I’m very troubled by the news about Osama Bin Laden. True, he is no longer a cypher lurking in the background and haunting our dreams. There is no doubt that he master-minded terrorist acts on a vast scale, and that he was directly responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. London, New York, Madrid – an unnecessary death toll. Not to mention all those servicemen and women who are now dying in pointless and un-winnable wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. What a waste! But was justice served?
Bin Laden was an evil, hate-filled man. Sadly, his death won’t bring back the people who died as a result of his instruction. It will only be a spur for those extremists who need an excuse to carry on fighting. So, President Obama, you are an idiot! I really don’t see how shooting Bin Laden in the head means that justice is served. I’m sad that you capitulated to the pressures of seeking re-election and the hawkish warmongers who lurk in the White House disguised as ‘military advisors’. It was similar military boneheads who funded Bin Laden, armed and trained him when they wanted to get the Russians out of Afghanistan! How conveniently you forget that fact.
And frankly, I’m annoyed at the arrogance of a nation who think it’s ok to invade another sovereign country and assassinate someone. Because lets face it, that is what it was. There was no intention of taking him alive. I find it hard to believe that big strong navy Seals couldn’t overpower him when he refused to surrender. And I find it rather distateful that the US Commander in Chief sat and watched video feeds of the killing. How is that justice? Snuff movies maybe! Justice, no way!
Far better, for Bin Laden to be captured and brought back to the US to face the rule of law. That is justice. He should have been made to face up to his crimes. Even the worst excesses of the Nazis (who killed hundreds of thousands of people) were dealt with by due process at the Nurenberg Trials. So why would he be any different? His crimes were no less heinous.
As Ghandi said, ‘an eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind’.
Pier Point 