are dishonest.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. " top lieutenant" to Zarqawi is like being the drummer for Spinal Tap. nt.

[Mabus]

8. No, we only capture the #2 man when Bush's poll numbers drop.

Or Zarqawi has to stop issuing the #2 men red uniforms. It didn't work on Star Trek and it isn't working now.

[leftofthedial]

11. the whole perpetual "Number 2" thing

is a big stinking steaming load of number two.