I'm going to rant some more about the bin Laden news. So, if you're not interested, you can stop reading now. :)
First, let's start on a slightly lighter note. I've stated that I don't like the rejoicing in the death of a human being, but I did find this quite amusing:
 |
| (Source) |
...because I think the birthers are absolutely nuts. :)
Anywho, begin rant. I watched Obama's speech last night regarding the killing of bin Laden. I was not really very pleased with it (and I normally do like Obama's speeches). A transcript of the speech can be found here. I was with Obama through the 9/11 recap:
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.
However, he lost me with the "I" part of the speech:
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.
Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
I just think that this cheapens the whole speech. It feels more like he's patting himself on the back than making an announcement. I think it feels like a campaign ploy. And I don't like it. (There were more sections that were "I" heavy, but that's the worst part, I think)
Next up, the American people. I think people are being a little nutty. People are saying that they feel so much safer now that bin Laden is dead. I don't get it! I feel less safe! I mean, think about it. What would we do if Al Quaeda murdered our leader? We would be more determined to destroy them (because even if you don't like Obama, you're not going to stand by and let terrorists murder him!).
I really fear for our troops. I think there will be tremendous backlash. I really hope that the death of their leader will help destroy them, but I seriously have my doubts.
While I am not completely pleased with everything, I will say that I am thrilled to see Americans coming together on something again. It's heartbreaking to see our country so divided all the time. At least there are some things that most everyone can come together to celebrate (even if it is really morbid).
