The death of bin Laden is as welcome as it raises strange afterthoughts. First, what a relief that we are all united in joy at the news. Second, it is a relief that he was not captured by a foreign nation. And good too that we did not bring him back alive to repeat the KSM fiasco. It is also fortuitous that his demise came at the hands of U.S. soldiers in battle on the ground, rather than from the air via Predator drones — it reflects far better on the audacity and skill of our troops, and, far more importantly, allows us to bring his corpse back for positive I.D.
Since January, the Arab world is in turmoil, its attention elsewhere, its unrest fragmented and unfocused — all of which is also good, since a unified and focused outpouring of Arab Muslim solidarity for the killing of bin Laden is less likely.
Note too that since 9/11 bin Laden has been busy mostly killing Muslims, and in most polls his popularity has dropped radically. But far more importantly, how has bin Laden been hiding in such apparently comfortable surroundings, inside, rather than on the border of, Pakistan, a recipient of billions in aggregate aid? Their former mea culpa — that Waziristan was bin Laden’s likely hide-away and sadly a frontier badlands beyond their own reach — seems right now to be hollow.
So did we operate with or without Pakistan’s help? If the latter, and if it is proven that OBL was hiding in plain sight, I think it could be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back of this Orwellian partnership with Pakistan — despite the PR to come that we owe, are in debt to, etc. to Pakistan. We will need some honest talk for a change about exactly what is going on. Or is it more likely that we confronted the Pakistanis with the intelligence and they red-faced joined us at the 11th hour?
Finally, this comes at a fortunate time. No one is talking of victory any more in Afghanistan; we seem confused in Libya, so the death of bin Laden reminds us that the U.S. can still take the war to the enemy in his own backyard, and act with confidence and audacity rather than “leading from behind.” Let us hope that Dr. Zawahiri is next — though the al Qaeda generation of 2001 seems almost enfeebled now, and are nearly all scattered, killed, or captured.
I say we cut the check for the $25 million dollar bounty to Seal Team Six and the intel people that put them on him. Yes?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI have to agree, I was thinking that if it was he we captured back in 2002 or 2003 (or whenever) instead of KSM he would still be alive and Obama would be trying to try him in New York. I must thank OBL for resisting, it is so much better that he is dead and not captured, the administration wouldn't be able to handle him if he were alive.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWouldn't General Petraeus have had a major role in coordinating the intelligence and ops leading to this? I haven't seen his name mentioned yet.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Or is it more likely that we confronted the Pakistanis with the intelligence and they red-faced joined us at the 11th hour?"
I think that is the case, Dr. Hanson.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"It is also fortuitous that his demise came at the hands of U.S. soldiers in battle on the ground, rather than from the air via Predator drones — it reflects far better on the audacity and skill of our troops, and, far more importantly, allows us to bring his corpse back for positive I.D."
Not to mention the intelligence we undoubtedly gathered from the home he was staying in.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo, the trail suddenly became hot 8 or 9 months ago, with the end result being OBL's death now. (And at least one of his adult sons also dead, for extra bonus points.)
Spending the time over the last months tracking him down and following up the various leads: it would be interesting to know (if we are ever told) who, in the end, gave him up, and why. Who, in Pakistan (or wherever) finally decided that it was time for OBL to die?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree that it is particularly satisfying that Bin Laden's death came at the hands of U.S. special operations troops, on the ground, at close range. Supposedly, after the U.S. withdrew its troops from Somalia in the wake of the October 1993 firefight, Bin Laden drew the "lesson" that Americans are too soft and weak to fight on the ground, and can only bomb from high in the sky. Our unsuccessful attempt to kill him with cruise missiles in the aftermath of the East Africa embassy bombings only reinforced his confidence. So, the fact that probably the last thing he ever saw was a team of American commandos assaulting him at close range is pure schadenfreude.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA big hartfelt THANKS to all our men and women in uniform. May god bless you and keep you safe. Job well done. THANK YOU.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"...allows us to bring his corpse back for positive I.D."
Vic, I heard that they gave him a burial at sea.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf it was CIA that got Bin Laden, I am thrilled. They have taken an extreme amount of criticism over the last 10 years. Bravo.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat a great day to be an American!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow apt that OBL was killed and not captured in battle, for team Obama would be the height of its incompetence handling him alive. "Buried at sea" in Afghanistan--quite a feat, given that this is a land-locked nation. Perhaps a video-taped immolation would have been better, both to prove the matter to the world and to serve as a final humiliation.
But all in all one is very pleased by the news.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe president has already staked his claim to a goodly share of the credit for this, as he has the right to - it happened on his watch.
He is also entitled to a goodly share of the credit for the prices at the gas pump.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIndeed this is a good day for America but we must remember that while this is a huge victory symbolically, strategically it means nothing.
Regrettably the struggle against islamo-fascism/terrorism will likely remain a long blood slog.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI hope they have pictures of his reaction to seeing our brave troops as they captured him. And I hope they have the picture of his dead body I hope it looks as disgusting as the picture of the dead Che. That's the kind of hope and change we can all live with.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI vote that the SEAL Team never pays income taxes again. :-)
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusebin Laden hid exactly where I would have hidden if I were him.....in the heart of a peaceful, secure, close to the captial city where you would never expect the world's most famous terrorist leader would be found. Let's not forget, that city is also in a country with rampant corruption and where bribery is part of the culture. If you can control or influence the local law enfofrcement or governmental entities (not every one, just the key ones) and you can disaude people to look too closely at your compound, then you are set. OBL is a recluse and once in his safe house (especialy a nice safe house) he doens't have to leave. it's unlikey he would want to traipse about the town where he could be noticed.
Overall, I am not suprised he was found where he was found.
I am curious to know if this was one of many safe houses he's used over the years and who his connections are that provided both succour and safe passage as he moved about.
Too bad dead men tell no tales.
I trust our team took whtever omputers and files they found with him and in that compound. I would be suprised if they didn't.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@VDH: "So did we operate with or without Pakistan’s help? If the latter, and if it is proven that OBL was hiding in plain sight, I think it could be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back of this Orwellian partnership with Pakistan — despite the PR to come that we owe, are in debt to, etc. to Pakistan."
The most recent information in the press is that the operation was conducted entirely independently of Pakistan, and came exclusively as a result of U.S. intelligence efforts. As indicated, this may be the straw that breaks the camel's back with regard to the relationship with Pakistan. At this point, Pakistan may be more of a liability than an asset. The only clear interest I can see in maintaining any kind of a relationship with Pakistan is in forestalling an Afghan-Pakistan border war over the Pashtunistan issue.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Wouldn't General Petraeus have had a major role in coordinating the intelligence and ops leading to this? I haven't seen his name mentioned yet."
Then it sounds like the Langley (VA not AFB) posting would be a good choice.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerhaps he was there under the protection of the Pakistani authorities and not hiding from them.
Ms. Nobodyuknow
05/02/11 09:03
Link
Report Abuse
bin Laden hid exactly where I would have hidden if I were him.....in the heart of a peaceful, secure, close to the captial city where you would never expect the world's most famous terrorist leader would be found. Let's not forget, that city is also in a country with rampant corruption and where bribery is part of the culture. If you can control or influence the local law enfofrcement or governmental entities (not every one, just the key ones) and you can disaude people to look too closely at your compound, then you are set. OBL is a recluse and once in his safe house (especialy a nice safe house) he doens't have to leave. it's unlikey he would want to traipse about the town where he could be noticed.
Overall, I am not suprised he was found where he was found.
I am curious to know if this was one of many safe houses he's used over the years and who his connections are that provided both succour and safe passage as he moved about.
Too bad dead men tell no tales.
I trust our team took whtever omputers and files they found with him and in that compound. I would be suprised if they didn't.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse