Many of these guys take on symbolic value in excess of strategic value (although these two can be interrelated). Some analysts have argued, for example, that Bin Laden has been more of a "money person" and PR person rather than a master strategist. When/if he is captured or killed, folks will likely be disappointed that AL Q does not fall apart. Not to say that any elimination of a leader isn't of great importance.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
CAIRO, Egypt"”Al Qaeda in Iraq announced in a Web statement posted Monday that a militant named Abu Hamza al-Muhajer was appointed the group's new leader to succeed the slain Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Al-Queada if they really made this announcement have no real idea who will eventually wind up being the head of these murders, they are just trying to make it appear as if they have some sort of control over their own so called members.
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The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
They hardly even heard of this guy before.... and he is the new leader....hmmmmmm
Guess we got another reason to stay there longer now....Who will be after this guy and so on????
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq named a successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Monday and said he would press ahead with the bloody campaign begun by the Jordanian militant killed last week.
"The shura council of al Qaeda in Iraq unanimously agreed on Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, to be a successor to Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," said a statement signed by al Qaeda and posted on a Web site frequently used by Islamist militants.
"Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir is a good brother, has a history in jihad and is knowledgeable. We ask God that he...continue what Sheikh Abu Musab began," it said.
Muhajir, little known in the West, was not among the names that al Qaeda experts had expected to succeed Zarqawi.
Al Qaeda makes up about five percent of Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency but its suicide bombers have carried out the most spectacular attacks.
Although U.S. and Iraqi leaders have hailed Zarqawi's death in an American air strike as a major blow against al Qaeda, no one has suggested the 500-pound bombs that ended his life will halt violence tearing the country apart.
Earlier, a source in the prime minister's office said Iraq was considering inviting members of insurgent groups to national reconciliation talks.
Leaders will meet to agree a definition of "resistance" groups and then some of their members will be invited to take part in the talks on July 22.
The Next Bad Guy in Iraq
