June 8, 2006

(Los Angeles - 6/8/06) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council today called the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, an important development in counterterrorism, the future of Iraq and the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq. 

U.S. aircraft bombed a meeting of al-Zarqawi and several top aides -- including his spiritual guide -- at a safe house outside Baghdad overnight. Al-Zarqawi was widely considered the mastermind of dozens of suicide bombings, kidnappings, and other attacks that have ignited a vicious series of sectarian clashes within Iraq.

SEE: "After Success, Next Steps for U.S.?" (Christian Science Monitor, 6/8/06)

With Al-Zarqawi's death comes the elimination of an international symbol of terrorism. While this may send a strong message to Al-Qaeda, capturing al-Zarqawi alive and bringing him before an international court of justice may have allowed American forces to gain valuable information on the extent of the al-Qaeda infrastructure in Iraq.  Such information could have simultaneously strengthened security for both Iraqis and Americans; however, al-Zarqawi chose a path of destruction founded on a distorted interpretation of Islam which ultimately led to his own destruction.

In its execution of military and intelligence operations, U.S. forces and officials must be sensitive to the impact of Iraqi civilian deaths on our nation's credibility with the Iraqi people and the Muslim masses. Finally, MPAC calls on all American citizens to be vigilent in anticipation of any potential retaliation from al-Qaeda in response to the death of their leader in Iraq.  MPAC reminds our government and our country of MPAC's National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism, which outlines a vigilent approach for all Americans to protect against the threat of both extremism and terrorism.

[CONTACT: Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443, communications@mpac.org]