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Two Big Gets.  That was the Fox News Headline when word broke, two top al-qaeda leaders had been killed by Coalition forces in Iraq.  While many are celebrating, others are skeptical — and even wonder if it will make any difference at all.

We're looking at perspectives from CBS News, Newsweek, FireDogLake and Fox News.

We start with CBS News coverage of Vice President Joe Biden who says the strike is a potentially devastating blow to Al Qaeda in Iraq.  And for reasons beyond the fact the targets killed were from AQI — Al Qaeda Iraq.

"The Iraqis led this operation.  And it was based on intelligence the Iraqi Security Forces themselves developed following their capture of a senior AQI leader last month. In short, the Iraqis have taken the lead in securing Iraq and its citizens by taking out both these individuals."

But Newsweek's Mark Hosenball is skeptical.

"Given the fact that in the past similar claims sometimes turned out to be premature — in that Al Qaeda operatives who had been allegedly killed miraculously came back to life — some American officials remain cautious... A U.S. counter-terrorism official said that reporting from the field was still 'unclear'."

More than that, a blogger on FireDogLake says Al Qaeda in Iraq has long since been minimized.  And isn't much of a foe any more.

"It’s exceedingly difficult — and probably a mistake — to identify the point at which a terrorist group ceases to be a movement and looks more like a gang. So I won’t try to make that contention in this case. But I just mean to get ourselves thinking about how we’re not always playing whack-a-moleforever."

But Major General Spider Marks tells Fox News this strike took a lot of effort and cooperation, and its impact shouldn't be understated.

"This is a big accomplishment for the coalition forces as you know.  It really is a confidence builder moving forward in terms of governance as well.  This will have a ripple effect thoughout all aspects of governance in Iraq."

So what do you think?  Is this a crippling blow to Al Qaeda Iraq?  Or will someone step in to fill the void?

Writer: Newsy Staff

Producer: Newsy Staff