Monday, May 2, 2011

Ben Laden est mort - Bin Laden ist tot - Bin Laden is dead

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-dead

The way Obama handled this was considerably better than how Dubyah Bush's administration proclaimed the capture of Saddam Hussein:


If there is to be mass celebration of the death or capture of a figure loathed by the American administration, the White House should in no way condone it by letting it happen inside the White House itself! 

A rational voice from the BBC's live feed:
 0531: Justin King in New York, US writes: "Good news, bad reaction. While I am very pleased to hear that Bin Laden is no longer living and I understand that many may feel that this symbolises a sort of closure to 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan, I can't help but feel a little disgusted by the cheering mob jumping around outside the White House. As the world celebrates this occasion let's not forget that even killing a killer is an ugly business and we could be recognising Bin Laden's demise in a more dignified way." Have Your Say

Officials have also been quoted that Bin Laden's body will be buried according to Islamic tradition, which is at the very least a better attempt that Saddam Hussein's horrendously botched execution.

But what I immediately started wondering when I saw this piece of news was: 1. If Bin Laden was merely a figurehead since 2009, with Ayman al-Zawahiri really in charge, what is the significance of this kill? 2. If he was indeed (forgive my terrible comparison) al-Qaeda's Dalai Lama or Pope, what kind of revenge attacks will be awaiting, assuming that there are still others in the chain of command (eg. al-Zawahiri) who are active and have access to the outside world?

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