It's big. Of course, it's huge. But I don't think it's going to change much. Perhaps had they captured him in those initial months or even the first year or two. But now - 10 years on? How much can change.
One things' for sure. Pakistan's got some 'splainin' to do. There's no way, just no way they didn't know they were harbouring him. This wasn't an impossibe-to-reach cave in Afghanistan. This was a multi-million dollar compound near the capital of Pakistan.
Either their security is woeful and they had no idea that the huge mansion conspicuously 'secured' that popped up about an hour away from Islamabad was holding someone BIG. Or they knew, and turned the other way.
Either way, I'm guessing it's going to be a little awkward at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington today.
And is anyone else willing to bet that General Petraeus is wishing that Robert Gates had decided to retire 6 months earlier? That's one hell of a note to go out on...
But can I just say this. Images and videos like these distress me. I find myself incredibly uncomfortable with the kind of jubilation we're witnessing over this news. When allied soldiers are killed on foreign soil, we express our outrage at the celebrations of 'enemy' soldiers and civilians. If we react in the same manner, what possible moral high ground can we hope to hold (if indeed we ever held any....)?
I understand relief, especially from those who's lives were so terribly impacted by the terrorist activities Bin Laden was involved in. I do. I understand that he is a figurehead of all that they hate and that to many, this feels like justice (I don't know that the death of a solitary man makes up for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands on both sides that have followed....). But honestly, this celebratory reaction is so incredibly disturbing to me.
On a lighter note....
(Check out Bill O'Reilly and Donald Trump's faces - they are not happy). His digs at Donald Trump cracked me up - I was so turned on right then....;-)
In total agreeance with you lovely, the behaviour exhibited by those people on the streets of the US is pretty damn awful - and hypocritical x
ReplyDeleteI agree, I am saddened by the behaviour shown and worried that all it does is make the USA a bigger target now for extremist organisations. No wonder they are on the highest alert now.
ReplyDeleteThe cynical part of me also goes, how do they know it is definitely him? If anything he needed to go on trial as who made anyone judge, jury and executioner - is that any better than what he did?
I found the cheering and flag waving to be incredibly disturbing,on a very deep level. I couldn't watch it. It literrally made me feel sick -- how can anyone celebrate murder? As MLK says, violence only begets violence. It makes me feel sad and frightened and disappointed our countrymen.
ReplyDeleteI can see why so many Americans celebrated in the way that they did. Of course they would be mortified when 'the enemy' burn the US flag etc.
ReplyDeleteAs many people rightfully have said, the War on Terror is not over just because the CEO has left the company. There will be many people who want to avenge his death.
Nobody wins.