Osama Bin Laden dead, officials say

Well, except for that part where you did.  You said "For those of us who lived through 9/11 and the atrocities associated to Bin Laden prior to that, it's a great day"

That's speaking "for those of us who lived through 9/11"

Obviously you have the right to speak.  Equally obviously you don't have the right to speak "for those of us who lived through 9/11"

It's all semantics...you didn't have to come on here guns-blazing because other people differed in their opinion to yours.

EVERYONE, including those not present (physically), have the right to their opinion.  Period!
 

[mod hat on]

Let's try to keep this on track people. This is a highly emotive issue. Remember there are people behind those user names.

I just find cheering over death - anyone's death - to be in extremely poor taste.

Well said.

It's all semantics...you didn't have to come on here guns-blazing because other people differed in their opinion to yours.

So I shouldn't, for example, accuse someone else of being full of themselves?

My point is that your opinion is your opinion.  Your presence in a place where a terrorist atrocity was committed does not make your opinion more valid, nor does it make it representative of other people in that place.  I was in the Arndale Centre in Manchester in 1996 when the IRA bombed it.  That doesn't add authority to my opinion of the IRA, nor does it mean that I can say "for those of us in the Arndale Centre..." when talking about attitudes to the IRA.

I find celebrations of death distasteful.  I can understand them, but I find them distasteful.  And that's my opinion as me, not on behalf of anyone else.

So I shouldn't, for example, accuse someone else of being full of themselves?

You can of course, but my original opinion was not directed at anyone in particular. I didn't attack someone on here just to prove my point. 

Honestly, when I heard the news this morning it didn't make me feel happy or much of anything really.  It just seems kind of surreal since it's been so long I figured that Osama just wouldn't be found.

I understand if people want to celebrate, right now I'm mostly concerned as to what the repercussions of this are going to be in regards to future attacks.

You can of course, but my original opinion was not directed at anyone in particular. I didn't attack someone on here just to prove my point. 

I'm sorry you interpreted my post as an attack.  It was a questioning of what I perceived as your point.  If I was wrong, and you weren't either speaking for those who lived through september 11 or making an appeal to authority based on having lived through september 11, then I apologize, but I'd also ask what your original point was.

I understand if people want to celebrate, right now I'm mostly concerned as to what the repercussions of this are going to be in regards to future attacks.

This was my first thought.  I am happy he is caught - I wont be doing a dance but I know there is some closure for some.

I do fear the back lash of what will/could happen

right now I'm mostly concerned as to what the repercussions of this are going to be in regards to future attacks.

It does make you think, doesn't it? He's not the only one out there and I feel that his death is more symbolic than anything else. You have to wonder what, if any, difference it will really make.

It does make you think, doesn't it? He's not the only one out there and I feel that his death is more symbolic than anything else. You have to wonder what, if any, difference it will really make.

well, it will cause a power vacuum in Al Qaida, which may be tough to fill.  I'm sure he wasn't in charge of their day to day operations, but he was their figurehead.

In the short term, I think it may cause an increase in anti-Western attacks, but as Al Qaida was a Bin Laden cult of personality, it may spell the end for this particular organization.  The problem is that there are many other organizations.

 

Honestly, when I heard the news this morning it didn't make me feel happy or much of anything really.  It just seems kind of surreal since it's been so long I figured that Osama just wouldn't be found.

I understand if people want to celebrate, right now I'm mostly concerned as to what the repercussions of this are going to be in regards to future attacks.

My reaction exactly. I'm worried more than anything.

My feelings about this whole situation...

I am happy for this resolution. The celebration of his death is the celebration of a small victory for us, not for the politicians. They will take credit for it but it's not their victory. Soldiers know this will change nothing and could quite possibly be a catalyst for things to get worse for a while, and we know there is a line of murderers ready to take his place but this small victory may give them pause as they fight to take over. He hid for so long they thought he was untouchable and we took that feeling of safety away from them just as they did us on 9/11.

That being said, did I feel the need to openly party on the streets...No, I'm not sure how I feel about that as I can see both sides of the spectrum. I did reserve the right to throw out an "Hell yeah!" and "way to go soldiers!"

To the many brave soldiers who dedicated their lives to the U.S. through hard work, sweat, blood, tears and time away from their loved ones. Thank you for your sacrifice and continuing to make America what it is: Free.

Re: potential for future attacks, the security sectors are much stronger now than they were before 9/11. Also, AQ didn't do itself any favors with indiscriminate attacks that killed a lot of Muslims (for example the 2005 hotel attacks in Amman, Jordan). That lost them a lot of support. This isn't to say that future attacks won't take place.....they probably will. Just that AQ as an organization has been significantly weakened ....and the security sector strengthened...as compared to the pre-9/11 timeframe.

As for the other matter being discussed (and with a little trepidation on stepping into roiled waters):

I'm willing to cut some/many of those celebrating some slack. Many of them look to be of college age; presumably cooped up in libraries and dorm rooms studying for finals (it *is* that time of year....).

College students in general actively look for things to party about, especially around finals times. For an illustration, see some of the videos of university flash mobs that are posted to youtube. Its a positive distraction; a way for them to have some fun and let off some steam...

Nor are college students known for their ability to be tastefully nuanced on issues like this. They are, after all, quite young. For those with protect and serve mentalities....and those who want to enter the security sector in particular....its been a tough 10 years. The US has been heavily criticized for many of its post-9/11 policies and there are few easy 'wins' to point to where they can say they are proud to be American. And that, more or less, is what many of them want to say...

Given the context (death and destruction) perhaps it might have been more tasteful if some of this celebrating had been quieter, but I do have to say that it was fun to watch the younger folks express their pride in being American...

People celebrated in the streets after the end of WWII.  I think people are just caught up in the moment.

As for being worried about more attacks.  Where do we draw the line?  Don't publish that cartoon, it will cause terrorist attacks.  Don't air that episode of South Park.  The sun came up.

If they had taken him alive it would be the same threat, only added with the possibility of a jailbreak.