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Did the U.S. Strike Kill Mohammed Emwazi?

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 07:50:00 AM EST
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The U.S. says it is 90% sure that Jihadi John died in an airstrike in Raqqa.

I don't believe he was an ISIS leader. He seemed more of a recruit" who after basic military training, was sent to watch prisoners. Then he became the iconic symbol of the ISIS beheader of foreign journalists, and caught everyone's attention.

If the U.S. killed him, they killed a telegenic symbol of the war with ISIS. So what? It won't dampen ISIS' enthusiasm for shock killings. His replacement was probably picked before his death. And ISIS may have decided he had to go because he was bringing too much heat. Either way, he's likely dead. I doubt they had a mole who gave him up (although some will claim to have been the mole . Sounds to me like our gps and electronic surveillance got him.

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    Did the U.S. Strike Kill Mohammed Emwazi? | 11 comments (11 topical)

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    He did menace the world though (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 07:43:13 AM EST
    He threatened everyone at camera point and then murdered people in front of us to clarify his overall intent.

    We had met Jim Foley (5.00 / 4) (#7)
    by Towanda on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 03:17:30 PM EST
    and it is his family that is in our thoughts today.

    Parent
    I can't even imagine what they have (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 14, 2015 at 12:50:03 PM EST
    Had to live through, and will continue to live through. Because something like that never goes away.

    Parent
    I'm gonna take a flyer... (5.00 / 4) (#9)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 05:14:29 PM EST
    Whatever the symbolic value of "taking out" Jihadi John - was eclipsed today in Paris.

    I agree he is probably dead (none / 0) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 08:34:40 AM EST
    Still not confirming it.  I guess they have to find some bits?

    Someone we trust, or one of us (none / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 09:07:22 AM EST
    Would have to go in. The news is saying they are monitoring the chatter for confirmation. Is that all they will rely on? Would they put more lives at risk to collect evidence a little more solid? I don't know.

    Parent
    As high profile as this is (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 09:18:15 AM EST
    IMO they might

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    Those Hellfires evaporate (none / 0) (#10)
    by BarnBabe on Sat Nov 14, 2015 at 02:36:53 AM EST
    their targets. So it might be just scraping off their DNA. I read up on John and he was a symbol. Maybe recruits thought him cool. But he did eliminate people beyond the camera. I am not sorry he is gone. They might have his replacement, but he had the British accent going for him. Might be harder to replace their celebrity.

    Parent
    Symbols (none / 0) (#5)
    by christinep on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 11:06:48 AM EST
    ISIS, to date, seems to have relied heavily on symbols for its war propaganda and recruitment.  The professional filming, the exploitation of the internet and impressionable would-be followers and adherents were used to promote the blood lust.

    To the brief "So what?" asked at the outset of this thread, I'd answer:  So, a lot!  When an operation relies on symbols in propaganda exhortations--such as the menacing avenger Jihadi John--and that central symbol is destroyed/annihilated/obliterated, it is not unreasonable to deduce that said operation will suffer a major blow in terms of the invincibility image that the executioner conveyed for them.

    Strange how much symbols of supposed strength can mean in our instant communication age....  

    Life imitates art? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 01:49:35 PM EST
    In an episode of "Madame Secretary" which aired only five days ago, the president (played by Keith Carradine) ordered a drone strike on an ISIS western fighter nicknamed "Jihadi Judd," which proved successful.

    Flat cuts of time and space... (none / 0) (#8)
    by fishcamp on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 04:04:08 PM EST


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    Did the U.S. Strike Kill Mohammed Emwazi? | 11 comments (11 topical)

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