White House Hopes Zarqawi Death Will Help Revive Bush Fortunes

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White House Hopes Zarqawi Death Will Help Revive Bush Fortunes

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- The death of terrorist Abu Musab al- Zarqawi in Iraq offers a much-needed boost to President George W. Bush that White House aides hope will help spark a revival in his sinking political fortunes.

Zarqawi, 39, a leader of the three-year-old insurgency that has killed thousands of Iraqis, was found dead Wednesday after a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad. News of his killing came as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki completed staffing his cabinet, fulfilling a goal urged by the Bush administration.

White House officials were ebullient yesterday during a senior staff meeting where Zarqawi's death was discussed. One participant voiced optimism that a string of favorable developments -- the possible stabilization of Iraq, an initial easing of tensions with Iran, and public appreciation for the U.S. economy's strength -- will continue.

Bush was long overdue for a lift, said Stephen Hess, a presidential scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington. ``You have started to see some positive things happening for this president,'' he said. `...

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