Bin Laden Is Dead

I had started this blog post with a couple of notes on that Sunday night when we learned of the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed. I couldn't write about it extensively because I was writing a term paper and because the story and the events of the day were not finished.

I initially thought of how technology and social networking had such an amazing impact on the events, at least here at Lafayette College. When I was in the library that night, around 10:30, I got several text messages and probably about 12 people come up to me to tell me the news. It seems as though the entire campus population learned of the news within minutes. My Facebook news feed was clogged. A little after 11:30, probably half of the computers in the library were tuned to President Obama's address.

And then there was the spontaneous mob of around 300 students, as The Lafayette reported they were told by Public Safety - no doubt largely due to instant communication.

But more important than the technology is the nature of the actual death of bin Laden and subsequent events.
I have many opinions on the matter - which can be succinctly and somewhat comprehensively described by the quote that The Lafayette took from me and used in the May 6 issue: "I wish we were getting this excited over opposing what our government has done, first to incite the hatred from these terrorists, and second, to destroy our economy."

Before I am scorned for these comments by "patriots," whether left, right, up, down, or apolitical, I will say that Osama bin Laden, from my understanding, was a criminal and a thug, who should have been brought to justice. Additionally, I don't pretend that there would be no terrorism if it weren't for American aggression overseas; I just claim that there would be far less ability for the bin Ladens of the world to recruit potential terrorists if the US didn't commit preemptive aggression.

There are many forms of justice (perhaps), and maybe being killed is one of them. Although I would have preferred a capture and a civilian trial for several thousand counts of murder, I am not criticizing the killing of him. It might be an important topic, but not one for this post. For sake of argument in the following points, lets say that justice was done in this case. I have a couple of criticisms of the subsequent events.

1. Celebrating death is barbaric and creepy. Most people at school, and seemingly in America, were celebrating.

2. I believe that for Americans to celebrate and become so unified over this event is misplaced patriotism. Again, criminals deserve justice.

i. But I ask- how is $850 billion tax dollars (and trillions of dollars in Federal Reserve loans and injections) to Wall Street banks justice? And how is (as estimates suggest) 1 MILLION DEAD IRAQIS from 2003-2011 justice (bear in mind Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11).

ii. The authority given to President Bush in 2001 to go into Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks was very specific - to get the terrorists. The authority was not granted for Bush to send the military there, pursue the terrorists temporarily, then to nation-build and try to change Afghanistan politically.

iii. President Obama bombed Libya a few weeks ago without any Congressional approval whatsoever. He took orders from the United Nations and got permission from the Arab League.

Instead of celebrating this death, why aren't those who call themselves patriots using their energies to oppose these unpatriotic things and injustices? Americans should be unified in wanting to prosecute politicians in both parties for (at the very least) violating their oaths of office.

3. Yes, with the economy in the gutters, people needed something to celebrate. But did bin Laden's death make us safer? I would not argue that the American people are safer.
I think the following quotes sum up these points.

A friend quoting Radley Balko
"There was something unsettling about watching giddy crowds bounce around beach balls and climb telephone polls last night, as if they were in the lawn seats at a rock festival. Solemn and somber appreciation that an evil man is gone seemed like the more appropriate reaction."

In response, Chris Kelly, a thoughtful friend who just finished his second year at Lafayette, wrote:
"Couldn't agree more man. I would have much more readily celebrated the withdraw of American troops and the end of the interminable wars. Bin Laden's death comes at a great cost to us- in American lives, tax dollars, world credibility, etc. But don't get me wrong- it is still welcomed. I just don't get the jubilation. My reaction was more a long, collective sigh of relief"