Your glee at Osama's death appears to be clouding your better judgement. Getting into an argument about whether lethal force was justified in self-defense by Navy SEALS is just plain silly. Here is the relevant point: Osama's life was of no intelligence or political value to the US. If the word had come done from on high that the US needed Osama captured alive, that is what those SEALS would have done, captured him alive. Telling SEALS you have the right to defend yourself is in practical terms a veiled order to kill.
What are the implications of the fact that Osama's life was worth nothing to the US? I don't mean from a purely emotional point, I mean from a practical military, political and/or intelligence point of view. Remember, this is the person who the media and US government have been telling us is a big, bad ass who is a major threat to US security interests. Wouldn't the US have some questions for a guy like that? Or even better, tell his followers the time has come to stand down? Or maybe he was never any real threat after all!
A number of people inside the US and especially around the world think 911 was in reality an inside job, meaning Osama probably had nothing to do with it. Maybe killing Osama was necessary so he could never prove to the world he had nothing to do with it.
I voted for Cynthia McKinney so I have never had illusions about Pres. Obama (Mr. "Change the Ruling Class can always believe in.)" Obama's function from day one has always been to sell the most reactionary crap to the masses; hard times call for a smooth talker. Obama is the pressure release valve that keeps a malfunctioning water heater from blowing through the roof; he is playing that role exceptionally well in regards to Egypt.
I do not subscribe to the notion Obama is a "wimp"; rather, I see Obama playing the good cop to Mubarak's bad cop. Obama is trying to maximize the ability of the US to influence the inevitable successor regime while at the same time giving the current regime as much room as possible to negotiate the transition.
I suspect another factor at play here is that numerous thug officials at various levels who have served the current regime well are probably worried about the inevitable retaliation and loss of patronage that will follow once the current regime is gone. Mubarak will be treated well but what about lower level officials once power is gone?
Juan,
Your glee at Osama's death appears to be clouding your better judgement. Getting into an argument about whether lethal force was justified in self-defense by Navy SEALS is just plain silly. Here is the relevant point: Osama's life was of no intelligence or political value to the US. If the word had come done from on high that the US needed Osama captured alive, that is what those SEALS would have done, captured him alive. Telling SEALS you have the right to defend yourself is in practical terms a veiled order to kill.
What are the implications of the fact that Osama's life was worth nothing to the US? I don't mean from a purely emotional point, I mean from a practical military, political and/or intelligence point of view. Remember, this is the person who the media and US government have been telling us is a big, bad ass who is a major threat to US security interests. Wouldn't the US have some questions for a guy like that? Or even better, tell his followers the time has come to stand down? Or maybe he was never any real threat after all!
A number of people inside the US and especially around the world think 911 was in reality an inside job, meaning Osama probably had nothing to do with it. Maybe killing Osama was necessary so he could never prove to the world he had nothing to do with it.
Brent,
I voted for Cynthia McKinney so I have never had illusions about Pres. Obama (Mr. "Change the Ruling Class can always believe in.)" Obama's function from day one has always been to sell the most reactionary crap to the masses; hard times call for a smooth talker. Obama is the pressure release valve that keeps a malfunctioning water heater from blowing through the roof; he is playing that role exceptionally well in regards to Egypt.
Juan,
I do not subscribe to the notion Obama is a "wimp"; rather, I see Obama playing the good cop to Mubarak's bad cop. Obama is trying to maximize the ability of the US to influence the inevitable successor regime while at the same time giving the current regime as much room as possible to negotiate the transition.
I suspect another factor at play here is that numerous thug officials at various levels who have served the current regime well are probably worried about the inevitable retaliation and loss of patronage that will follow once the current regime is gone. Mubarak will be treated well but what about lower level officials once power is gone?