Iraqi Bloggers vs Arab MSM: Zarqawi’s Death
The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was heralded far differently among Iraqis, who knew him well, than in the rest of the Arab world.
Mohammed Fadhil, the Baghdadi co-author of the blog “Iraq the Model” wrote (06/11/06):
There was no surprise that all Iraqi commentators were pleased that we got rid of that vicious terrorist. But on the other hand, probably 90% of non-Iraqi Arab commentators mourned him as a martyr.
The majority party in the Palestinian Parliament issued a press release that stated:
With hearts full of faith, Hamas commends brother-fighter Abu Musab … who was martyred at the hands of the savage crusade campaign which targets the Arab homeland, starting in Iraq.
Responding in “Iraq the Model”, Mohammed spoke for Zarqawi’s Arab victims:
Hamas’s reaction to the death of Zarqawi caused the contempt of many Iraqis. The printed and watched Iraqi media lashed out vigorously on [against] Hamas. Politicians and ordinary people on the streets are equally angered by some Arabic official and media reactions… It is totally unimaginable why someone would describe the head chopping, children murdering terrorist as a hero. It’s disgusting and infuriating beyond words…
Most non-Iraqi Arabs in the Middle East get their news from al Jazeera. “Alaa,” author of the Iraqi blog “The Mesopotamian”, broke a two-month self-imposed silence (06/09/06), to vent his spleen on how that obiquitous Arabic TV station covered al-Zarqawi’s death:
Al Jazeera (again) showed their true color without even any attempt at dissimulation. So this arch murderer of day laborers, bakers, school children, and etc., this master beheader of poor hostages and planner of car bombings and all kinds of the most outrageous orgies of mass killings – this man is to be mourned and regretted as a martyr and mujahahid etc.!!!
The author expresses his astonishment that America treats Qatar, which harbors al Jazeera, as a friend and ally while imposing harsh sanctions on other terror sponsoring nations. “Here we have an official state-owned media outlet that has played a major role in inciting and aiding and abetting the most violent forms of terrorism,” he complains, “and nothing has been done against those who sponsor and finance them.”
“Alaa” is an interesting blogger – a supporter of Iraqi democracy, but a grim pessimist as to its prospects. During the sectarian turmoil in Baghdad that followed the bombing of the “Golden Shine” (February 22, 2006), the “Mesopotamian” suspended web-publication – until the death of Zarqawi gave its author fresh hope. He wrote:
I want to congratulate the valiant eagles of the American Air force, and all the men of the U.S. Army, the Iraqi security forces, and all those involved in executing this just punishment and for being the instrument of providential justice. Blessed be the wombs that bore you, and please accept this expression of gratitude and love from an ordinary Iraqi man.