As the news spread, world leaders nearly unanimously voiced their approval and relief, while simultaneously stating that the threat from radical Islamists was not spent. Only a few leaders - predictably - defiantly stated their disapproval.
Bin Laden's hiding place was alarming. Far from a cave or remote decrepit compound in Afghanistan or in the wilds of Pakistan, he was found in a million dollar residence 40 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan's capitol, specially built for him in the past several years, and more remarkably just hundreds of meters from Pakistan's pre-eminent college for military officers. The location as it became known to the world immediately generated questions as to how Pakistan's intelligence service or guards for the nearby facility could not have known of an unusual compound with secrecy surrounding it and its inhabitants. Those questions will be followed up.
US President Obama received strong bipartisan support as the details of the dramatic event unfolded. His announcement to the world was disciplined, low key, and clear. He emphasized the remarkable unity America displayed in the days after 9/11 and declared his wish that his country could find that unity again. He acknowledged President George Bush's efforts on multiple fronts, but in particular the assurance President Bush gave in the days after 9/11 that the US was not against Islam or Muslims themselves, nor was President Obama nearly 10 years later. He gave a nod to Pakistan as an ally, while making the point that it was a US operation, not a multilateral UN consensus approach.
Finally, it was revealed that Mr. Obama redirected the method of attack towards a ground level operation, rather than a massive bombing attack, stating the world would need proof, there would be less chance for civilian casualties, while implying that the military had the highly trained professionals who could carry out the riskier course of action.
In a remarkable followup, we learned that the special forces in the attack, 40 in all flying in on 4 helicopters, wore cameras in their helmets - at least those leading the actual operation into the compound - and that US leaders "watched" the operation in real time. This sort of risk both for the use of Navy SEALS on the ground rather than bombing from on high, as well as for the administration, was described by a UK commentator, as "John Wayne-ish" simultaneously somewhat derisive yet at the same time uniquely American. It struck many commentators that the US demonstrated once again Sunday that it still had confidence in its power, and the competence to use it.
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Pakistan's role in all this will no doubt become an early followup issue - a complicated one no doubt. The nation is rife with militant groups and ideology, and is subjected to nearly daily attacks. It is on the front line of a major war, is repeatedly being accused of participating on both sides, and has a history of wavering between military, dictatorial and democratic rule. And Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons.
Around the world
While the "spiritual" leader of Islamic terror is now gone, other warriors remain. Osama's right hand man, Egyptian born Zawahiri, shown below, remains.
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Fodder for the future:
Can Pakistan successfuly overcome Islamic terrorism and ideology within its own society?
Will the debate over "enhanced interrogation" be re-opened? Information from such methods is widely linked to providing the necessary intelligence leading to Osama bin Laden's death, but is now banned by this administration.
Was Al-Qaeda's message becoming irrelevant in any regard, in light of the "Arab Spring" now challenging Arab rulers through the Middle East and North Africa.
3 comments:
Details continue to change as facts are checked, and further info is released from the powers that be.
Now, perhaps there were only two full helicopters and two acting as reserve - one of which was used when one of the two original malfunctioned, had to set down hard, couldn't be started, and was subsequently blown up when the team left.
A week later... while, in a way, it is a relief to have him gone it also feels anti-climatic. Probably because so much else has gone on since 9/11 and, probably more importantly, we're more educated on islamic extremism and more aware of the many other extremist leaders ready to take his place.
I found it very interesting to see the college students out celebrating; remembering suddenly that they were just little kids when 9/11 happened and how it shaped their world view - there's no before and after for them. Just a post 9/11 world
Very good point about college students. It reminds me of the recent story of those little kids who were listening to President GW Bush read a book to them when the towers were attacked.
Nearly 10 years later, these 16 and 17 year olds were worth listening to ...
The Interrupted Reading: The Kids with George W. Bush on 9/11
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2069327,00.html#ixzz1MITZi0YM
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