Quote:
Originally Posted by Sigaba
DG--
Nice post! 
With respect, I do differ with you on your comment that killing Bin Laden is "more symbolic" for the following reason.
IMO, in the early years of GWOT, the United States made a handful of painful strategic miscues. One of these mistakes was identifying the capture or killing of Bin Laden as a strategic objective. As long as he remained on the prowl, the entire world could argue that America was failing to achieve its goals. Now, with Bin Laden dead, that argument is off the table.
My $0.02. |
Thanks Sigaba, and I absolutely agree with you. I meant "symbolic" only as it applies to halting terrorism (similar, I suppose, the killing of Pablo Escobar, while an important event in the war on drugs, was symbolic in that the drug trade continues). Symbolism aside, the fact that we killed Bin Laden (and I might add, in Hollywood-like fashion) sends a strong message to our enemies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GratefulCitizen
Kinda scratchin' my head at some of this.
The whole event is potentially politically convenient for both the US and Pakistan...should forces be withdrawn.
The US gets to declare victory.
Pakistan gets "street cred" for their hospitality towards UBL.
This leaves Pakistan better able to withstand internal political challenges.
Kinda important for a nuclear-armed nation.
<shrug>
Probably just conspiracy theory fodder.
|
I'm not buying any of the "political" theories for the simple reason that they all imply that we've known along where Bin Laden was and we could get him at any time, but the Administration simply waited for maximum political gain.
God knows I'm no supporter of the President, but credit must be given where due. Selecting a spec ops raid over bombing, and giving the go ahead showed leadership, and more importantly showed that Obama is very capable of making tough military decisions. Ugh. I feel so dirty saying that, I have to take a very long shower with Lava soap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Broadsword2004
Myself, I didn't take that picture as the President and his people literally calling the shots as the raid went down, I took it as the President and his people just sitting and watching as observers, while the professionals went ahead and did their jobs.
|
True. From the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/wo....html?emc=eta1
The President and others were apparently linked to Leon Panetta who was giving them real-time info. It appears that they were not watching the action, let alone that they had any hand in conducting the actual raid.