Re: the big news.
Thing 1: I'm not celebrating, but I am glad. stoney321 is summing it up nicely here, and I must say it's a bit upsetting to me to read post after post where people (read: mostly civilians with no military experience) armchair theorize about what should have happened. Bottom line: we were not part of the process. We do not know what the options were. We do not know what was considered, and then deemed impossible or in-viable. We do not know if the raid went fully according to plan, or what the plan's aim was (re: capturing vs killing). So, yeah-- while my idealism and sense of old-school justice says it would have been great to make him stand trial, I, as a civilian with no ties to the process, have absolutely no right to speak authoritatively about what should have happened as though I were magically party to what the options on the table were. Last time I checked, I was not a member of the top military councils or the international intelligence community, so my thoughts on what should have happened-- which, note, is different from what I would like to have seen happen-- means precisely nothing other than bloviation.
ETA: Reuters is reporting that there was a definite kill order given. While that does answer one question about the decision process, it does not change that we civilians have absolutely no knowledge of the options that were on the table as viable by those with intimate knowledge of the operation.
ETA 2: Politico is reporting that capture was on the table, but Bin Laden resisted.
Thing 2: While I personally think the celebrations that are happening in the street are gross ("We Are The Champions," really, DC?) and it all smacks of uncomfortable nationalism, I also realize I have no right to moralize about other people should be reacting (or not reacting) to the news. Especially people & families who were directly impacted by 9/11.
Thing 3: I'm more interested in how the news media is handling this, and the implications of the coverage as we go forward.
Thing 4: I'm glad that Obama's speech was brief, well-written, and gave ample respect and credit to the CIA, strike team, and intelligence community.
Thing 5: My inner twelve year old is gleeful that the announcement interrupted Celebrity Apprentice-- a perfect coda for the White House Trump Roast. A man who spends months spreading lies about the President deserves all of the mockery he gets. Quiet down Donald, grownups are speaking.
ETA: Reuters is reporting that there was a definite kill order given. While that does answer one question about the decision process, it does not change that we civilians have absolutely no knowledge of the options that were on the table as viable by those with intimate knowledge of the operation.
ETA 2: Politico is reporting that capture was on the table, but Bin Laden resisted.
Thing 2: While I personally think the celebrations that are happening in the street are gross ("We Are The Champions," really, DC?) and it all smacks of uncomfortable nationalism, I also realize I have no right to moralize about other people should be reacting (or not reacting) to the news. Especially people & families who were directly impacted by 9/11.
Thing 3: I'm more interested in how the news media is handling this, and the implications of the coverage as we go forward.
Thing 4: I'm glad that Obama's speech was brief, well-written, and gave ample respect and credit to the CIA, strike team, and intelligence community.
Thing 5: My inner twelve year old is gleeful that the announcement interrupted Celebrity Apprentice-- a perfect coda for the White House Trump Roast. A man who spends months spreading lies about the President deserves all of the mockery he gets. Quiet down Donald, grownups are speaking.