Osama Bin Laden: dead

[Aggie_Ama]

I am actually a bit disgusted with the dancing in the street and celebrating wildly. After 9/11 I remember some people being photographed world wide celebrating, are we any better than that? For me, I will leave him to be judged by the God he believed in. I am relieved that a man with so much hatred towards innoncent people is no longer able to help with terror acts.

Having a friend murdered I learned nothing was gained by his murderer killing himself as well. I still miss my friend terribly but am thankful the person responsible cannot harm others. Closure didn't come from the murderer's death, it came from letting go of my anger and loving my friend's memory.

[Mr. Bloom]

Aggie Ama +1.

Glad he's gone...public jubillation seems inappropriate. I'm frankly embarrassed that it took us 10 yrs to get him...he's had ample tIme to be build infrastructure, transfer his substantial wealth to perpetuate funding the cause, and minimize the impact of his death.

On the other hand, I wonder what the faithful now think...he wasn't living in a cave, but rather an affluent suburb in the city.

[kermit]

We killed an enemy that killed thousands and was a constant threat to our great country. Will it end terrorism? No, But the leader of the empire is gone and soon the enemy will crumble. I myself celebrated for all those that lost loved ones in 9/11 and had no way of fighting back. To second guess our military and their actions is part of the problem with this country. The seals that took on this mission are heros and are out fighting for our freedom. Whatever they did to his body, it doesn't matter. I have friends in the military including Navy Seals and perhaps my law enforcement career makes me believe that people should pay for their crimes. So hate me, it's my opinion and yeah...thank god for the USA!

[Irulan]

I'm not adverse to him being dead, but it's the dancing in the streets that I am troubled by. There was dancing in the streets when the towers went down too, but I don't recall mention of dancing in the streets when Hitler was killed.

[PamNY]

The cheering and honking went on a long time, I think. It's not something I would do, but I can understand why people feel the need for an emotional outpouring. They even had the bagpipers down there.

I don't like the carnival-like atmosphere that develops on the 9/11 anniversaries, either, but it's not about me and it's a very trivial problem in the great scheme of things.

[ny biker]

Well I turned the tv off about 1:30 am, so I maybe I missed the dancing and the wild celebrations. But really, out of the total population of the US, I think only a small number of people were outside celebrating, and it didn't look all that wild to me. Just really off-key singing. Here in DC it was mostly college students.

My first reaction on seeing the news on twitter was disbelief. When I realized it was true, I admit I was happy. Not unrealistic enough to think it would make the world any safer, and conscious that it was wrong to be glad that someone is dead. But I was happy. Because I have too many horrible memories from 9/11/01 and the days that followed.

And then there's this.

http://www.arlnow.com/2011/05/02/qui...agon-memorial/

[Mr. Bloom]

I do not regret his death, this is an outcome of war...I simply will not celebrate it. Gladness over a victory in battle is fair, but celebration is reserved for the end of the war.

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr

[crazycanuck]

*phew* I'm not the only person that was disgusted by the people dancing in the streets & waving US flags.

It just reminded me of rallies in the middle east...

What really really got my goat though was the footage of the former president using the loudspeaker a few days after 9/11....AGUGHGHHHH...*$$&$&$&

[Miranda]

I do not regret his death, this is an outcome of war...I simply will not celebrate it. Gladness over a victory in battle is fair, but celebration is reserved for the end of the war.

[I]“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr[/I]

Yea... wise words... and look how that turned out.

People are crazy.

At a loss for words to add what's already posted atm.

[Irulan]

I do not regret his death, this is an outcome of war...I simply will not celebrate it. Gladness over a victory in battle is fair, but celebration is reserved for the end of the war.

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr

thank you for that quote.

[SadieKate]

I like facts.

Just because someone shares a last name doesn't mean they're cut from the same cloth. Osama himself thought some of his family members corrupt, so I doubt all estimated 600 of them were complicit in his evil.

In fact, according to the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission), the bin Laden flight was on Sept. 20. (See footnote 28 in the 9/11 Commission's report in "supporting documents" at right). That was one week after the FAA allowed commercial air traffic to resume at 11am on Sept. 13.http://www.factcheck.org/article294.html

American and European intelligence officials estimate that all the relatives of the family may number as many as 600. In 1994, the bin Laden family disowned Osama and the Saudi government revoked his passport.[3] The Saudi government also stripped Osama bin Laden of his citizenship,[3] for publicly speaking out against them, after they permitted U.S. troops to be based in Saudi Arabia in preparation for the 1991 Gulf War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bin_Lad...ote-histchan-2

After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, bin Laden returned home as a hero, but he was quickly disappointed with what he perceived as the corruption of the Saudi government and of his own family.
http://www.history.com/topics/osama-bin-laden

MEMBERS of Osama bin Laden's family are ready to provide samples of DNA to help American investigators establish whether the terrorist leader has been killed.

At least some of bin Laden's 50 siblings on his father's side would not object to such a request, The Telegraph has learnt, if only to clarify the status of their brother.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ed-by-CIA.html

[redrhodie]

I lived 20 blocks from WTC, and I watched firefighter funeral processions every day for too many days, which left me sobbing on the street as they passed, with the trucks draped in purple and black. These were heroes. These were people who ran into falling buildings. I just feel the need to point out the contrast between them and Bin Laden, who died using his wife as a human shield. Coward.

I feel no need to celebrate, but I hope this begins a new era of peace.

[Mr. Bloom]

I do think the people in New York and DC must view it differently than someone who didn't experience it so intimately.

...and I would not begrudge them one bit for feeling happiness. The victims of crime deserve the happiness they get from the execution of justice.

I'm intrigued that:

• Osama's own son has condemned the attacks of al-Queda against civilians. I believe he said "do want you want against the soldiers, but leave the innocent alone"
• the cleric's are criticizing the burial at sea (a grey area) and not applauding the efforts - ABOVE AND BEYOND - to provide a burial consistent with Muslim custom. How many families from WTC and Pentagon would have liked to have any burial at all! or, what about the body of the airman dragged through the street naked when his plane was shot down...

[Crankin]

I think I saw that 3-4K people were "dancing in the streets" on the Boston Common last night. It looked mainly to be students, who were happy to be distracted from studying for finals...
Two of those planes left from Boston. Someone from my synagogue was on one of them. The "heroic" flight attendant lived in my town. But, I still can't condone the partying that has gone on. It just feels wrong.
I feel pretty proud of the work my son does right now.

[Bike Writer]

The cheering and honking went on a long time, I think. It's not something I would do, but I can understand why people feel the need for an emotional outpouring. They even had the bagpipers down there.

I don't like the carnival-like atmosphere that develops on the 9/11 anniversaries, either, but it's not about me and it's a very trivial problem in the great scheme of things.

To our TE friends from the States and places where the effects of the horror of September 11, 2001 was felt deeper than to the average citizen, you have seen the promise that was made to bring the perpertrator to justice fulfilled. This in itself sends a strong message, that we will fullfill our duty to protect our citizens, no matter who the commander in chief is. The President who made this promise and the President who fullfilled it are to be commended for their duty to the protect their citizens.

The country who harbored him is also complicit in the matter. We give billions to Pakistan, we might want to rethink that now that there is proof that he was living there. His crimes were not only against US citizens, they were crimes against humanity as evidenced by those who stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this fight. A big thanks to those countries who stand up against terrorists. Bullies don't care who the target is, they just live to bully. And now this guy won't do that anymore.