Good Lord...
I have read over some of the postings and I wonder-
Can't we be united on THIS ONE THING? WHY does it have to de-volve into "Liberals" this and "Conservatives" that? I can only speak for myself on this, but on September 11, 2001, I didn't give two SHITS about our American political ideology! I just remember feeling like I had been kicked in the gut, wondering how many THOUSANDS of people died in New York and Washington, as well as flight 93. All I know is whoever did this hated US as Americans, and it's a safe bet that Al-Qaeda didn't try to sort out the victims by their voting record!
You don't like George Bush? Fine. Don't like Barack Obama? More power to ya. Just ask yourself which is more important right now- being a Conservative, a Liberal, or an American...? Originally Posted by yeesh
I'm glad he's dead, but there's a nagging thought in my head...
Same here, the thousands of victims and extended families who have had to suffer, the SOB needed to go under any circumstances.
Could he have been captured and brought to justice?
I agree, the details are still coming in but he was first asked to surrender and didn't as it was reported. It was also reported that he may have been reaching for a gun. I wonder too why they couldn't have shot him in the foot, the hand, even blown his kneecap off and brought him back for trial. Better off dead IMHO. A trial in NYC or even the Hague would have been major security issues, risky, a fight over his ' constitutional rights' in this country or whether it should be a civilian or military tribunal would have divided this country. With these animals we fight in the middle east, death is the only justice they know, we have to ' speak their language'; dumped at sea means no public spot for a reverse ' Ground Zero'; where animals could go and mourn his death. But I do think you raise an excellent point, why was he not taken alive and than determined what to do. Good question.
However, we banned assassinations for a reason
Another good question but I think the current rules in place were there as most attacks on our homeland or our interests are state sponsored. In this case, the only options of dealing with groups like the PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Queda ( all the zookeepers) is off with their heads, no questions asked. They don't know any other way, nor should they be able to hide under any laws. This was an 'invasion' on Pakistan's land but let's face it, they are not to be trusted, they hate us, we give them billions and they harbor ( anyone who thinks Pakistan didn't know is lying to themselves) terrorists, not only a terrorist, but Terrorist #1 Originally Posted by Rand Al'Thor
I'm glad he's dead, but there's a nagging thought in my head...Precedent: Operation Vengeance
How is this not an assassination? Originally Posted by Rand Al'Thor
I'm glad he's dead, but there's a nagging thought in my head...
How is this not an assassination? I understand killing combatants, and that it would have been near impossible to find this terrorist in a field of combat with the tactics he uses.. Again, I'm glad he's dead, but is it only assassination if the target is head of state or the kill done by a sniper? Could he have been captured and brought to justice? This isn't partisan, both presidents gave the same dead or alive order, and this isn't to take away from the soldiers who carried out the mission. However, we banned assassinations for a reason...and I understand that "War on Terror" effectively made him an enemy combatant, but let's be frank. This wasn't a killing in the heat of battle, this was a surgical operation targeted specifically against one individual.
I celebrate OBL's death, but I mourn the loss of freedom and ethical standards this terrorist has caused in this country. Originally Posted by Rand Al'Thor