Zarqawi vows to kill Iraqi Prime Minister

[Tigers2B1]

Well, Zarqawi, in his unending fight against free elections and an organized society, has deemed that the Iraqi Prime Minister should be on his growing list. What purpose does Zarqawi hope to accomplish by making this threat? I see none since the PM certainly isn’t going to ‘step down’ out of fear for his life because of this threat. In fact, it served as a means for the new Iraqi government to display brave leadership against the Zarqawi threats ------“We do not care about these threats, we will continue to rebuild Iraq and work for freedom, democracy, justice and peace. Iraqis have faced these threats before,” said a spokesman for Allawi. Are Zarqawi’s attempts becoming more desperate? Is this a sign that Zarqawi perceives himself as losing his influence in Iraq?

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamist militants vowed on Wednesday to assassinate Iraq’s interim prime minister, hours after saying they had beheaded a South Korean hostage in the violent run-up to a U.S. handover to Iraqi rule.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian accused by U.S. officials of organizing many deadly attacks in Iraq and having links to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda, made the threat against Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on an Islamist Web site.
“As for you, Allawi – sorry, the democratically elected prime minister – we have found for you a useful poison and a sure sword,” said a taped voice, purported to be Zarqawi’s own. …

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If you believe the intercepted Zarqawi Letter (linked and quoted from below), the threat against Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, may be a sign of Zarqawi’s growing desperation rather than his growing influence. As June 30 comes and goes I think we can expect to hear more from people like Zarqawi ---- although he seems a little behind schedule. From that letter –

…It is our hope to accelerate the pace of work and that companies and battalions with expertise, experience, and endurance will be formed to await the zero hour when we will begin to appear in the open, gain control the land at night, and extend it into daylight, the One and Conquering God willing. We hope that this matter, I mean the zero hour, will [come] four months or so before the promised government is formed. As you can see, we are racing against time. If we are able, as we hope, to turn the tables on them and thwart their plan, this will be good. If the other [scenario] [happens] – and we seek refuge in God – and the government extends its control over the country, we will have to pack our bags and break camp for another land in which we can resume carrying the banner or in which God will choose us as martyrs for his sake….

Link to the “Zarqawi Letter” –

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2004/02/040212-al-zarqawi.htm

Well, what do you think, are the videotaped beheadings and the threats a sign that Zarqawi might be ready to break camp? Or is Zarqawi just being Zarqawi and recent terror activity is par for the Zarqawi course?

(Note: While reading another related topic - I unintentionally posted this under that other thread topic. It is really a separate topic and so I’ll post it as such.)