The first reaction that most Americans had to news that the Jordanian born terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed in a precision bombing raid by the United States Air Force yesterday was one of elation mixed with a grim satisfaction that a huge obstacle to bringing peace and security to Iraq was permanently removed. It was one of those moments that has occurred so rarely in this war; a triumph of good over evil and a clear cut victory for the United States for which all Americans should be thankful.

Not so fast, say many on the left. Former Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich was one of the first to try and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat, said Zarqawi was a small part of 'a growing anti—American insurgency' and that it's time to get out.

'We're there for all the wrong reasons,' Mr. Kucinich said.

Although the initial reaction to the news by the Democratic party leadership was suitably positive — Senate Minority Leader Reid was particularly fulsome in his praise of the military — as the day went on, a curious thing happened; al Zarqawi shrank in size and importance until by about mid—afternoon, many on the left were asking the question 'So where's Osama?' This Reuters headline