BAGHDAD — U.S. and Iraqi forces have launched 200 raids against insurgents since killing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi last week, dealing a blow to his terrorist organization, al-Qaida in Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Monday.

The raids have led to the capture of more than 200 suspected insurgents and 33 deaths.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we have been very successful thus far in the ongoing operations,” military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said.

Leaders of any organization can be replaced by someone.

The organization may or may not be as effective.

Given Zarqawis "star status" with the Arab/Jihadi world, I don’t believe he can be replaced with someone as effective as he was.

And given the nature of cellular terrorist organizations, what I would expect is a splintering of the cells below the top leadership.

Some of these cells are going to "use it or loos it," and so there may be some biggish attacks in the next few weeks. Some of these cells are going to be cut off from the network of money, material, communication, and recruits that Zarqawi and his group provided. Some of these cells are going to be rolled up in the next couple of days/weeks as the intel gained from the Zarqawi strick, and the 17 raids that followed it are exploited. Some may even pack up and go home.