On 9/11, I told a few friends I spoke with that day, that Osama bin-Laden had just declared that his brand of terror is going out of business. Mr. bin Laden had just hit America's two nerve centers: The Twin Towers in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The home of two of America's most important assets: Treasure, and blood. In that September attack, al-Qaida had become the top priority revenge act by the men and women who were going to go get Osama Dead or Alive, and they would be financed in no small part by Wall Street.
Today, America has dealt a swift blow to al-Qaida. Taking out the world's most wanted terrorist is a huge accomplishment for the Americans.
All the same, wouldn't it have been best to capture him alive, and humiliate him by treating him as a common prisoner in an American court of law?
So America has proven it could kill him. Big whoop. Now he's dead. Totally useless in any information war. America and the Coalition still have oodles of Taliban and al-Qaida to smoke out and hunt down.
What I find laughable is how so many in the media are reporting that bin-Laden was long suspected of living in a cave in the mountainous regions of Pakistan near the Afghan border. It was obvious to me and various friends and colleagues that Mr. bin-Laden was living in comfort, most likely in a nice sized house or mansion, surrounded by pricey security systems, in a place where no one would much notice -- or mind -- his presence.
That it was not obvious to those supposed 'experts' working on it, or covering it, is telling of the general misunderstanding which Westerners have about such idiosyncratic
infamous iconoclasts.
And now, after his body has been shot up, shaken down, washed, and tossed out at sea, come the questions.
1) Where's the proof?
Until Osama's dead body is displayed in photo and/or video and/or other means, there will only be growing noises, rumors and conspiracy theories. No doubt the wackiest crackpots will always believe insane myths, but at least convincing evidence will quell the rumor mills for the majority of people.
2) Why is America barely responding except through lowly bureaucrats to the threats and anti-American statements coming not only from al-Qaida remnants, but from the likes of both the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah?
The United States and its allies should be launching a PR offensive, to remind the world just exactly what al-Qaida is and what their aims are.
3) Now that Osama is dead, is Obama going to keep up the fight and the hunt for the remaining al-Qaida and Taliban?
4) How will long term strategy and prosecution of the War on Terror (or as Obama likes to call it, the Fight against al-Qaida) evolve, now that the iconic head of the snake is dead?
5) How will American foreign policy evolve now that its most wanted terrorist for the past decade, is gone?
With the great distraction of Osama's death, will Obama remain vigilant in the face of the regional revolution sweeping Araby? Will Gaddafi and Sallah be forced out? What will happen when Syria gets much bloodier? What will happen when Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are sick of their leaders and pulling off their own revolutions one way or another? How will America pick and choose which people to support, when those who want freedom are fighting the dictators who oppress them -- often with the help of American money and arms?
6) And finally, how will America remain focused on the remaining most wanted terrorists, as well as a host of developing realities in nations across the Middle East, and Europe, while at the same time it has to combat home-grown terror threats in the United States?
America's Modus Operandi over the next days, weeks and months will be very indicative of the kinds of procedure and routine we can expect to see over time.
6) And finally, how will America remain focused on the remaining most wanted terrorists, as well as a host of developing realities in nations across the Middle East, and Europe, while at the same time it has to combat home-grown terror threats in the United States?
America's Modus Operandi over the next days, weeks and months will be very indicative of the kinds of procedure and routine we can expect to see over time.
When will Obama admit that Israel's policy is the bleeding edge of the War on Terror, and that Israel's fight is America's fight? America should end the facade of neutrality in its stance on Israel, and make clear that there will be no more tolerance for the kind of forked-tongue politics that dominate so much of Arab and Muslim power systems; saying that they are against terror, yet at the same time carrying it out.
Finally, much credit deserves to go to those who made Osama's death happen, from the President to the former President, to the SEALs, the overall military, intelligence, and other communities involved. Without their ongoing willpower to succeed in this hunt, they did prove that America can achieve its aims -- even if sometimes that aim is to hit an aging weakling hiding behind ideology, religion and women.
