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So Osama Bin Laden is dead. (I was awake when it was announced, but I wanted to sleep on it before I tried to post.)
As one who believes in the sanctity of life, I'm not inclined to gloat or celebrate, but this is clearly a major accomplishment.
Beyond that, I'm still not really sure what to think. But I do have a list of things that you may or may not have heard. (With a few of my own thoughts sprinkled in.)
In no particular order:
Richard Engel, a reporter who knows the area well, says that much of the population of Afghanistan has never heard of 9/11. Also, many of them were only vaguely aware (at best) of Bin Laden. Makes sense, given the country's lack of infrastructure, but it's strange to think about. I guess, to them, that makes us just another invading army.
Bin Laden was killed on May 1. As it happens, that's also the 8th anniversary of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech.
He was found living in a $1 million mansion. (This is the wrong location, but some of the user comments are good.) Intelligence forces had been suspicious about it because it had huge walls around it, no phone lines or internet, and the occupants burned their trash rather than allowing it to be dumped. They figured it belonged to a high-profile terrorist... they just weren't sure which one.
Also, as the article above notes, the compound was less than a mile from Pakistan's version of West Point Academy. The Pakistani government was only told about the raid after the fact. And it seems many critics have accused the Pakistani government of helping to hide him.
Oh, and an unnamed US official speculates that many of the Al Qaeda foot soldiers living in harsh and remote conditions may resent the news that their leader was living in a plush mansion. (Of course, that's assuming that they hear that news. And that they believe it. I wonder...)
Bin Laden was a symbol. A figurehead. He was old and unwell. It's likely that the man who was the brains of the operation will take over from him, so it's not clear how much of an effect his death will have on that side. (Though I have seen speculation that there was valuable intelligence material in the house. No idea if there's any truth to that.)
Originally, the plan was to bomb the house, but President Obama wanted proof.
A military helicopter crashed during the raid. It wasn't hit. It's just that the altitude of the compound was too great. The air got too thin. They got to the ground safely, but couldn't take off again, leaving them potentially stranded. So they left bombs inside, went ahead with the raid, and blew up what was supposed to have been their ride home.
Bin Laden, not surprisingly, resisted arrest. He was shot in the face during the firefight. I wonder, though... could he have been taken alive? He was old and weak. They killed everyone else in the house without taking a single casualty. I don't know the circumstances of the shooting, but I'll always wonder if he could have been brought to trial, to justice... or if the killing was deliberate. Did they have orders to shoot to kill? Or was it the action of a soldier who was - quite understandably - overeager? The administration backed down from their plan to prosecute KSM in New York in a real court, instead choosing a military tribunal. What's happening to the justice system and our faith in it?
The body was buried at sea. Muslim law (like Jewish law) requires that the burial take place within 24 hours and that the body not be cremated. Reportedly, they realized that no country would have him. (And they were worried that his grave could potentially become a shrine.) So... they performed the proper rites and buried him at sea (in an undisclosed location). This does make things a little more complicated in the "we want proof it's really him and he's really dead" department, but I'm sure they collected plenty of documented evidence. (I know they did facial recognition and DNA matching.)
At least one Fox News station (the Sacramento affiliate) reported "Obama Bin Laden" had been killed. Their DC anchor made a similar verbal slip. That's not the first time Fox has done something like that (I'm sure I can find several other examples - done deliberately at least once, too), but it seems worth noting.
The joke about Trump wanting to see Osama's death certificate? Dumb the first time, long since gotten old. Please stop giving Trump attention.
Among those celebrating in the streets last night: NYC firefighters.
As one who believes in the sanctity of life, I'm not inclined to gloat or celebrate, but this is clearly a major accomplishment.
Beyond that, I'm still not really sure what to think. But I do have a list of things that you may or may not have heard. (With a few of my own thoughts sprinkled in.)
In no particular order:
Richard Engel, a reporter who knows the area well, says that much of the population of Afghanistan has never heard of 9/11. Also, many of them were only vaguely aware (at best) of Bin Laden. Makes sense, given the country's lack of infrastructure, but it's strange to think about. I guess, to them, that makes us just another invading army.
Bin Laden was killed on May 1. As it happens, that's also the 8th anniversary of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech.
He was found living in a $1 million mansion. (This is the wrong location, but some of the user comments are good.) Intelligence forces had been suspicious about it because it had huge walls around it, no phone lines or internet, and the occupants burned their trash rather than allowing it to be dumped. They figured it belonged to a high-profile terrorist... they just weren't sure which one.
Also, as the article above notes, the compound was less than a mile from Pakistan's version of West Point Academy. The Pakistani government was only told about the raid after the fact. And it seems many critics have accused the Pakistani government of helping to hide him.
Oh, and an unnamed US official speculates that many of the Al Qaeda foot soldiers living in harsh and remote conditions may resent the news that their leader was living in a plush mansion. (Of course, that's assuming that they hear that news. And that they believe it. I wonder...)
Bin Laden was a symbol. A figurehead. He was old and unwell. It's likely that the man who was the brains of the operation will take over from him, so it's not clear how much of an effect his death will have on that side. (Though I have seen speculation that there was valuable intelligence material in the house. No idea if there's any truth to that.)
Originally, the plan was to bomb the house, but President Obama wanted proof.
A military helicopter crashed during the raid. It wasn't hit. It's just that the altitude of the compound was too great. The air got too thin. They got to the ground safely, but couldn't take off again, leaving them potentially stranded. So they left bombs inside, went ahead with the raid, and blew up what was supposed to have been their ride home.
Bin Laden, not surprisingly, resisted arrest. He was shot in the face during the firefight. I wonder, though... could he have been taken alive? He was old and weak. They killed everyone else in the house without taking a single casualty. I don't know the circumstances of the shooting, but I'll always wonder if he could have been brought to trial, to justice... or if the killing was deliberate. Did they have orders to shoot to kill? Or was it the action of a soldier who was - quite understandably - overeager? The administration backed down from their plan to prosecute KSM in New York in a real court, instead choosing a military tribunal. What's happening to the justice system and our faith in it?
The body was buried at sea. Muslim law (like Jewish law) requires that the burial take place within 24 hours and that the body not be cremated. Reportedly, they realized that no country would have him. (And they were worried that his grave could potentially become a shrine.) So... they performed the proper rites and buried him at sea (in an undisclosed location). This does make things a little more complicated in the "we want proof it's really him and he's really dead" department, but I'm sure they collected plenty of documented evidence. (I know they did facial recognition and DNA matching.)
At least one Fox News station (the Sacramento affiliate) reported "Obama Bin Laden" had been killed. Their DC anchor made a similar verbal slip. That's not the first time Fox has done something like that (I'm sure I can find several other examples - done deliberately at least once, too), but it seems worth noting.
The joke about Trump wanting to see Osama's death certificate? Dumb the first time, long since gotten old. Please stop giving Trump attention.
Among those celebrating in the streets last night: NYC firefighters.
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Thanks for the interesting tidbits. I'm not quite sure whet my feelings on the matter are; it's been so long since this all started.