Is anyone surprised by this? Pakistan has been double-dealing us for years, using us to schwack the terrorists they don’t like, while shielding their own little trained vipers from the wrath of Uncle Sam. Can’t really blame them, all nations rely somewhat on deception and diplomatic double-talk, but other nations put up with it only if they can get something in return from the whole kabuki.
Is there anything left for us to gain by dealing with these duplicitous bastards?
Pakistan is using us much like rival tribes in Afghanistan and Iraq have: As a revenge tool against their enemies. If we get inside their loop and understand the dynamics we can actually use this to our tactical advantage, but at some point you’ve got to stop and assess if it’s all advancing our goals. I think the Army understood and worked this dynamic to good effect in Iraq. It’s not perfect, but we got the country to a relatively stable state. Notice there are no “Arab Spring” riots there, and if there was outrage at Osama’s death, it was subdued.
Afghanistan is a different story. Spring fighting season has just started, so we'll have to wait and see how it goes…
Women and Children First
Now they’re saying maybe Osama didn’t use one of his wives as a human shield. I don’t buy it. I choose to believe the original story. Jihadis are famous for hiding behind women and children. They reported that Osama’s son also died cowering behind a woman, and I noticed that the government spokesman left that report stand without correction.
Our Muslims are Better than Their Muslims
American Muslims are relieved to have this stone around their necks removed. More telling, they are relieved and satisfied as Americans that Bin Laden has crossed the river Styx. The language they use is telling. They talk of justice, of the shame and the consternation felt after 9/11 as they lost the blessed normalcy of their lives. They speak of “our country,” and indeed it is.
President Obama Done Good
Finally, a hearty salute to President Obama. It was a tough call and he did the right thing. Those upset that he has won a political windfall should contemplate the alternative. Would you rather that this operation had failed, with loss of American lives and national embarrassment? We should take any opportunity we can to praise the man; they are so rare.
Gitmo and “black site” interrogations led to this successful operation. Now that he has access to all the information, does Obama now realize the utility of these tactics?
Bottom Line
Killing Bin Laden was a victory for America, and it's thanks to the diligent intelligence community and a highly disciplined military, especially that SEAL team. The piddle-down-the-leg Euro-whiners and the military-hating scribblers in this country yapping about Osama being unarmed can shove it. The POS killed over 3000 unarmed people on our soil, and our Special Forced put him down like the cowardly dog he was.
For comments more thoughtful than these, see Jack Camwell's "The Meaning of Osama Bin Laden's Death"
