|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 4:49:18 GMT
Clearly, the death of Usama Bin Laden will satisfy millions of people, but it is really a solution to "the" problem?
Personally, I do not think that rowdy cellebrations are appropriate.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on May 2, 2011 5:03:03 GMT
I have to agree with you. And after all, no matter what he master-minded, others carried out his plans willingly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 10:14:49 GMT
This is already becoming strange. Why did they feed him to the crabs? Won't that annoy people?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 10:30:16 GMT
And speaking of strange, did anybody else find the name of the town where Bin Laden was killed unusual?
The town of Abbottabad in British India was the headquarters of the then Hazara district, and was named after Major James Abbott who founded the town and district in January 1853 after the annexation of the Punjab. He remained the first Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara district between 1849 until April 1853. Major Abbott is noted for having written a poem titled "Abbottabad", prior to his departure back to Britain, in which he wrote of his fondness for the town and his sadness at having to leave it.
|
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on May 2, 2011 10:40:53 GMT
Yes I found the name 'Abottabad' to be very strange.
As for burying him at sea. The Japanese, back in the 1860s, used to dispose of executed criminals remains by throwing them into the sea. For instance if they burned them at the stake, their ashes and bones would be sent out to sea on a reed mat. This means of course that no-one could ever recover their remains and put them in a place to be honoured or visited.
The British also disposed of the body of the last king of Delhi in this fashion. They sent him into exile in Burma and when he died they lined his grave with bricks, put him into it and poured lime onto him. Then grass was planted over the area and his grave was lost and could not be deified by his supporters.
The US wouldn't want Osama Bin Laden's remains to be put anywhere where people could congregate. It's as simple as that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 10:46:39 GMT
Perhaps the cynic in me has me feeling that this all sounds just a little too'pat' for me. Aside from the fact that I live with a severely cynical conspiracy buff of sorts,my own sensibilities tell me that this has been designed to help garner President Obama the much needed votes for re-election.
I don't buy it ,aside from what has already been mentioned about this one person being solely responsible for 9/11,etc.
Buried at sea? C'mon already!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on May 2, 2011 10:47:43 GMT
I'm inclined to agree. More likely he's been frozen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 10:55:19 GMT
The more I hear of this on the radio this morning,the more I'm reminded of the movie,Wag the Dog.
|
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on May 2, 2011 10:55:39 GMT
Can I just slip in the fact that I have been to the city.
Actually I give a false impression - I've driven through it half a dozen or more times.
It's on the main road from the capital to the Swat Valley, an area many go to when travelling up or down the Karakoram Highway (on to Kashgar), an area of astounding beauty.
Carry on, don't mind me.
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 2, 2011 12:38:41 GMT
Mark, it is nice to think of more pleasant aspects of that area. We also remember that a great many people in the Arab and/or Muslim world have been victims of such terror attacks, which were not restricted to New York, Madrid and London.
I find the rowdy celebrations in poor taste as well, especially at the WTC site. Of course I'd have preferred to have had Usama captured alive and brought to trial - he'd have quite a few things to say about influential people in the West - but probably that wasn't feasable.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 12:50:59 GMT
A trial and security would have cost so many millions that I'm sure that lots of people are relieved by a Hollywood shootout ending. Speaking of which, I'm sure that Hollywood is already working on the script. Do you think that Matt Damon will be the one who pulls the trigger?
|
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on May 2, 2011 13:36:27 GMT
The question is, who would play him?
Often in Hollywood the villains are British.
I think though I'd miss out on the film and wait till the musical came out.
lagatta, I also have several bad memories of that area though.
'Bad', I think, refers to 'the city of' so there are several ones in Pakistan with the names of the British administrator who instigated the building of one - like also Jacobabad.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 13:46:01 GMT
Ah, jeez, and all this time I thought they were thermal cities founded by Germans. I was looking for a good resort for thalassotherapy and a sauna in Islamabad.  Obviously, Usama would be played by a Brit. Good challenge for Christian Bale. He can start his diet and start growing his beard immediately. |
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on May 2, 2011 16:11:19 GMT
I have written and erased my response to the killing of Usama Bin Laden many many times this morning. Trying to express the appropriate words to an action that will affect people all around the world for a very long time. Not that my opinion is of importance to anyone, but by doing so, I want to be respectful to all.
To all the victims and their families all over the World of his terrorist attacks over the last approximately 15 years, I can only imagine how justifiably satisfying this may be for you, knowing that he can no longer cause others your same pain and suffering.
I watched and listened to President Obama last night live tell the media what he had authorized on Friday when he had been advised of concrete information of the exact location compound where Usama Bin Laden was in hiding from prosecution of his many crimes throughout the World.
We can expect retaliation for this action but I hope the World is a safer place now that this individual is gone and that vital intelligence information was recovered at the site to locate others and dismantle his network of terrorists.
This was never about Religion, this was always about his hatred, his insecurities, his evilness and because of this I am satisfied he is no longer amongst us.
Michele
|
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 2, 2011 17:32:08 GMT
Michelle, there was an interview with Robert Fisk of the Independent, and he said the revolutions in the Arab region had already done much to supercede the extreme Islamist world-view (of course there are parties based on Islamic principles that are in no way terrorist). It is important to remember that many Al Qaeda and related attacks took place in Arab and/or Muslim countries and/or South Asia (Mumbai and earlier attacks).
I'd be very interested in the complicity of part at least of the Pakistani state and military. Abbotabad was home to the Pakistani military academy as well as a military base. Usama was certainly hiding in plain sight, and not living in a cave by a long shot. He also would have stood out physically (much taller than the average man in the region, a different ethnicity - different features and skin colour) if ever he was seen in public.
I think most people think the world is better off without him, but that does raise issues of the rule of law. I personally think the world would be a hell of a lot better off without George W Bush, who declared war on Iraq, which had absolutely nothing to do with Al Qaeda, and while Saddam Hussein was also a despicable dictator, was a strong ideological foe of the Islamists. But I want to see people in the dock, not assassinated. Though perhaps there was no choice.
|
|
|
|
Post by bjd on May 3, 2011 7:07:36 GMT
I agree with those commentators who say that it's an important symbolic victory for the US, but that Bin Laden himself was just not that important in the past years. He was not the "mastermind" of the attacks but more the inspiration for them.
Threats from fanatics have not decreased, but as another columnist in today's paper said, "a young man with a job and prospects for the future does not need martyrdom and virgins". Let's hope that the movements in the Arab world lead to a better life for the many living there, so they don't need to feel they have to sign up for a terrorist group.
|
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on May 3, 2011 9:18:48 GMT
I've been to Abbotabad twice, a very nice place. Not far from Murree, the more well known hill station near Rawalpindi.
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on May 3, 2011 12:31:18 GMT
I am saddened by the whole thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 13:23:42 GMT
It is interesting to see the reactions in my Muslim office -- or rather the non reactions. People are clearly keeping what they think to themselves. For certain things, I am very pleased (not really the correct word) to be in such an office, because it makes me very aware in other situations of how minorities feel when thoughtless discussions take place among the majority group.
There was indeed considerable indignation at the scenes of celebration and the chants of 'USA USA,' making it clear that lessons that should have been learned on both sides have not been learned, and that the world is setting itself up for another 'event' one of these days.
It should also be noted that making the body disappear has fueled the fires of innumerable conspiracy theories.
|
|
|
|
Post by thill25 on May 3, 2011 20:38:05 GMT
There was indeed considerable indignation at the scenes of celebration and the chants of 'USA USA,' making it clear that lessons that should have been learned on both sides have not been learned, and that the world is setting itself up for another 'event' one of these days. It should also be noted that making the body disappear has fueled the fires of innumerable conspiracy theories. Couldn't agree more on both points... |
|
|
|
Post by lola on May 3, 2011 22:32:47 GMT
Hence the time honored practice of following barbaric assassinations with similarly barbaric bringing head back to display on a pike.
Don't kill anyone on my behalf, please, USA.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2011 7:24:29 GMT
Much as they don't want to, it looks like they're going to have to release some nasty photos sooner or later. I presume that all of the diplomatic channels around the world have already received them, but they can't stay confidential forever. (And then the photos will be dismissed indignantly with demands for the DNA proof... you can't win with this sort of thing.)
|
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on May 4, 2011 8:05:27 GMT
Even with overwhelming proof there will always be someone saying it's been rigged or forged.
There comes a time when you have to say, "Yeah, whatever".
|
|
|
|
Post by frenchmystiquetour on May 4, 2011 14:10:57 GMT
I'll believe he's dead when I see his long form birth certificate, and even then I still won't believe it because I will choose instead to believe a conspiracy that it's been forged.  |
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on May 4, 2011 16:00:34 GMT
Makes me wonder, who would be responsible for creating his death certificate? Pakistan? Certainly one would have to be filed? But filed where? Are death certificates mandatory there or does a Cleric complete a form or sign a letter. Two different issues, the legal and the religious. Interesting....
Mich
|
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on May 9, 2011 11:22:38 GMT
Photographic evidence of Bin Laden's death. (It's not gruesome, don't worry) Click on the 'spoiler'. - |
|
|
|
Post by bjd on May 9, 2011 11:52:41 GMT
;D
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on May 9, 2011 15:38:02 GMT
*snork!*
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2011 17:02:40 GMT
My Arab colleagues were annoyed at the videos released by the U.S. and were wondering if they were waiting to release a film of Bin Laden taking a crap.
|
|
