New York City thanks you, SEAL Team Six.
This will sharpen everything. Osama bin Laden has been such a potent symbol of American impotence that his death will be a jolt of electricity. We’ll see far-reaching effects, I think, quite out of proportion to any tactical, or even strategic, effect his death will have.
The political effect will be powerfully unifying, however briefly, and it can’t help but mute criticism of the administration. (I’d gladly give Mr. Obama a high-five myself — or fist bump, or whatever.) Crowds are gathering at the White House and Ground Zero, cheering and singing. Don’t be surprised to see the stock markets pop tomorrow.
I’m glad it isn’t October, 2012. (I’m sure there were those who were tempted to wait. Credit to them for not doing so.)
It’s late, and I haven’t combed the Internet yet to find out what I can about this, but I am very curious about Pakistan’s role here. Given the enormous compound Osama was living in, the ISI had to know where he was. Did they sell him out? That will be hard to keep secret, and when it gets out it will get hot in the streets over there. Did they not sell him out? Were they hiding him from us? That will get interesting too.
Now Osama is a martyr. Will that fan the flames of jihad? Have we poked a stick in the hornets’ nest?
I don’t think so: my feeling is that there’s little that could fan those flames any higher; at this point they’re pretty much self-fanning anyway. On the other hand, this could be a bracing tonic for the West, for a little while at least.
Should be an interesting few days.
17 Comments
Content Advisory: Graphic Imagery. Not suitable for the squeamish.
http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/02-May-2011/TV-channels-show-footage-of-Bin-Ladens-bloodied-face
Good work guys – it would appear Flea’s on Coronado should pass another round. 5IUmen227.
http://www.kforcegov.com/Services/IS/NightWatch/NightWatch_11000094.aspx
Open-source has it’s limits. But the more I look at this and compare it to what I heard from the Administration last night… ummm, well anyway, this seems to confirm at least part of the above. If true, this could get dicey.
“Pakistani intelligence officials said the night-time attack was launched from a Pakistani air base by four helicopters.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/osama-bin-laden-dead-reports/story-e6frg6so-1226048559518
Pakistan had nothing to do with it. He used his iphone and the location tracking app found him.
Well then. If the ISI gave him up (presumably to keep the US money-spigot open) then things are going to get lively in Pakistan.
I see they disposed of his body already, “in accordance with Islamic tradition”.
They should have saved some of it. I’m sure we have a pikestaff around here somewhere.
My sincere hope, which I believe will be realized, is that Obama will pretty quickly become a footnote (if even that) to history. He was accorded considerably more than his 15 minutes of fame, but did nothing of lasting significance.
For those of us buffeted by the winds of history, it is all too easy to think our minuscle experience is indicative of major trends — but it hardly ever is.
There will certainly be ramifications in Pakistan, but I think there will also be changes in Afghanistan. Now that bin Laden is sleeping with the fishes, my guess is that the push to leave Afghanistan will accelerate.
With the body gone, prepare yourself for Osama to become the next Elvis.
Is somebody suggesting that Elvis doesn’t walk among us? I’m pretty sure that’s blasphemous.
Jeebus….
In my 8:56 am post I actually used ‘Obama’ instead of ‘Osama.’ Apparently, I harbor some subconscious doubts about our president’s identity. Apparently, too, either nobody read my comment or they think really, really poorly of the prez.
You’re not alone.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/05/a_bunch_of_people_mixed_up_oba.html
Thanks for that link, Peter. I feel a bit better knowing that others, some of whom are even less senile than me, are similarly challenged. Now, where did I put Elvis?
Less senile than I.
I let you slide the first time when Osama was juxtaposed with Obama, but I’m a real dick when it comes to the English language.
Sorry, I should be less of a dick, especially on a day like today. Witness the postcard to the Donald:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150169230822157&set=a.292842257156.144864.110740652156&type=1&theater
Peter –
OK, my grammar skills are a bit rusty, but my semantic engine still revs. I did not juxtapose (i.e., place side-by-side) Osama and Obama. I substituted one for the other, albeit erroneously. Call me a senile dick.
Good point. I’ll take English Usage for 400 please, Alex.
I have a hunch they saved one or more choice pieces of him. After all, whatever slid into the ocean was shrouded.
Stalin saved Hitler’s jaw. What part of Osama would Obama save? (Hope I got those names in the right order.)