BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a "new beginning" for Iraq, the interior minister said on Friday (Maybe, at least symbolically)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The killing of militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi at the same time Iraq finished forming its government was "a stunning shock" to al Qaeda, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday. (I don’t think it “shocked" them too much Rummy)

In a strike that President George W. Bush said could help to turn the tide against the insurgency, two U.S. 500-pound (227 kg) bombs killed Zarqawi in a rural area near Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, on Wednesday. (Combined with the governmental breakthroughs, maybe)

BUT:

authorities imposed a traffic ban in an apparent effort to prevent al Qaeda reprisal attacks. (It's not all peaches 'n cream yet)

And of course:

DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Jazeera television said on Friday it would air a new video tape from Al Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al Zawahri. (Keeping the Arab focus on the nut jobs)

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar vowed that the killing in Iraq of al Qaeda militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would not weaken Muslim efforts against "crusader forces", a Pakistan-based news agency said on Friday.
(Making sure that Iraq knows more psychos are still coming, and to remain scared)

WASHINGTON (Washington Times) Some Democrats, breaking ranks from their leadership, today said the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab Zarqawi in Iraq was a stunt to divert attention from an unpopular and hopeless war. (Mad that Bush had a victory, the 2^nd string is always good for some idiot comments)

"This is just to cover Bush's [rear] so he doesn't have to answer" for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. "Iraq is still a mess -- get out." (And now he’s off to camp Sheehan)

So, Iraqis rejoice and join the Administration on what could be a watershed moment, while everyone NOT in Iraq is trying to quickly quell any positive momentum this may have on the United States efforts in Iraq.

What I find amazing, is that the same people that decry the United States for what the Iraqi people are now going through, would have us abandon them to total anarchy and chaos to meet their personal political agenda. Paradox? I think so. At least I understand the radical Muslims wanting us to fail… but fellow Americans that claim to care about the Iraqis, but would readily sacrifice them on the alter of political victory to the misery of brutal religious civil war… those guys I don’t get.