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From The Selective Memory File

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:01:45 PM EST
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Via Glenn Reynolds, Mickey Kaus:

it’s easy to overestimate the significance of Osama’s demise: Remember when we thought finding Saddam would turn the tide in Iraq?

What do you mean WE, Kemo Sabe? I remember Howard Dean being excoriated (by the likes of John Kerry too no less) for saying capturing Saddam was not a panacea for the Iraq Debacle.

Speaking for me only

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    From The Selective Memory File | 19 comments (19 topical)

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    Reason number (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:13:53 PM EST
    999,999,999 to never take the beltway media seriously.

    There's a difference: Saddam was (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by observed on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:20:08 PM EST
    NOT organizing terrorist actions against the US.
    I expect the death of Osama will be more significant than the execution of Saddam.

    Zawahiri has always been (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:24:42 PM EST
    the organizer, and will continue to be no doubt.  Bin Laden was the inspirational figurehead and the chief rainmaker.


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    Sorry, you are correct. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by observed on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:29:51 PM EST
    Without a charismatic figurehead and fundraiser, Zawahiri should be less potent.
    Perhaps we could say OBL was the University President, while Zawahiri was the Provost.


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    I think that's exactly right (none / 0) (#18)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon May 02, 2011 at 03:38:13 PM EST
    There's a very good reason why Zawahiri glommed onto Osama.  He is not charismatic and inspirational (and faux mystical) as bin Laden and he needed him to draw recruits and $$$.  Whether the "martyrdom" of bin Laden will serve as well as the live guy in future, we'll have to wait and see.

    Parent
    In the past (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:29:37 PM EST
    In the Bush years, Democrats theorized that the medusa of terrorism has many serpent heads and that capturing one head, Bin Laden, wouldn't make much difference.

    Suddenly, when Obama gets Bin Laden,suddenly getting him makes all the difference in the world toward fighting terrorism.

    My, how things change.... For me, though, common sense tells me that the former thinking was more accurate....

    Parent

    I was thinking the same thing (none / 0) (#17)
    by ruffian on Mon May 02, 2011 at 02:33:16 PM EST
    Seems that a lot of BS'ing went into theory number one - also by the Bush administration that did not catch Osama.

    Nevertheless I believe it to be true.

    Parent

    I do wonder a bit about that now (none / 0) (#20)
    by CST on Tue May 03, 2011 at 09:47:19 AM EST
    not because Obama caught him instead of Bush.

    But because of where he was when he was caught.  He was living in a mansion down the street from the Pakistani military.  That sounds a lot more like head of the snake than living in a cave somewhere, which is where I thought we'd find him.

    Honestly, in some ways I think that's the biggest news of all this.  That he was clearly still functional and in charge.

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    Mickey Kaus is a douche (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:56:01 PM EST
    Dear Mickey,

    My husband has missed Christmas, grandchildren being born, his chilren's birthdays, his anniversary, and every other holiday.....off and on for eight years because of Osama bin Laden, not Saddam.  I know, the facts will not distract you from being an idiot and double douchey.

    Bottom line (none / 0) (#2)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:12:11 PM EST
    This is great day. Period.

    I keep hearing this... (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by kdog on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:39:32 PM EST
    how exactly is it a great day?

    Is the world now safe from islamic terrorism?  Nope.

    Is the world now safe from the foreign adventures of our military and spooks?  No, Obama said the war rolls on.

    Is peaceful coexistence any closer to fruition?  Not seeing it, not even close.

    The only good thing is maybe American bloodlust will subside, but even that remains to be seen.

    I mean if all it takes to be a great day is one less violent sc*mbag in the world than everyday is a great day, because it is reasonable to assume that every day a sc*mbag dies somewhere.

    Parent

    It's Just a Weird Day (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by ScottW714 on Mon May 02, 2011 at 01:01:42 PM EST
    I'm glad they got him, but there is still a sadness about today.  I keep seeing people celebrating and I can't figure out what they are celebrating, the guy who killed 3000+ people is dead ? Pretty sure the dead people don't care and I can't imagine his death is helping any survivors sleep better.

    There's a sadness about today as well and I think, for me at least, it's remember why this man was wanted and how one death is so insignificant and empty in regards to the destruction he caused.

    That being said, the world is a better place without OBL.  And although Islamic Terrorism hasn't died, more people will be alive in the future because of today.  Maybe not that many relative to total murders, but for those people, whom we will never know, it makes a difference.

    I think it's important that criminals ultimately answer for their crimes.  Not that I think death is justice, but neither is dieing of old age in comfort.  I wanted to see him humiliated by the American criminal justice system.  Not because we won't let him wear undies, but because our system would have afforded him the chance to defend himself, given him everything he denied so many, with a fair trial.  I think that, more than anything would have healed a lot of the wounds of the past decade.

    Parent

    There I agree 100% (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by kdog on Mon May 02, 2011 at 01:23:35 PM EST
    Weird day.

    The ultimate "victory" would have been a public trial in Lower Manhattan, followed by a conviction and prison sentence (assuming he's guilty based on admissions)...that would be one helluva great day.  We could be proud of our ourselves that we stayed above the barbarian fray, in this one instance if not others, and one less murderer on the streets.  That's a win win.

    As it is, the world has one less murderer, but we have nothing to be proud of in regards to our actions.  We broke into Pakistan like DEA home invaders, and killed a house full of people on sight....not exactly noble, but I guess one could call it necessary...I don't know, weird f*ckin' day.

    Parent

    As general Sherman so famously said, (none / 0) (#19)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon May 02, 2011 at 11:33:18 PM EST

    War is Hell.  OBL declared war on the US, and he has reaped what he sowed.  Good riddance to bad garbage.

    Parent
    I always heard it as (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:24:43 PM EST
    "What you mean 'we,' white man?"

    . . . .

    Pale face (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:27:26 PM EST


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    There's a song! (none / 0) (#10)
    by andgarden on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:33:43 PM EST
    "Lone Ranger," by Oscar Brown, Jr.

    Video.

    Seems I know the lyrics.

    Parent

    Or, we both did (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Mon May 02, 2011 at 12:35:34 PM EST


    Parent
    There's a video (none / 0) (#16)
    by Rojas on Mon May 02, 2011 at 02:22:23 PM EST
    Kimosabe, doctor said your going to die


    Parent
    From The Selective Memory File | 19 comments (19 topical)

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