Since school let out, I've had less incentive to shave (no BYU no-beard rule for me!). Somebody asked me if I was growing a beard in honour of Osama bin Laden's death. Nope. Nor did I wear my green shirt that says "Saudi Arabia" in big letters the last three days in mourning for him. That's just pure coincidence.
I think it's a good thing that we finally found Bin Laden. I think it's a good thing that he's been brought to justice for the thousands of innocents that died in his schemes. I think it is a hard-earned and much-needed victory for the U.S. and the War on Terror. However, what are the implications of this? Does it change anything?
I argue that it doesn't; at the very least it changes nothing, although it could also have a positive and stimulating effect on terrorism. By now we've been chasing Osama and Al-Qaida for ten years. Many new leaders have been trained in that time, as well as many more recruits secured. Numerous distinct cells operate separately of one another towards the same goal, as different organs in the same body. Protocols and patterns have been set in place such that it doesn't matter if Osama is dead or alive--his machine of terror will run smoothly without him. His death is a symbolic victory for the U.S., but I don't think it extends much beyond that. Al-Qaida is still very much functional, and bin Laden's ideals are still very much alive in too many people.
At the very least, Al-Qaida and it's counterparts will continue to run as they had before Osama's death, with the U.S. and her allies successfully foiling many of her plans. I hope this is the case. The only alternative that I can see would be that Osama's death is made a rallying point, himself made a martyr, and thus this event becomes a stimulant for hatred of the Western world. I do not think, while they may have been merited, that the raucous celebrations around the U.S. upon the news of Osama's death will do anything positive for the West's image in this regard. If anything they further support the Islamist image of the U.S. as an enemy to Islam, and to what they deem God's holy work. Where there is little other interpretation for the poverty and harshness of life in many Arab regions other than the unwanted influence of the morally corrupt West, Osama's policies shine as the only beacon for freedom and independence from its taint. I hope that the disdain for Bin Laden's use of violence outweighs the admiration of his beliefs and the disapproval of American foreign policy.
I don't mean to be all "gloom and doom." However, when dealing with fundamentalist beliefs and regimes--especially when their militant adherents make up a large number, even still a small percentage, of an entire region--we must tread lightly.
On a lighter note, here is a delightful documentary about the Beatles and their love of baseball, America's--and the Beatles--favourite past time.
I think it's a good thing that we finally found Bin Laden. I think it's a good thing that he's been brought to justice for the thousands of innocents that died in his schemes. I think it is a hard-earned and much-needed victory for the U.S. and the War on Terror. However, what are the implications of this? Does it change anything?
I argue that it doesn't; at the very least it changes nothing, although it could also have a positive and stimulating effect on terrorism. By now we've been chasing Osama and Al-Qaida for ten years. Many new leaders have been trained in that time, as well as many more recruits secured. Numerous distinct cells operate separately of one another towards the same goal, as different organs in the same body. Protocols and patterns have been set in place such that it doesn't matter if Osama is dead or alive--his machine of terror will run smoothly without him. His death is a symbolic victory for the U.S., but I don't think it extends much beyond that. Al-Qaida is still very much functional, and bin Laden's ideals are still very much alive in too many people.
At the very least, Al-Qaida and it's counterparts will continue to run as they had before Osama's death, with the U.S. and her allies successfully foiling many of her plans. I hope this is the case. The only alternative that I can see would be that Osama's death is made a rallying point, himself made a martyr, and thus this event becomes a stimulant for hatred of the Western world. I do not think, while they may have been merited, that the raucous celebrations around the U.S. upon the news of Osama's death will do anything positive for the West's image in this regard. If anything they further support the Islamist image of the U.S. as an enemy to Islam, and to what they deem God's holy work. Where there is little other interpretation for the poverty and harshness of life in many Arab regions other than the unwanted influence of the morally corrupt West, Osama's policies shine as the only beacon for freedom and independence from its taint. I hope that the disdain for Bin Laden's use of violence outweighs the admiration of his beliefs and the disapproval of American foreign policy.
I don't mean to be all "gloom and doom." However, when dealing with fundamentalist beliefs and regimes--especially when their militant adherents make up a large number, even still a small percentage, of an entire region--we must tread lightly.
On a lighter note, here is a delightful documentary about the Beatles and their love of baseball, America's--and the Beatles--favourite past time.
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