Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s autopsy results are in, and he lived for 52 minutes after the bombing, undoubtedly in great pain due to massive internal injuries.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi lived for 52 minutes after a U.S. warplane bombed his hideout northeast of Baghdad, and he died of extensive internal injuries consistent with those caused by a bomb blast, the U.S. military said Monday. …

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Baghdad, said U.S. forces arrived about 28 minutes after a fighter jet bombed al-Zarqawi’s hideout outside Baqouba. Medics secured al-Zarqawi’s airway but his breathing was shallow and labored, and he expelled blood from his mouth.

“It was very evident he had extremely massive internal injuries,” Caldwell said. Al-Zarqawi died 24 minutes after coalition forces arrived, he said.

[Col. Steve Jones, command surgeon for Multinational Forces] said the autopsy conducted Saturday showed that al-Zarqawi died from injuries to his lungs. “Blast waves from the two bombs caused tearing, bruising of the lungs and bleeding,” he said.

And of course, the rumor promoted by the Associated Press that Zarqawi was beaten by US troops is absolutely false.

Will the numerous lefty bloggers who were so quick to assume the worst about US soldiers apologize? Don’t suspend respiration.

Jones and a medical examiner who was not identified said al-Zarqawi had “no evidence of beating or any firearm injuries.”

“These autopsies were performed to make a definitive determination as to the cause of both Zarqawi’s and Rahman’s deaths,” Caldwell said. “The scientific facts provide irrefutable evidence regarding the deaths of terrorists, and will serve to counter speculation, misinformation and propaganda.”

An Iraqi man raised questions about al-Zarqawi’s death, telling AP Television News he saw U.S. soldiers after the airstrike beating an injured man resembling the dead terrorist until blood flowed from his nose.

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has dismissed that claim as “baloney.”