Osama Bin Laden is a dead man

National Review Online ^ | 9/18/2001 | Rich Lowry

[BamaG]

Repeat after me: Osama bin Laden is a dead man.

The danger of the manic wave of emotion that the nation has been riding for the last week is that when it ebbs away, we may be particularly susceptible to the depressive voices of doubt and complication: We don't do mountains; we can't track down a "shadowy" network that has none of the traditional infrastructure of a state; we aren't ready for the casualties and time this war will entail.

Indeed, if you follow the logic of various pieces in the press over the last few days, the "nothing option" begins to seem the only reasonable alternative: We can't undertake any large-scale bombing in the Middle East because this would be counterproductive and immoral; we can't take out Saddam specifically because we supposedly already tried that once and it didn't work out; and, finally, even getting bin Laden will be difficult because of his elusiveness and the Afghani terrain.

You can just hear the pundit class talking itself out of any intensive military action. (Maureen Dowd will probably be back on the side of the Euro-appeasers before the month is out.)

All of this is "realism" as an excuse for lack of resolve — since the real hard work requires a moral and intellectual commitment many commentators won't be willing to undertake. It means welcoming the frank application of American military power, acknowledging the superiority of American civilization to the corrupt and backward political culture that has attacked it, and supporting unilateral American action when necessary.

This is what's difficult for that portion of the political elite that is wedded to cultural relativism and a low-grade anti-Americanism. The rest is relatively easy.

And telling ourselves as much is not simply a matter of maintaining patriotic ardor. A nation's attitude matters. What it tells itself about its capabilities has an important influence on what those capabilities will be.

For instance: Between the two world wars, the French were, in a sense, psychologically damaged. After the slaughter of the trenches, they so abhorred the idea of taking the offensive that they crouched behind the Maginot Line and were unwilling to deal Hitler an offensive blow — even when he was at his most vulnerable, during his remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936.

So, let's remember.

We breached the Atlantic wall in 1944: Osama bin Laden is a dead man.

We — thirty years ago! — put a man on the moon: Osama bin Laden is a dead man.

We vanquished Saddam's army in a 100-hour ground war: Osama bin Laden is a dead man.

It may take some time and dirty tactics and unsavory temporary alliances, but given our might, technology, and determination, it's inevitable — all four of his wives will be widowed. Osama bin Laden is a dead man.

[Nova]

"Osama bin Laden is a dead man"

I've been looking for some actual evidence of guilt on the parts of any others than those who actually participated in the highjackings.

If there is solid evidence - surely there is some that can be shared with "We The People." I, for one, need to see some evidence of guilt before I can condemn someone or some particular group.

If I am merely ignorant of actual evidence in re bin Laden; then please inform me of where it can be found.

[oneway]

Osamha Bin Laden is a dead man...

[Map Kernow]

Yes, by all means kill this dog. But let's realize that he is only one dog in a big pack. All this emphasis on just one self-important rich brat gangster is going to make people forget that terrorism is a Hydra-headed monster. We can't simply kill bin Laden, "declare victory," and go home. This war is going to take a lot of killing, and our resident soccer moms had damn well better get used to that, if they don't want to be the accomplices of the terrorists that we allow to live.

[BamaG]

Who are you, Alan Dershowitz?

1. There is apparently enough evidence to bring on board Pakistan, Iran, and Syria; nations that are partners in crime with this thug. They apparently see him as the number one suspect, and they want to not be in the way of a pissed off superpower.

2. Do you recall "loose lips" Orrin Hatch, with the intercepted transmission from Bin Laden's henchmen?

3. Do you remember the Cole, the embassies in Africa, the original WTC bombing?

4. And most importantly, I don't give a damn if you are convinced or not. Whether or not we compile enough evidence to "convict" Bin Laden is immaterial. He is guilty of enough evil that it is high time that he be destroyed.

[Arizona Pard]

You need evidence eh? Your "friends and neighbors, moms and dads" have been smashed into gooey smears. You must sleep really well at night just knowing there are big bad mean guys in green out there to protect you. From your typically liberal-apologetic sounding post, after you saw evidence you'd probably want more evidence, then more, then you'd want to flim-flam and wonder what the meaning of is, is.

[Nova]

So you don't know of any actual evidence either?

[mathurine]

The evidence for criminal prosecution might be adequate; the evidence required for wrongful death findings against that filthy son of a pig and a sow is already adequate. He should be sued so that the several hundred millions or more in his personal fortune is denied to terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism and dispersed to the victims of these people who are the devil's own excrement.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Today, only the grand jury knows.

[Nova]

"From your typically liberal-apologetic sounding post"

Just what have I said that you find "liberal" or "apologetic"?

By the way, you have my permission to fillet bin Laden alive if it makes you feel better; but I'll still be wondering if he was "the one" that paid for apartments and flight school, etc.

[MissAmericanPie]

You sound like the idiots that say that capital punishment doesn't stop murders. Well it certainly stops that one individual. Bin Ladin is a dead man walking, and so are all those in his little organization.

If you arrest a handful of key criminals, theft and lawlessness come almost to a complete stop in a city. The same principle is at work here. We will get them all, bury them and forget them.

[mountaineer]

I believe much of the considerable evidence against bin Laden is known to intelligence agencies of several countries, including Russia and the U.S. Should they share all they know with you? Would that help?

[PsyOp]

The man was already convicted of the embassy bombings in Africa - evidence and all. Even if we can't produce the kind of hard evidence that would convince even the ACLU in this case, we have him on priors. Furthermore he has previously issued a formal islamic declaration of war against U.S. citizens from his cave in afghanistan. And we know for a fact, based on testimony from those who worked for him, that he was behind the first attempt on the WTC. Even you should be able to connect those dots.

[He Rides A White Horse]

It means welcoming the frank application of American military power, acknowledging the superiority of American civilization to the corrupt and backward political culture that has attacked it, and supporting unilateral American action when necessary.

In other words, the leftists have been wrong all along.

[Nova]

"The evidence for criminal prosecution might be adequate"

Please note that I didn't say it wasn't. I merely queried as to what evidence is known to the public as nothing significant is known to me. There is a big difference between my claimed ignorance and any imagined defence of bin Laden by me.

By the way, as a well-armed USMC veteran, with enough kills to my credit for the novelty to have worn off; I ask for no other "giant in green" to supply my personal defence.

[Aegedius]

another one will take his place

Of course, there are plenty of other fanatics out there, but there are few, if any, who have $300 million.

[Hugh Akston]

ndeed, if you follow the logic of various pieces in the press over the last few days, the "nothing option" begins to seem the only reasonable alternative: We can't undertake any large-scale bombing in the Middle East because this would be counterproductive and immoral; we can't take out Saddam specifically because we supposedly already tried that once and it didn't work out; and, finally, even getting bin Laden will be difficult because of his elusiveness and the Afghani terrain.

Absolutely, the left will try to sow these seeds of doubt.

We need to make sure that people think about it like Pearl Harbor. There, we were attacked by surprise, on our home territory, suffering major losses. We knew then that the fight was inevitable. We knew that the enemy aimed to conquer us. We knew that if they succeeded, our way of life would be forever changed, for the worse.

This enemy attacked by surprise, inflicting even more damage, on our home land. We know that the enemy will strike again if we do nothing, as they have before (consider our relative inaction after the Cole bombing). We know they intend to conquer us; they have openly stated their goal. We know that if they win, our way of life will be changed forever, for the worse.

I wrote about this here, if anyone is interested.

If we do our part to keep the people's memories focused, we will do just fine.

[Righter-than-Rush]

We're not going to kill him. Remember Saddam? He lives fatter than ever. The USA knows if Osama is killed, a billion crazy muslims will take his place, the holy war will come to YOUR town, and this country will be locked down under Fed control. Sound like fun to you? Well, we could catch up on our reading while using our breathers and bottled water...

[Shurnuff]

I wish I could give credit to the author for this but this was forwarded to me by a friend with no credit given.

Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America.
You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America.
You used helpless American bodies to take out other American bodies,
but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.
Why? Because of something you guys will never understand.
America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers.
America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies.
America is about an IDEA.
An idea... thatyou can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to,
Where you live for the most part like you envisioned iving, and pursue Happiness.
(No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany:
"If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans.
We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one.
We don't have to listen to your speech.... but you're free to say one.
Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you.
We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride.
We're a collection of guys who don't agree, called States.
We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world.

Another idea, we made up on the spot.
You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country.
If you're free enough....
Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time.
That's an unfortunate image to project to the world,
but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in.
It's unfortunate, too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans,
we tend to fight like a cornered badger.
The first we knew of the War of 1812
was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground.
Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to,
and it's not going to turn out like you think, either.
Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.
No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either.
We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger.
Horrific idea, nowadays?
Got news for you bucko, it was back then, too, but we used it anyway.
Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both.

Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project.
Told me once that right up until they threw the switch,
The physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission,
or whether it would start a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything.
But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win.
Does that tell you something about American Resolve?
So who just declared War on us?
It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days.
Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps,
in far-flung places.... who think they're safe.
Just like the Barbary Pirates did, IIRC.....

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.
Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country looking for opportunity,
looking for liberty, looking for freedom.
Even if they misuse it.
The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons were overjoyed
to find out how much freedom there was.
First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns.
The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons.
It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida),
But you're only the newest PITA, not the first.
You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America,
America lives in US!
American Spirit is what it's called.
And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it.
Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit.
Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.
Sleep tight, if you can.
We're coming. </H2</b