A Brief Comment by Doug Draper
No doubt everyone knows by now that Osama bin Laden, one of the world’s most infamous terrorists, was shot and killed this May 1 by an elite squad of American Navy Seals in Pakistan.
News of the al-Qaeda leader’s death, announced to the world by U.S. President Barack Obama in a late-night statement, sent countless thousands of American citizens gathering in the streets, including outside the White House and the former site of the World Trade Centre towers in New York, to celebrate.
Yet while the news of this mad man’s death is cause for celebration – just as news of Adolf Hitler’s death was cause for joy 66 years ago on the same day – one cannot help but reflect on all of the lost lives and injuries, not just among Americans, but among Canadians who have been stationed in the war zones of Afghanistan for the past nine years.
Then there is the impact almost everything since the terrorist attacks that bin Laden master minded on September 11, 2001 has had on our freedoms and on the economy, particularly that of the United States. One can only weep at the thought of how much better life might be if the trillions of dollars spent on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq could have been invested in education, health care and infrastructure, not to mention green energy technology, on this continent.
Bin Laden may be gone – his body reportedly dumped in the sea – but the death and damage done since 9/11 will be felt for many years to come.
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I think of a whole generation that was very young when the terrorist attacks took place. They have lived with the fear and aftermath for most of their lives. The spontaneous celebrations all over the States were mostly college-aged kids who are understandably elated that the boogeyman of their nightmares is dead. Just like sixty-six years ago, an evil man died. But Bin Laden, like Hitler before him, still has followers of his evil ways. One more mass murderer gone; stay tuned and vigilant.
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Solid intelligence led to this victory, and the Intelligence community in particular should be congratulated. Now the U.S needs to pause and ask itself how to protect itself and others from terrorism. Part of the answer should be to stop supporting countries (i.e Saudi Arabia) that give birth to too much terrorism. Americans should also reconsider their support of foreign dictators and those with poor human rights records. Americans should also stop torturing people at Guantanamo. The list goes on and on. Some questions though: Why did it take 10 years to get this outcome? Why spend a trillion dollars on a “defence” budget to send armies of occupation overseas when the best results come from solid, well-funded Intelligence work? Recommended reading: Steve Coll’s “Ghost Wars”. Enjoy Voting Day folks. We need to make changes in this country.
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