JFK is A-OK, But Nix Osama's Pics?

So, let me get this straight, it’s okay to show the Zapruder film of the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, but not to make public the still photos of dead dirt bag Osama bin Laden? The number of ways this is outrageously stupid approaches infinity. Whose feelings are we protecting? Certainly not the feelings of American citizens who have been exposed to violence in the media repeatedly in the past 20 years.

Americans have been subjected to videos of fellow citizens flinging themselves to certain death from the top floors of New York’s Twin Towers, videos of the gaping, deadly wound in the side of the USS Cole, the remains of bombed US embassies strewn with victims in Africa and the beheading video of US journalist Daniel Pearl. We have shown our resilience time and again and the sugar coating just gets in the way.

All of these events can be traced back to Osama bin Laden and his followers. Irony does not begin to cover this circumstance. The body of the creature who brought these vicious attacks to bear, often on unarmed civilians, was treated with respect and dignity after we killed him. So our enemies, stunned by our chivalrous actions will begin to understand the complex morality of the West and begin to see us as “people” and no longer wish to perpetrate unreasoned violence against us. And, in the Left’s fairy tale view of the world, that’s how it would be. Reality; however, is a harsh mistress with death in her eyes and a smile on her lips and cares not for fairy tales.

In case you’re keeping score, as the radical Islamists certainly are, the most important words in the previous paragraph are “we killed him”. That is all they really care about. They don’t care about linen shrouds, Islamic traditions, proper burial rites or a picture. If we had planted bin Laden in a vat of cow patties and released a photo of that, could the radical, murderous fanatics be even more radical, more murderous or more fanatical?

I'm not demanding that anyone release the still photos of a dead Osama bin Laden, but to not release the photos because some of bin Laden's followers might be offended is silly and naive. This homicidal band of thugs seeks the destruction of our civilization, the trampling of our love of our God-given rights and the surrender of our free will. If those who seek bloody injustice are offended by bloody justice, then so be it.

Give President Obama a thumbs-up for pulling the trigger on the operation, give Navy SEAL Team Six a big thumbs-up for pulling the actual triggers, and give President Bush credit for providing the trigger in the first place. Let us continue to honor our war dead and wounded and pray that we are worthy of their sacrifice.

We are a better planet for bin Laden’s absence, but work remains. Before that work is done, before we can  claim victory, the blood of more innocents will be shed; more brave American soldiers, sailors and marines will perish protecting our precious rights; and most importantly, we must realize we are in a war about everything we believe, and for everything we hold sacred.

Osama bin Laden Killed by US, Part II - The President's Speech

Osama bin Laden was a murderous thug who had no respect for the rights of individuals and openly opposed, in the bloodiest manner, those who wished to uphold those same rights. Bin Laden followed Islam's lengthy tradition of turning to violence almost immediately to gain power and influence.

Tonight, President Obama made a point of reminding people that many of the people bin Laden murdered were his fellow Muslims and that "his demise should be welcomed by all". The President is correct in this regard.

This was probably the best speech ever given by President Obama, and whoever wrote this speech is underpaid. Obama hit many of the right notes in his speech tonight, though it would have been a better speech if he had mentioned former President George Bush's efforts to bring bin Laden to justice.

President Obama was more subdued in his claims for credit than I had anticipated using "I" statements only five times by my count. He was generous in his praise for the US armed forces.  I did not note a lot of praise for Pakistan in tonight's speech, even though they were mentioned. There is probably a reason for that and I believe that it is because Pakistan likely knew of bin Laden's location for months and failed to disclose it.

I will stick with my predictions about the fall-out from the event announced tonight, given in my previous blog. I will add another: There will be riots and anti-American actions because bin Laden was killed.

I'm watching live TV shots of Americans celebrating bin Laden's death. There seems to be a lot of joy and patriotism in force. This is so different from Middle East demonstrations where the usual display of emotions starts with anger and ends with disgust and possible self-loathing.

This does not mean the end of anti-Western Muslim actions, including violent attacks, but it is a victory for the United States and its allies. If we do not see a new "face" for al-Quaida within the next 90 days, then it will mean that the terrorist organization is more splintered than we realize at this time.

Our many problems, mostly self-inflicted, still remain but that does not mean we should not enjoy this. Listen to some Kool and the Gang and have a "Celebration". May God bless America.

Osama bin Laden Killed by US

This blog will be updated after I listen to President Obama's press conference.

The world is a better place than it was a week ago, while Osama bin Laden was still breathing the same air as humanity. While he may have lessened his direct direction of al-Quaida, this is still a positive development and worth celebrating.

For those of you who think it is unkind or cruel for me to celebrate the death of a fellow human being, I would argue. First, bin Laden lost all claim to humanity when he plotted the brutal deaths of civilians. Second, while true justice does not exist on this plane, this is about as close as it gets. I WILL celebrate the termination of this bipedal virus.

Predictions:

1 - President Obama will overstate his claim to credit for this event.
2 - Time magazine will name bin Laden "Man of the Year"
3 - The left will push even harder to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
4 - President Obama will (though not tonight) declare victory and begin troop withdrawal.
5 - President Obama will see a rise in his polls, both personal and job-related.
6 - The Pakastani government knew Obama was living in their country all along.
7 - A new, lesser known individual will emerge as the "face" of al-Quaida. It will be weeks before this happens.