So Al-Zarqawi got owned...

They showed footage of the airstrike on tv.

It was an airstrike, but Zarqawi lived until 52 minutes after the strike. Iraqi police were the first on the scene, followed by the American soldiers. There are rumours that he was tortured/beaten.

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assassination of this person is perfectly justified though

Not necessarily. It doesn't matter if the person is an angel or the devil. If you have a charter stating you will not assassinate or torture, you don't. If you do, your word is worth nothing. I'm not complaining in this case necessarily, his death did everyone a lot of good, but the United States has a history of stepping outside of its bounds. US-backed coups. US-backed assassinations. US-backed renditions. US-run sercret illegal prisons. The list goes on and on. It's a culture of hypocrisy. If you're not going to play by the rules, don't say you will. Don't sign an international agreement saying you will.

The United States government would do well to remember that you get what you give in. If you don't fight by the rules, don't expect your enemies too.