Upon reflection, I think my initial reaction comes from a belief that while symbolically important, bin Laden's death hardly changes practical reality. The same risks abound-- iconic as we have made bin Laden, global terrorism is not a one man shop and people will continue to organize. The reduction of the problem to bin Laden's face has always been a gross simplification more suited to rhetoric than reality. Moreover, as many commentators have pointed out, the recent plethora of peaceful grassroots resistance movements across the near east have perhaps diminished the standing of al Qaeda and other similar groups and the appeal of their violent methods. There was much to be hopeful about before Sunday, and that remains the case today.
It's revealing to hear how people reacted and how they felt about the myriad public reactions. Conspiracy theorists questioned whether he was actually dead. These guys decided to get rich selling t-shirts. On Facebook, a friend noted the following:
It's weird to be joyous over someone's death. A bit unsettling.... but
that's how it is... how i felt..."
This sentiment was manifested at its most extreme by the crowds cheering in downtown Manhattan and at the White House. I count myself among many who found this deeply troubling. Some have used the term bloodlust to describe the frightening character of what were essentially pep rallies. It doesn't seem right to revel in death this way. I can understand that the 9/11 victims' families and friends must have felt a sense of closure upon hearing the news. I do not wish to belittle or deny their right to catharsis, and perhaps knowledge of this bit of justice will help them find some resolution. Nevertheless, these people must continue to live without their loved ones. While the world is certainly safer and better without Osama bin Laden in it, we cannot undo the damage he once wrought. Not even by killing him.
Fundamentally, I think it's important to acknowledge how fundamentally tragic this whole situation is. That we have even come to this moment is sad on the deepest level. Against this understanding, happiness seems wholly inappropriate and seems to miss the point entirely.
Excellent post, NKW.
ReplyDeleteI felt a sense of peace at the news (perhaps I needed closure, although I lost no one on 9/11), some excitement given the historical significance of the news (and probably suppressed bloodlust) and later an appreciation for the methodical job of the SEALS and leadership team in pulling off a very difficult jobs. (despite at least one regrettable death of a non-combatant)
Yet upon reflection and after listening to other's views I have become, if not uncomfortable, then regretful of the final outcome and an historic opportunity missed. Putting aside, just for a second, the legitimate concerns about booby traps and suicide vests was it an operational necessity to kill OBL? Was there a serious attempt to mitigate the known dangers to the SEALs and bring him back alive?
It is simpler for the United States that Bin Laden is dead. Trying him, in a military tribunal or Title III court, would have been a 3-ring international media and political circus. It does not follow that this was not the right thing to do.
Several years ago I read a long account of the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi leadership. It was an unprecedented process, there was lots of controversy, the concept was fraught with legal issues and there made significant errors made. Yet who today would argue that the trials themselves were a mistake? If it was good enough for Himmler and other architects of the Holocaust why is a trial wrong for Bin Laden? His crimes already have a definition and we have clear jurisdiction. If anything a trial could help de-mythologize this crime boss, terrorist financier and propagandist whose stature has grown quite too large in some parts of the world. Currently, we have no opportunity to glean further intelligence from his person, choosing to instead gave him a martyr's death in battle. A trial would have indeed given Bin Laden a fresh opportunity (although he had plenty already)to loose his propaganda on the world stage but it would also have allowed us to show how empty his message is. A trial could have, for instance, highlighted the large number of Muslims Al-Qaeda has murdered. This round goes to us but we have won it only with might; we could have been in the right as well.
I should, lest anyone skip to the turn of phrase in the last sentence of my long piece (if its read at all), state clearly that I think the US had valid moral reasons to kill Bin Laden. Perhaps it was even legal. Yet we missed an opportunity to demonstrate our own commitment to the rule of law, in addition to the other benefits listed above.
ReplyDeleteRobe, thanks for your comments. Glenn Greenwald wrote a very good read to this effect shortly after the event.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/06/bin_laden/index.html
The whole situation is very sad. A loss of life is aloss no matter who it is. I often wonder what kind of mind set OBL would have to justify to everything he did and was planning to do. How sad for him and his famliy also.
ReplyDelete