Bin Laden is Dead

Bin Laden is Dead

There is great celebration and dancing in the streets, Osama Bin Laden is dead. Many looked on gleefully. Others were horrified that this kind of celebration is taking place over the death of a human being. These differences in perception raise a very legitimate question. Is this loud, in-your-face celebrating appropriate for the greatest, most civilized country in the world?

To many Americans and people across the globe, the celebrations that took place on Monday reminded them of the celebrations across the muslim world after 9/11, or any of the many atrocities that have been committed in the name of “Allah”.  To others it was a day to celebrate the death of a man that has killed thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of his own people.  Personally, I see it in a slightly different light.

On Monday I wanted to celebrate because justice has been served.  I’m not proud that Seal Team Six killed a man, but I am very proud that the mastermind behind so many innocent deaths has been brought to justice.  I know many will dispute my claim that this is justice since Bin Laden didn’t receive a fair and impartial trial. I can respect that.  There are rumors that Bin Laden was not armed and was therefore summarily executed by the Seals.  That is possible. Many don’t see the reasoning behind the quick, dead of night burial at sea.  They may have a point. But I ask you to think about this for a minute.

Over the years since 9/11, I have given a great deal of thought to various scenarios in which Bin Laden may be brought to justice.  Suppose he was captured and brought to American soil to be tried (and by American soil I mean any U.S. Military installation including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba).  All over the world muslins would take to the streets screaming for his release.  Any government in the Arab world would be forced to put pressure on the U.S. or face a violent overthrow.  Defense attorneys wishing to make a name for themselves would come out of the woodwork wanting to take the case and you can believe that no underhanded trick would be overlooked to get him off.  And when you think about it, just where would he go for a fair trial?  The military tribunal would be put off again and again in search of an impartial jury.  Meanwhile the worldwide protests would go on and on.  Americans would be taken hostage and murdered in attempts to get Bin Laden released.  Terrorist attacks would be carried out all over the world.  The muslim terrorists are always looking for any excuse to kill Americans and Israelis; this would provide fuel for years of terror.  In the meantime Bin Laden would be sitting comfortably in a cell with all of his needs catered to and still running the world’s biggest mass murder ring.

We all know at least some of what Bin Laden has done.  Did we really need a show trial to determine his guilt?  Did we really need another media circus?  We had overwhelming evidence of whom and what that man was and his execution was the only way that justice could be served and the families of his thousands of victims could have some sort of closure.  There is no doubt in my mind that the orders given to the brave men who invaded Bin Laden’s compound did not include capturing the man and bringing him out alive.  No, they went there to kill him and bring back his body to prove it was done.  Those men followed their orders.  God bless them.  Remember, the thousands that died on 9/11 and other attacks against innocent Americans did not get a fair trial.  They had no chance to plead their case even against a prejudicial jury.  Again, I don’t celebrate because a human being was killed, but that justice was served.

As for dumping his body off of the deck of the carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson in the dark of night, no other scenario makes much sense.  If that body were buried anywhere on land or even in sight of land, that place would have become a shrine for every deranged suicide bomber in the world to visit before going off on his evil mission.  No one but a select few on board of the Carl Vinson knew exactly where the ship was when Bin Laden’s body slid off of the deck into the waters below, and I doubt that those who always know the exact position of the ship at all times knew exactly when the body went over the side.  So no one knows exactly where Bin Laden’s body lies in Davy Jones’ Locker.  That makes worshiping a picture of his grave, to say the least, problematic. 

This is not something that you are likely to see often from me, but I commend the Obama Administration for the way they have handled this.  Justice has been served the only way that it could have been done without making things worse for my country.  From the extraction of the information from prisoners at Gitmo, to the prosecution of the intelligence and the carrying out of the mission, all was well done.  Most importantly of all, security was maintained throughout the planning and execution phases.  In today’s world that is quite an accomplishment.  

So, all things considered I have no problem with some high-fives, chest-bumps and cigars.  Let’s have those balloons and confetti, a marching band and cookies, heck, I may even break out in a lusty chorus of “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” myself.  Just remember, it’s not his death we are celebrating, it is that after so many years, justice has been served.

John A. Wilson

President

Conservative Action Project of Union County