June 09, 2006

AUSTIN BAY looks at the strategic and political implications of Zarqawi's death. Plus, some thoughts on the operational implications.

UPDATE: Read this post by Rand Simberg, too.

ANOTHER UPDATE: More intelligence leaks.

And amid the good news about Zarqawi, it's also worth reading this NRO symposium about Somalia, where things aren't going so well. What's next there?

MORE: Bill Quick notes the spin reversal:

Two months ago, a Time-Warner hack said that Zarqawi was a "superstar." That was when he was a symbol of Bush "failure." Now, another Time-Warner hack says he was an easily replaceable nobody. That's because he's become a symbol of a Bush victory.

Given Time-Warner's fortunes at the moment, I wouldn't be raising the subject of easily replaceable nobodies. . . .