Not a fact any more than any simple statement made by Netanyahu or Lieberman is the total unvarnished truth of what all of Israel stands for.
this is worth highlighting: Detainees at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, had given the courier’s pseudonym to American interrogators and said that the man was a protégé of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the confessed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. American intelligence officials said Sunday night that they finally learned the courier’s real name four years ago, but that it took another two years for them to learn the general region where he operated. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/02reconstruct-capture-osama-bin-laden.html
I agree that the going down fighting thing gives the Al Qaeda fans more to hang their hats on. I have to wonder if the US would have actually liked to have taken Bin Laden alive. A wonderful book is awaiting the Navy Seals. I wonder if they are sworn not to write it.
You're not trying to use Osama's death to justify the torture and unlawful detainment in Guantanamo, are you?
AP: First strands on bin Laden gathered in CIA prison WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials say CIA interrogators in secret overseas prisons developed the first strands of information that ultimately led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. Current and former U.S. officials say that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, provided the nom de guerre of one of bin Laden's most trusted aides. The CIA got similar information from Mohammed's successor, Abu Faraj al-Libi. Both were subjected to harsh interrogation tactics inside CIA prisons in Poland and Romania. The news is sure to reignite debate over whether the now-closed interrogation and detention program was successful. Former president George W. Bush authorized the CIA to use the harshest interrogation tactics in U.S. history. President Barack Obama closed the prison system. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...H5GTEg?docId=64273c49498c4331bd1c50206122d760 recall that evidence gathered from al-Libi was citied by the Bush admin to support the invasion of Iraq, and the ties of Iraq to al-queda.
Which hasn't been proven, whoops see Pgabriel beat me to it. Considering that the big problem with torture is that people will say pretty much anything I am wondering how many false leads were produced that the CIA has been pursuing for years. We may never know but it wouldn't surprise me if one of the reason it took so long to get OBL was that a lot of time was spent on pursing leads that were the product of torture and went nowhere .
Glenn Greenwald has a great little article up regarding Osama's demise. Thought provoking and worth a read, IMO.
The heart of the article for those too lazy to read and or click. ********** But beyond the emotional fulfillment that comes from vengeance and retributive justice, there are two points worth considering. The first is the question of what, if anything, is going to change as a result of the two bullets in Osama bin Laden's head? Are we going to fight fewer wars or end the ones we've started? Are we going to see a restoration of some of the civil liberties which have been eroded at the alter of this scary Villain Mastermind? Is the War on Terror over? Are we Safer now?Those are rhetorical questions. None of those things will happen. If anything, I can much more easily envision the reverse. Whenever America uses violence in a way that makes its citizens cheer, beam with nationalistic pride, and rally around their leader, more violence is typically guaranteed. Futile decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may temporarily dampen the nationalistic enthusiasm for war, but two shots to the head of Osama bin Laden -- and the We are Great and Good proclamations it engenders -- can easily rejuvenate that war love. One can already detect the stench of that in how Pakistan is being talked about: did they harbor bin Laden as it seems and, if so, what price should they pay? We're feeling good and strong about ourselves again -- and righteous -- and that's often the fertile ground for more, not less, aggression. And then there's the notion that America has once again proved its greatness and preeminence by killing bin Laden. Americans are marching in the street celebrating with a sense of national pride. When is the last time that happened? It seems telling that hunting someone down and killing them is one of the few things that still produce these feelings of nationalistic unityhttp://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/02/bin_laden/index.html
Greenwald makes salient, if not obvious, points. But I'm getting really annoyed at people mischaracterizing the celebrations around the nation over this event. I don't see people cheering in bloodlust, celebrating violence and vindication of war and torture; I see people happy about justice for mankind and peace for the victims of such violence. I hope no one sees this as an opportunity to ramp up the violence, but rather, now is the time to tone it down. Way, way down.
Are you seriously trying to talk about him like he is a martyr? Some of your posts are weird. Whenever you make your little "guesses", you seem to be reaching. Like when you said there is no way to know what religion the people were who raped the CBS reporter and then you "guessed" it was pretty much certain that those who saved her must have been Muslims.
i agree that america's can do attitude shouldn't be associated with hunting down a fugetive and putting a bullet in his head.
Really? You don't see any of that? Sure, it's not all just that sort of sentiment, but it's definitely there, I think. Heck, some of it is exemplified in this thread.
