In a case of poetic justice, Zarqawi remained alive long enough to know that we got him: Zarqawi lived briefly after attack.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A mortally wounded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was still alive and mumbling after American airstrikes on his hideout and tried to get off a stretcher when he became aware of U.S. troops at the scene, a top military official said Friday.

Also, U.S. troops conducted 39 raids late Thursday and early Friday based on information gleaned from searches in the hours after the al-Qaida leader’s death. Fearing that insurgents will seek revenge, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki imposed driving bans in Baghdad and restive Diyala province, where the terrorist was killed.

Al-Zarqawi could barely speak when Iraqi police arrived at the scene of Wednesday’s attack. “He mumbled something, but it was indistinguishable and it was very short,” U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said at a news conference.