U.S. Forces Conduct Zarqawi Autopsy Briefing (updated with slides)

By Andrew Cochran

UPDATE, 12:00 pm ET: The Multi-National Forces website now has the slides presented at the briefing on the Zarqawi and Rahman autopsies and links to videos of the briefing and the airstirke. Here is the first DOD press release on the autopsies. The site might be very busy, so here is the single frame on Zarqawi's injuries below from that file, and three other slides, including on the Rahman injuries, are on the continuation page below (all are thumbnails):

Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell and Army medical personnel conducted a briefing on the Zarqawi and Rahman autopsies. To summarize, Zarqawi died when his lungs were crushed in the bombing and failed, without extensive visible injuries, while Rahman suffered more direct external injuries, including a skull fracture. Zarqawi lived for almost an hour after the strike (AP story on the briefing). The briefing was detailed in scope and included slides. Maj. Gen. Caldwell stated that one of the reasons for this public briefing is to counter Al Qaeda propaganda on Zarqawi's death. He and a doctor who participated in the briefing also said there was no evidence that Zarqawi was beaten or shot by firearms. Gen. Caldwell said that Special Ops Forces did not arrive at the house until 28 minutes after the strike, the person who called in the strike was not on the ground, and Iraqi forces were already at the house when U.S. Special Ops forces arrived after the strike. He said repeatedly that it was obvious that Zarqawi's death was "imminent" due to his "extremely massive internal injuries." He also said that Zarqawi's body was treated withthe same procedures and dignity given to Coalition dead. Caldwell also verified that the DNA tests on the body verified that it is Zarqawi's body. An Army doctor said there is no evidence that Zarqawi was wearing a suicide belt, one of the questions raised in his video and discussed on this site by Bill Roggio. CENTCOM is putting together a detailed timeline on the event for release to the public.

Other news reports:
Zarqawi died of injuries after raid, DNA test positive (AFP newswire)

Rahman's Injuries:

"Mechanisms of Injury: Explosive Munitions":

"Mechanisms of Blast Injury":

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