We now know that Zarqawi survived the US airstrike for 52 minutes only to die after being captured by US and Iraqi forces as a result of trauma from the airstrike. We have also learned that Zarqawi's wife and child were also among those killed at the Baquba compound.
His 16-year-old wife.
The raid was keyed on Zarqawi's spiritual advisor, Abdul-Rahman, and when the meeting took place, the coordinated airstrike took place. Intel may have come from al Qaeda associates who gave up Zarqawi's whereabouts.
How old was this girl when Zarqawi married her? Thus far, we know at least two of the others killed in the raid were related to Zarqawi (the wife and the 18-month-old child). Were the others killed in the airstrike also related to Zarqawi or Rahman? If so, it would further indicate that al Qaeda continues to strongly associate with family members - instead of bringing in outsiders at the highest levels. That is a possibility that you can be assured will be exploited - tracking other family members of at-large terrorists to try and glean intel to capture or kill these dangerous terrorists before they can kill again.
Now, Zarqawi's 18-month old child was also killed in the airstrike. That would mean that his 16 year old wife was probably 12 or 13 when the baby was conceived. But let's not pass judgment on Zarqawi or the Islamists who have no problem having sex with minors. It's their culture after all. [that's sarcasm for you sarcasm challenged out there.]
Now comes word that another US raid in the area where Zarqawi was killed may have killed nine people, including two children. Insurgents and terrorists operate freely among civilian populations - knowing full well that it will be the US that receives the ire of the media and local populace, not the terrorists who are clearly using the civilians as human shields.
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