Daily Archives: 3 May 2011

On one hand we have the first black American President, who came to the White House championing a one word manifesto “change” and talking about America’s shameful human rights record around the world. On the other we have the religious fundamentalist who did more to challenge American predatory capitalism than any other individual since Lenin. Who benefits most from Osama Bin Laden’s death?

Two's The Odd One Out?

At first glance, it may seem that Obama is now doing okay, sitting pretty in the White House, with suddenly enhanced election prospects and probably getting A-grade fellatio from the pretty Michelle most nights of the week or at least when he is too just too damn tired to perform the marital act in all its juicy detail. Also at first glance, Osama is apparently now dead and therefore out of making friends and influencing people game. Round One to the American President.

Ground Zero Celebrations Yesterday

On top of that, it can’t be forgotten that there are many thousands of grieving Americans who just got a chance at closure from the news of the death of their nemesis, who didn’t just elude them for a decade or more but posted provocative videos online in the meantime. I hope these people do get the salvation they deserve. Round Two to the American President.

However, looking into the matter a little more deeply, there are some disturbing facts already in public view:

• Bin Laden was hiding in a bourgeois suburb close to a military training academy.
• The USA violated the sovereignty of Pakistan, a country it had stated to be one of its closest allies, in order to kill Bin Laden.
• It would have been easy to stake out the compound.
• Even Bin Laden’s followers, with their twisted view of Islam, would recognise the sinfulness of Bin Laden committing suicide in a siege.
• Putting Bin Laden on trial would have been a defining moment for 21st Century America, setting down a very public commitment to human rights.

Several messages emerge from this. Firstly, it seems that being one of America’s closest allies puts your country’s internal security at threat from America.  Otherwise, why didn’t Obama trust Pakistani forces to stake out the compound?  It would have been easy to arrest anyone leaving, jam all mobile ‘phone and other radio signals around the compound, evacuate the area and sit it out. American special forces could have stayed in the background and let Pakistan pick up the glory. Secondly, whilst Bin Laden might have chosen to start shooting first and die in the ensuing gun battle had a siege been started, it is clear that Obama did not give him that option. In other words, Obama wasn’t interested in justice, just revenge. Perhaps this is hardly surprising since he has broken his pledge to close the unlawful prison camp in Guantamano Bay, Cuba. All of this is a gift to America’s die hard enemies in Islamic seminaries around the world. Round Three to Osama.

Whilst Bin Laden’s swift burial accords with Islamic tradition, it does also raise eyebrows. We don’t seem to have any independent confirmation that this was indeed America’s most wanted man. I’d be surprised if they’d announced such a thing when it wasn’t true but no administration is incapable of error. No doubt in time some video will emerge purporting to be Bin Laden talking about current events. America will deny that it is genuine but many people in the Arab world will wonder. Bin Laden seems destined to become a figure who simply cannot be killed. Not so much a Ned Ludd but more of a Joan of Arc. People may not see visions of him but they will watch his old videos. Round Four to Osama.

Clearly Bin Laden did fund a lot of fanatics but he did not raise all the money ever spent on bombs. Others have already picked up the terrible work his life on the run has stunted his involvement in. Before 9/11 he had paid for the training of a lot of very bad people and they are still here. Thus, with his death, our prime minister tells us that we are suddenly in more danger than before.  His surprise killing seems to have made us less safe than we were when he was alive! On the other hand, Al-Quaida’s influence did seem to be waning in most of the Arab world. They did not manage to turn themselves into a mass movement, probably because they kept blowing themselves up. When they weren’t dying with their own bombs, they generally recruited the mentally ill or children to the do the dirty work, which didn’t turn out to be a great recruiting tactic. Events this year – the so-called Arab Spring – have completely surpassed anything dreamt up by Bin Laden. A mass movement has swept the region and it has called for democracy, not theocracy. Round Five is a draw at the moment. Time will tell but I suspect that Obama will be getting quality head for some time to come, whilst less and less young Arabs will be watching old videos of the bearded one.