Zarqawi's last Words?

Zarqawi Found Alive After Bombing
Friday, June 09, 2006

Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was found alive by Iraqi police and U.S. forces who arrived at the scene of the bombing raid near Baqouba, a U.S. official told FOX News on Friday.

"Zarqawi was alive when U.S. forces arrived on the site," Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said in a satellite interview from Iraq. "The Iraqi police arrived first, they found him in the rubble, put him on a gurney of some type."


CNN also reports:

Al-Zarqawi Said to Survive Airstrike
By ROBERT BURNS

WASHINGTON (AP) - A mortally wounded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, still alive after a U.S. airstrike on his hideout, mumbled briefly and attempted to ``turn away off the stretcher'' he had been placed on by Iraqi police, the U.S. military said Friday.

U.S. officials had said Thursday in announcing the attack that Zarqawi was dead when U.S. troops arrived on the scene.

Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon from his post in Baghdad, said he learned after getting briefings Friday that Zarqawi was alive when Iraqi police first arrived on the scene, but he died a short time later.

``We did in fact see him alive,'' Caldwell said. ``He mumbled a little something but it was indistinguishable and it was very short.''


The Trekmedic ponders:

I hope what he muttered was "Ow! That bayonet in my chest REALLY hurts!"