Osama Bin Laden Dead!

[_zeezrom]

Great. Terrific. Can we get out of the Middle East now, or are we going to stay so we can make a whole new generation of Osama Bin Ladens?

Good question!

[_Kishkumen]

I understand why there is consternation over the thought of rejoicing over the death of a fellow human being. At the same time, Osama bin Laden had declared war on this country. There were a number of reasons why he was an important symbolic and strategic target. So, on the one hand, while I lament that there is such a thing as war in which people take each other's lives, the fact is that we are currently involved in one, and although no one wears a white hat, I am pleased that the United States, my country, was successful in eliminating bin Laden. Do I think it will change everything? No. But, at the same time, I hold it to be an accomplishment that is not by any means negligible, and has the potential to change at least some things.

[_stemelbow]

What does nearly 10 years in hiding say about US intelligence? I don't know, but it scares me a little. Perhaps I'm too indoctrinated with Hollywood ideas of military intelligence or something.

The vast celebrations are more depressing and discouraging than they are exalting, I think.

After reading what I just wrote: man, I'm far more negative then I give myself credit for.

[_Buffalo]

In before Droopy or BC Space give credit to Bush.

[_sock puppet]

What does nearly 10 years in hiding say about US intelligence? I don't know, but it scares me a little. Perhaps I'm too indoctrinated with Hollywood ideas of military intelligence or something.

The vast celebrations are more depressing and discouraging than they are exalting, I think.

Somebody, quick, shoot me as I am about to find myself in agreement with ... with ... stem. Please, hurry, shoot, there's no time to spare. Oops, there it is: I agree with stem.

After reading what I just wrote: man, I'm far more negative then I give myself credit for.

Skepticism does not have to be considered negative. I actually suspect that the euphoric celebrations have something else to account for them. Most of the angst towards bin Laden personally dissipated long ago.

Interestingly, the intel that eventually led to bin Laden's whereabouts traces right back to 2007 interrogations at Gitmo, those waterboardings of KSM.

[_Chap]

In before Droopy or BC Space give credit to Bush.

Of course Bush should get no credit: when the whole story comes out, we shall see that the breakthrough came when President Monson was vouchsafed a revelation from Jesus himself, who appeared in the Upper Room dressed as a Navy Seal, and told him "He's in Abbotabad: go and blow the s****Relief Society head off'.

But since President Monson had to visit some widows to take them cookies, he just phoned the White House instead, and when Obama picked up (as he always does when the real President calls), he told him to handle the job on his behalf. And the rest is history.

[_Sethbag]

While US Intelligence hasn't lived up to the Hollywood hype, they probably deserve more credit than the man on the street is giving them. We've taken out literally hundreds of low-, mid-, and high-level Taliban and Al Qaeda types in Afghanistan and Pakistan for years with the drones, and special forces raids and whatnot. Getting promoted in al Qaeda or the Taliban looks more and more like a death sentence every day.

Until we whacked him, Bin Laden's continued existence on Earth constituted a giant middle-finger to the US by that whole taliban/al qaeda movement. His death is a loud and clear "right back atcha, douchebags!"

While I do feel unsettled about the celebrations surrounding his death, I certainly don't regret that we got him. He deserved what he got many times over, and I'm glad that scumbag is no more.

[_Kishkumen]

What does nearly 10 years in hiding say about US intelligence? I don't know, but it scares me a little. Perhaps I'm too indoctrinated with Hollywood ideas of military intelligence or something.

I think you are, but that is understandable. First of all, the CIA is a mere shadow if its former self. It is the FBI that has ballooned in size and scope of action, essentially becoming the world police. One can't expect them to have been prepared in all respects to do what the CIA once did, before it was choked practically out of existence. The FBI and NSA are where US intelligence occurs these days, not the CIA.

And, to be perfectly, frank, don't you think the problem was more one of a significant faction in the state of Pakistan shielding bin Laden? Plenty of powerful people in Pakistan, with their own agendas, knew. But Pakistan is an effed up mess, so we are not going to trash on them publicly for something that not all of the powers that be in that country can be blamed for.

[_Kishkumen]

Of course Bush should get no credit...

Although this post is mostly written for humor, I will say that I credit Bush with doing what any responsible president would have done. These days I fault him less for many of the resulting problems. It is in the matter of Iraq that the man deserves blame.

At this point, I think the whole system is basically in deep crap. Both parties are in the bag for big money, and general American prosperity is already being lowered into its grave. So, Bush is not my favorite guy, but the difference between him and Obama is like the difference between two wedding cakes that are baked in the same pans, but decorated according to the tastes of two different brides.

[_stemelbow]

KK,

And, to be perfectly, frank, don't you think the problem was more one of a significant faction in the state of Pakistan shielding bin Laden?

Sure, but how would that be unexpected? I think the suspicion has been on since the beginning. "tips" somehow came in August of 2010? I know I'm completely out of the loop and therefore probably have absolutely no reason to talk, but this all just sounds so unprofessional, so deficient.

My bro has been in Afghanistan twice and Iraq as a special forces medic. he has, it seems, seen it all. I shouldn't even try to reveal some of the things he's struggled to let out, but from what I can get out of him, unprofessional and deficient seems to be an apt description.