A man was killed the other day. He had admitted to devising and executing a plan to kill others in a land far away.
Although I wrote those words 10 seconds ago, they could have been written thousands of years ago.
We snuffed a guy who refused to martial forces on "traditional" fields of battle. He used planes instead and targeted what we call "non-combatants" via what we call "terrorism."
Is it terrorism? Whatever. The British probably called our "troops" cowards during the early days of "The Revolution." But we "won" in the end, so in retrospect we "justify" the means.
I find it all interesting. Many of us, myself included, noted that the "traditional" rules had changed in 2001 when so-called "maniacs" managed to take the helm of three passenger planes.
In retrospect, its a matter of semantics, although that is not an insignificant thing of itself. As humans we need to rationalize our killing, so we can live with ourselves afterward. Rationalization then, is an integral part of the necessary taking of life. (So is the process of dehumanizing the "enemy"...we make up names for them...gook, Jerry, Kraut, Hadji, etc....not words that I personally coined by the way.) Throughout time, we have "sent messages" to neighboring tribes. We used to use pointed pieces of stone and later metal, along with a variety of blunt objects. We have NEVER been above primitive forms of sniping or surprise attack, although we claim to hate snipers (cowards), unless we are the ones doing the sniping.
Security then, becomes a matter of who has the most forces, the best (most lethal) weapons, best inside information (intelligence) and the greatest willingness to strike fear (terror) into the collective hearts of others (enemies).
There is no end to what methods can be justified by one side or the other.
I laughed when I heard it called "murder." Its all murder and whoever is best at it and will do it without hesitation or judgment, sleeps the best at night, period.
What separates us from the animals is one small detail...our willingness to do it with discretion. Indiscriminate killing is what he did. That we managed to murder only a few others in order to put his pulse to rest is a tribute our willingness, discretion, and finely-honed killing organization (military forces).
When it was announced that he was dead, some of us danced in the streets and sangs songs of our "glory" and celebrated our "victory." That too is timeless.
And so it goes. Until the next time, when someone finds a way for "us" to kill more of "them," in an even more gruesome way a way that we are certain will move them to march on us no more.
Did the rules really change then? Or are we instead abiding by them as mankind always has?
United States citizens, maybe even people on our soil who are not as well, have a Right to a trial - bin laden was in Pakistan (not Iraq, not Afghanistan, not Saudi Arabia where almost all the terrorist from 911 lived)
it was more of an assassination than it was anything, but let me ask this .... had we treated bin laden like we treated saddam hussein, would it have mattered greatly? what would have been gained?
Capturing bin Laden alive was never an option. The US made bin Laden. The US armed and supplied the Mujahideen in Afghanistan for whom bin Laden fought. US "intelligence" agencies appreciated and lauded bin Laden for doing his part to expell the Soviets from Afghanistan.
The possibility of bin Laden being captured alive and being tried in US court made chills run down the spines of some former highly placed politicians.
You mean this administration. Bush didn't waver on how to treat these folks. Obama is the one and Holder who couldn't even answer a simple question. What would you do with Osama. Holder was clueless. Just like the KSM trials, the waterboarding and you can go on and on. The bad news is that the next president won't get the benefit Obama had with intelligence. Remember that. Jut like Clinton tied the hands of destiny for Bush, so is Obama doing it for the next guy who replaced him.
Lastly, as far as knocking Osama (i switched the names, lol) off. The special forces guys couldn't risk a bomb vest. They had to shot to kill. Osama wasn't worth much alive. He has been out of pocket for years communicating vie thumb drives. His hard drives and other intel is much more valuable. He was dead weight.
__________________
John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Last edited by Fieldmouse; 05-04-2011 at 07:58 AM.
Location: On an Island in the west coast of New England
Posts: 13,132
I agree with falcon. Bin Laden was going to be taken out not captured. He cretainly would have been killed in the end after years of trials and with other nations getting involved. Fact is the US had the most reason to end it since Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. The statement made that no matter how long it took we (USA) would hunt him down and kill or capture him stands. I am betting the Navy Seal that first burst into that room had the double tap done in an instant and wouldn't have waited for a white flag or hands help up. Mission accomplished...Geronimo EKIA
FM better edit your posts or possibly see Seal group 6 show up at your door. I think you have your rag heads mixed up...ya i know they are all alike.
__________________
Too busy with fishing to spend much time here.
Last edited by Champlain Islander; 05-04-2011 at 08:02 AM.
The new rules...
