So, as most of America (and probably the world) knows, Osama Bin Laden was killed last night during an attack on his compound. A tip was given on his whereabouts last fall, following up on this, the attack order was given. So I thought I'd give a few thoughts on the matter.
-- The reactions for this happening were varied, sure, but moreso than I thought they would be. Elation was common, and not entirely uncalled for -- finding him has been an endeavor that has been going on full time for just under 10 years, and at least part time since the other WTC bombing in 1994. So yeah, this has been going on for three administrations, not two. Obama may (and rightfully so) get the credit for ending this, but it has taken a long concerted effort from three Presidential administrations and a whole score of people in the intelligence field.
-- Seeing such elation from the death of one man is still kind of strange to me though. I guess I was just expecting something a little more along the lines of relief. That being said, with the exception of the more uncouth elated remarks, I was more disconcerted by the ultra-pacifist anger of, well, killing him. Misdirected anger definitely could be done away with, but I guess I just have an understanding of the world as a violent place, in pretty much any capacity. Competition happens whether you want it to or not, and getting rid of someone who has actively gunned for the eradication of the western world (ironically since being supported by them to get rid of the soviets) would definitely fall under much more of a plus than a minus.
-- I wonder how much planning and plotting he has been able to get done while being on the run from so many different people. I also wonder if he has been able to groom a successor in the 10 years since 9/11.
-- I find it kind of funny that he was found in a compound in a relatively affluent suburb of Islamabad when we've been given this image of him cave hopping across Waziristan.
-- I like how they gave him a proper Muslim burial (within 24 hours, no cremation), and doing it at sea was smart to prevent his grave from becoming some sort of shrine to his cause. Not having any pictures of the event prevents an outrage from happening regarding this, but similarly it makes me feel like I am kind of taking this news for granted.
-- For anyone who cares, the mission was apparently to apprehend Bin Laden, preferably alive, though dead would also be acceptable. More than being in custody, he personally needed to be stopped. Capturing him and putting him under trial/in prison would have been a nice touch but apparently it was unfeasible.
-- I'm bemused by anyone who tries to attribute/divide credit among the administrations. Clearly Bush had been doing this longer than Obama, but the end was in Obama's administration, so really he is the only one who can get any hard credit (both the operation and the intelligence tip to his whereabouts). To try and figure out how much work was actually done under each administration would be long, pointless, and petty. The deed is done, leave it at that.
-- I haven't heard anything about how the Muslim world has reacted to this. Arguably he has killed more Muslims than Westerners, but those who align with him identify themselves as Muslim.
-- So there have been a lot of goings on in the Muslim world, period, these past few months. From a western standpoint, this may be the apogee of these events, but hopefully this doesn't stop. The civil war is still raging in Libya, and there are still rumblings in Syria.
-- Knuttel
No comments:
Post a Comment