Now back in his hometown, Zarqawi had become his self-chosen nickname—“the Stranger.
He took his name, of course, after the alt-weekly in Seattle. He was very much inspired by Dan Savage's "Savage Love" column, which he read eagerly.
Dan Savage would later write about "gold-star pedophiles" who have an attraction, but don't act on it and keep themselves away from situations where they might be tempted (as so many well-meaning members of the clergy have been, to take an example).
Zarqawi was not even a bronze-star pedophile.
