CNN is reporting Bin Laden is DEAD

I was kind of under the impression that the climate of war and fear was good for the right wing people.

 

I guess we just have different takes. The loss of Bin Ladn is nothing compared to the ideology which gave him such fertile ground to begin with. I believe it is a false security to place such importance on his death - especially if his death comes about not at our hands, but at the hands of some impersonal disease. Again - should he die, especially in this way, what kind of impact do you (or anyone - this is a sincere question) believe this will have on the wahabist faithful among his audience? How will it matter?

 

TLTL as far as being a significant impact for the goods guys if you ask me. is it important yes but not monumental. if anything won't the fanatics use it to fuel their hate.

what really would have been sweet - if Clinton wasn't so busy getting his knob polished, if he would have taken a stand while he had the chance and taken BL out

 

The ideology has been there for over 1000 years but it causes the greatest trouble when there is a charismatic leader to focus it like Bin Laden, Amin, and others. So one less charismatic leader of that ideology is a good thing.

 

Personally, I don't think Bin Laden matters a bit. Therefore, any imputed "charisma" is meaningless as a causal explanation for the wave of wahabism we now see.

But assuming so, let's speak plainly, in cost-benefit:

How much has it cost, in men, material and lives, to get at Bin Laden?;
If he has died, has he not died thumbing his nose at "The Great Satan?"
How much paradigmatic change can we expect from his death? If he is the charismatic leader you grant him to be, we should expect another protracted period of quiet in your "1000 year ideology."

Is this what you see? If not, was it worth the loss of lives, money, resources?

This cannot be cured by getting rid of the bad guy. Social movements on this order can never be. We are better off trying to see why a Bin Laden gets such a following; it is this that is the more difficult but equally more productive path.

 

I second that, Keith. He also makes very well reasoned arguments that make even a conservative like myself, stop and think.

 

Thank you, brother. The same holds for me. You have punched holes when my air has blown to hot, and honorably brought me to new places of thought. We don't have a Semper Fi in our respective services, but the sentiment is there.

 

attack will not stop but terrorist must have to slowdown their bad intention.

 

will be a huge relief for every one.

 

If anything, my friend, the death of Osama will most probably spur them on - Not slow them down.

 

This has been around the net for 2 days already and still unconfirmed.

 

doesn't this 'news' pop up *every* year around October?

-kpaul

 

Well you know... Christmas is coming... People make wishes... Sometimes with a loud voice... and sometimes they write them on the paper.

Anyway Bin Laden's death will accomplish nothing. He probably converted to Christianity and is now a monk in a Russian monastery. Or of course he may have died 1 year ago, last October.

Regards, George

 

wouldnt surprise me if the CIA have had him for years in some eastern european ****hole.

If hes dead he becomes a martyr. Still alive but condition unknown doesnt hand anyone a victory.

 

Wish to tell, that this person disappeared in european ****hole?

But it has got out of what hole

 

I think this is a clever ploy to have bin Laden show a video of himself alive so they can use it to find him. It worked for that one gut in Iraq