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Got Him.

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« on: May 02, 2011, 08:44:07 pm »

There has been much attention paid to the killing of Osama bin Laden today.  Our President called it a fine day for America. People went to the site of the World Trade Center and behaved like it was New Year's Day.  Many people said the families of the victims of 9-11 would find closure, or some sense of it. All of the former Presidents who had contact with bin Laden had something to say.  Sober "counter-terrorist" pundits cautioned it wouldn't change a thing about the "war on terror" and for a variety of reasons not least of which is the fact bin Laden had been little more than a figurehead for recruiting for almost eight years. 

I was at a Boy Scout meeting tonight. The adult leaders who monitor these meetings were not spending much time talking about the day's events, but the topic came up.  One man declared he wasn't concerned about whether bin Laden was killed or not, but that is was more a matter of how---he felt strongly that it made a big difference whether bin Laden was actually looking into the eyes of his killer (or down the barrel of gun at close range) rather than some drone attack being conducted out of a base in Langley or Ft. Bragg. 

The idea of revenge is most clearly on display today.  Some thoughtful people have tried to point out that "justice" is not what we have today, but they are being shouted-down. 

I have been thinking about the news and I cannot say I feel like this is something to celebrate. Or talk endlessly about.  I think America has not so much ended Chapter One as it has begun Chapter Two in its struggle with a variety of forces in violent opposition.  We remain in Iraq, in Yemen, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan and we have Libya on the boil.  We seem to think use of force is a solution---to damn near everything.

I don't believe revenge leads to calm or reserve or return to our more peaceful selves.  I don't believe what was done today represents "good", especially when you compare it to the price we have already paid to get to this place.  If we look at who's "mission" got accomplished, I think the weight of the evidence falls to bin Laden, and that was established 8 to 10 years ago.

What happened today may at best "satisfying" in the same way as ending anxiety or suspense is "satisfying".  But "good" it isn't.

We will heap accolades upon the Seal Team and the CIA and a host of security and military professionals.  We will credit Obama for making a "gutsy" call based on circumstantial evidence that proved correct.  And Fox will celebrate the merits of "torture" even when torture brought nothing to the table.  Gumshoe human intelligence and human tradecraft did the heavy lifting here.

What we do next is far more important, far more telling than what we have done today.  Maybe that is why I am in no mood to celebrate. I have a bad feeling about where this is all going.  I hope I am wrong.

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