Editor’s Note: This is the first of three posts from Fareed Zakaria on the death of Osama bin Laden. The other posts are Vindication of Obama's strategy and What did Pakistan know? You can follow Fareed on Facebook and Twitter or timely analysis of global events.
By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, a number of people are saying that this does not mean that al Qaeda has been destroyed. Some argue that the organization may, in fact, be thriving. Front-page articles in both The New York Times and The Washington Post make this claim. Many officials from Obama downward are saying this.
I understand why officials have to say this. They want to be cautious. They don’t want to overpromise.
But the truth is this is a huge, devastating blow to al Qaeda, which had already been crippled by the Arab Spring. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the end of al Qaeda in any meaningful sense of the word.
Al Qaeda is not an organization that commands massive resources. It doesn’t have a big army. It doesn’t have vast reservoirs of funds that it can direct easily across the world.
Al Qaeda was an idea and an ideology, symbolized by an extremely charismatic figure in Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was this Saudi prince-like figure who had gone into the mountains of Afghanistan forsaking the riches of a multibillion-dollar fortune, fought against the Soviets, demonstrated personal bravery and then crafted a seductive message about Islam and Islamic extremism as a path to destroy the corrupt regimes of the Middle East.
History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader - of the symbol - is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers.
In the case of al Qaeda, this is a virtual organization held together by its message and the inspiration it provided. A large part of that inspiration was bin Laden. Ayman Zawahiri may have been the brains behind the outfit, but he did not excite people. When people volunteered for jihad, they were volunteering to be bin Laden’s foot soldiers, not Ayman Zawahiri’s or Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s. The loss of bin Laden’s personality is hugely important because it was so much part of al Qaeda’s appeal.
In addition, we must remember that the death of bin Laden is not occurring in a vacuum. The Arab Awakening has already crippled the basic rationale of al Qaeda. Al Qaeda existed because bin Laden argued that the regimes of the Arab world were dictatorial and oppressive. He argued that the United States was supporting those regimes and, as a result, Muslims had to engage in terrorism against the United States and those regimes. He claimed that the only way to achieve change was through violence, terrorism and Islamic extremism.
In the past few months, we have seen democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia. We are seeing these forces changing almost every government in the Arab world. Al Qaeda is not in the picture. So when you combine the Arab Spring with bin Laden’s death, you have a very powerful one-two punch to al Qaeda.
Certainly, there are groups of terrorists around the world, some of which now call themselves al Qaeda. These groups are loosely affiliated in some sense. But gangs of bad guys have always been around.
With the death of bin Laden, the central organizing ideology that presented an existential seduction to the Muslim world and an existential threat to the Western world is damaged beyond repair. We’re left with free-lance terrorists who will, of course, be able to inflict some harm. But the Somali pirates are able to inflict harm on civilians, and that doesn’t turn them into an existential threat to the Western world.
That existential threat is gone.
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Hi Fareed,
Interesting analysis there. But, Osama has been actively around for so long to ensure he has trained some able successors. Osama will be a godly figure for the Al-Qaeda terrorists and his words will be the guiding force. Excuse me for the comparison,but if words of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King and Gandhi are still remembered and used in a positive way, isnt there a chance that Osama's words and ideologies will be used by his followers? Killing the very idea of Al-Qaeda is more important than killing the top man. Being from India, a neighbouring country to Pakistan with a long painful history between the true countries, I hope and pray that the finding of Osama in Pakistan should not create an angry reaction by the AL-Qaeda terrorists in India or anywhere else. According to me, Al-Qaeda is not finished.
Thanks,
Rajesh
Small correction to the last statement "I hope and pray that the finding of Osama in Pakistan should not create an angry reaction by the AL-Qaeda terrorists to India or anywhere else"
Very well said.
Fareed makes a good point and I agree that this is a big blow to al-qaeda, but not a death knell. Since the whole organization is spread into smaller cells, curbing this organization can only be done preventing easy money flow to these groups – which is not an easy task given many dictators and countries supporting these groups for their own vested interest. By being in the fore-front of this fight against terrorism and having achieved success, it gives america more strength and most importantly domestic support.
Well put. Its long been the case that an idea is hard to kill. But I do think that for an idea to live it must be led. I agree with Fareed that AQ is dead mostly because the organization itself does not have the staying power of producing a leader with the same stature. Even though I am skeptical of Brennan's assessment that a non-charismatic leader cannot hold things together, he is right that the impact here-forth cannot be as significant.
However, Rajesh – I think you are correct that this idea will live on. Another messed-in-head leader will emerge and will lead a different organization with the same ideas. This is why when Brennen stressed again that 'when not if', he was on point. I do question the impact and the size. For our sake and safety, I do hope the apparatus put into place and the intelligence does remain vigilant and not in name only.
Dear Rajesh, India have some bigger problems at hands, 1/2 of the India has some kind of freedom movement of some kind. Recently 70+ soldiers got killed by Moist rebels which hold 1/3 of Indian Land and Government has almost zero authority there. To give INDO PAK relation some good non tense movemet India shoud not play Alqaeda Card and should put blame of India's very own unrest on Pakistan.
Indeed well said. But Fareed makes a number of points not just one to prove he's case.
First being Osama was the figurehead of Alkaheda, and he's death will be a huge blow, which you have well addressed, but two other points remain. He's ideology was based on the claim that Arab countries were lead by dictatorial regiemes supported by the west brought down only through terrorism, but the Arab spring, and the part western countries have played in it, by supporting the people not the leaders of those countries, have deflated Osama's Ideology.
Contrast this to Dr.King, Ghandi and Aung San Suu Kyi, their ideology of freedom and equality for all, still remain unshake, this is why they are sitll so fervently fought for.
The third key point is the lack of funding, certainly a good deal of their financiers would give up throwing money at an already unprofitable, and loosing war, which has become even more unwinnable with the death of their grand leader.
I am responding to Adnan since he doesn't know facts about India and is extending a wrong anology between Maoist and Al Qaida. Maoists have access to the most basic weapons and in no way a mojor threat to the Inidan democracy. Theye are present in remote forest areas which has a low population density and hence you are mistaken to say that their presence is over 1/3rd the country-Sahara desert has a huge area but not a huge population. Maoists doesn't have any state support nor do they have a remote access to nuclear warheads.Al qaida on the contrary has a wide public support in many countries and has also the support of some governments. They have a far wider agenda against the West as a whole. Maoist can never reach that scale and thraeten world peace.
We all hope and pray there will not be retaliation. However, it is more likely to be small low rank stuff than anything planned. Actually, Al Qaida has not been around that long and it's actual followers, even at the peak, numbered in the low thousands. That's not much of a base for a movement.
WE GOT THE BASTARD!!! ty for all of the navy seals you did a well goood job!!!
Al Queda is over the same way Hitler Nazi Movement is over. Sure there are skin heads & idiots in white sheets running around espousinghateful racist rhetoric from Hitlers book Mein Kampf but they lack the charisma to with the insanity that Hitler had. Without a leader that posses such qualities Al Queda like the Nazis will never have the proportionate success they enjoyed when Bin Laden and Hitler were alive. We as Amers can help insure there wont be another impending attack on our shores by not voting for a charismatic mental defective Pres candidate who would ignore the warnings of a terrorist expert of an impending terroristic attack.
While no one wants Muslim extremist-bred violence to start springing up everywhere – we should also not be so concerned about "offending" them that we tip-toe around about showing what happened to bin Laden, the pics, the helmet-cam videos, the whole nine yards. You cannot "offend" people that are already committed to destroying you so anything released will be nothing more than the excuse they tout for something they are already planning to do anyway long before bin Laden was killed.
One – showing the world the ugly side of extremism may spur them to action "early" (hastily, not as well planned) thereby helping bring them out of the woodwork so they can be dealt with and (Two) putting some teeth (finally) into the "War on Terror" mantra.
Finally – remember __THEIR__ thinking:
Syed Abul A’ala Maududi, Muslim scholar, spelled out clearly how Universal Jihad is to be waged against ”the infidels” – thousands in direct battle, millions of non-combatants behind the scenes doing their part:
“In the jihad in the way of Allah, active combat is not always the role on the battlefield, nor can everyone fight in the front line.
“Just for one single battle preparations have often to be made for decades on end and the __plans deeply laid__, and while only some thousands fight in the front line there are behind them millions engaged in various tasks which, though small themselves, contribute directly to the supreme effort.”
The fact is that terrorism and extremism are not dead. Al Qaeda may survive and it may not, but most likely it will evolve in some way. Saying we need to remain vigilant is obvious – we need to open our eyes and minds and identify problems as they are developing not after we suffer a major attack.
"To India or In India" is the correct thing to say. There are terrorists hiding in various countries around the world. This "Victory" should NOT be over celebrated either. The terrorists are still out there and although they may have a headless snake, that snake will regrow a head. There will be actions against the west, east, muslim, christian, non-christian people alike. The radical views expressed by the ones creating the chaos will not be lessened because ONE of it's top leaders has fallen. As a matter of fact, the views and actions will likely increase rather than decrease, as revenge and idiocy are rampant in that organization. I pray, that all people will learn to be peaceful in action rather than in words, either spoken or written. We need to propegate peaceful, less radical beliefs in our beaten and compassionless world. Don't dance upon the graves of your enemies, it shows lack of tact and no regard for human life. Do I agree that Bin Laden was a terrible man? Yes I do. Do I agree that justice needed to be done? Yes I do. Do I agree in death to our enemies? Yes...BUT, in terms of caution, I believe we, as a free nation, the USA, we should temper our celebrations and use caution in this time. Dancing should be reserved for private places, not in the open, less we be seen as egotistical and proud (in a downfall preceeding way). We are right to rejoice that this evil man has been brought to his end, but not in an over abundant fashion. Remain humbled by the sheer existence of life in it's many forms, remain joyful in the lives that remain intact, the families that remain together despite the evil that resides in our world. Remember the ones that remain in military actions across the world in defense of freedom that we all cherish. Remember the civilian lives that were lost due to the evil man that was killed. Remember the ones he took with him that may or may not have been guilty, but by association (wrong place wrong time). These are just suggestions and from my own opinion.
I am very happy that the navy seal's did there job but the war isn't over it is far from over someone is gonna try to step in those shoes and cary out what laden couldn't finish but 1st and far most as n american i belive that he is dead but n my heart i know it wouldn't be settleing for some that lost family on 911 but in it's own right we do as the american people would like to see these photo's some say they belive it is not true becaues no data is to be seen which leaves some pondering is he really dead? and wondering what video will be on youtube showing him walking down the street then again with all of thie tecnolgy it can be used in the wrong way but in some way can someone conform this yes every one says this happend but were is the proof there are all ready fake pictures on the web but don't u think "we" as the american people have that right to know see and hear for our self's
Rajesh.... I do not believe that Ghandi, MLK or any other peaceful objector is a good comparison to Osama.... In fact, i would liken the effect of OBL's legacy as the same as the Black Panther movement (a just movement but one of violence....I don't see it as just but do understand that other Arabs may), the Nazi movement or any movement in which invoking hate and terror is the driving force.... Further, really only ideas of peace truely prevail.
Another fact of the article you neglect to include in your comment is the occurrence of the Arab Spring that Fareed shores his argument with. It is not just the death of OBL that is cooling Al Qaeda, it is that the Middle East is changeing from within. Another glaring ommision on your part is that Al Qaeda has been at war with the US for 10 years. We have crippled them by lowering their numbers in terms of active members as well as their top players. I think Fareed is correct in his assertion that this is a very very significant blow to Al Qaeda and also to terrorism in general. In fact, I say it is the end as well.
Fareed, you said: "The Arab Awakening has already crippled the basic rationale of al Qaeda. Al Qaeda existed because bin Laden argued that the regimes of the Arab world were dictatorial and oppressive". True, the protesters have not been hostile towards the U.S. as the objective is mainly to topple their own regime. As long as there is no peace in Palestine and stability on the Indian Sub-continent there will be room for al Qaeda and others of that ilk to make trouble.
How can there be peace in what you call Palestine if Hamas has condemned the US and the killing of Osama, calling him a hero.
As long as there is Hamas, Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah vs a weak Palestinian authority, and an Egypt and Jordan mired in uncertainty there will be no comprehensive middle east peace or no Israeli/palestinian peace agreemetn.
So I wonder whether the other countries will grant statehood to a country that denies the existence of Israel and decides to mourn the loss of bin Laden.
My turbin is dirty anyone know a good dry cleaner
Correction... as long as there is an oppressive Israel in the Middle East, then there will be groups similar to Al-Qaida. The very existence is what has given birth to Hammas, Hezbolla, Al-Qaida and countless other groups throughout the latter half of the 20th century until now. I'm not a supporter of any of these groups, and I'm not a supporter of war in general, but this is the obvious truth.
Rape
I think Al Qaeda is better compared to the spiritually/ideologically driven movement of the Mahdi. And even with Gandhi and MLK, their movements were never quite the same. Even toward the ends of their lifetimes there was dissent.
Don't compare MLK with Al Qaeda/Osama.....even if you are trying to talk about ideology. MLK was a Christian pastor and had an ideological views, but the man was about inclusion of all people to live a life of freedom and peace. Plus, his extraordinary work PROVES that he was actually led by God to do what he did. Al Qaeda and Osama, one the other hand, prove no such thing in their warped thinking...they only proved that they were out to solely kill people...whether they believe it was for their faith or not.
Did you really just compare Al Qaeda with Ghandi and MLK? Leaders all have charisma, intelligence ( usually) and and a message that connects with some cross sections of society. That's where the similarities end with MLK/Ghandi and OBL. What motivates them, their ethical/belief systems, etc are utterly different between them. You might as well compare pastor Jim Jones to any great leader too. He was charismatic, well spoken and convinced his people to kill themselves with poisoness cool-aid...
*poisonous
I don't think folks know how to read a discussion thread, the original poster made the comparison:
"Excuse me for the comparison,but if words of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King and Gandhi are still remembered..."
Kristi, you completely missed the point.
@Christi below this message... did you really just say MLK PROVED THAT HE WAS LED BY GOD??? You must be out of your damn mind! This is why we have problems with religion, because people like you denounce someone else's beliefs and call their own true. I DO NOT, IN ANY WAY, condone bin Ladens actions but for you to say that his faith was "fake" is completely ignorant. Who are you to say what's God's word and what isn't?
The treasure trove of intelligence gathered from that compound will lead us to the other key figures. The problem with cowardly organizations like bin laden's is that they don't declare themselves. Not a problem now. Obama is the first US leader who has finally figured out that you don't kill the dragon by bombing his territory. You kill the dragon by cutting off his head.
Well said Paul. There is part of me that also suspects that the Arab Spring is part of Obama's plan too. This flows into Fareed's premise here. I know it sounds bizarre, but what do you think?
Yeah, I am very thankful that have Obama in office. We need people who are intelligent as leaders if we want to solve problems in a way that makes sense.
You must be kidding. obama is the first leader to figure out that you need to cut the head off the snake? George Bush said that immediately after 9-11. Are you talking about the obamanation that went on an apology tour – giving good political head to every loser dictator in the world after he got elected? The same obamanation that's bought and paid for by the US unions? The damn fool who spends more time on a basketball court and on vacation than in his office? Now when you reply don't forget to play the race card.
Looks like Abduhl gets the award for most cliches and moronic talking points regurgitated for that last post.
Abduhl sounds more like a Tea Party extremist. Give us your real name.
I give Obama credit for keeping this quiet from the pakistanis and for pulling the trigger, however there are a couple things that you have to admit.... the military was running this show and only informing obama on a need to know, the policies that ucovered the first peice of this puzzle were put in place by the last administration....certain things cut across party lines and those always value this country... this is one of those things.. now if obama would listen to his own debt commission we all might have a chance.
"Abduhl," Bush said he was looking for Osama yet we lost so many lives and resources in Iraq going after Saddam. Bush never accomplished what this "Obamanation" was able to. And don't forget, Bush spent the most time out of any US president in history on vacation days – that is a documented fact.
with no internet service at bin Laden's compound, one has to wonder how much meaningful data can be mined from the computers recovered.
A "gutsy move" as it ws called. Otherwise ... we would not have had proof, and just looked like a bunch of thugs in a drive by. This was not some knee jerk reaction ... but a well thought out, strategically devised plan ... let by people who were committed to the cause of justice.
I give credit to Obama as the president under whose administration this actually happened, but let's keep things in perspective. All the news reports, and the timeline CNN itself published, say that the road to Sunday night's victory started under the previous administration. The initial information to track Osama came from Guantanamo Bay (that place people were trying to get closed, remember?) back in 2007.
As far as the Iraq war being a distraction: People need to remember that there can be two things going on at the same time. The fact that we were engaged in a war doesn't mean there weren't people looking for Osama, and the war didn't end when Bush left office. It continued under Obama.
Obama is not the first to figure this out. I give him credit for going through with this and having the guts to give the kill order but that's all the credit he needs for this. There are a lot of people that would like to give the kill order because that is the easiest part of the operation. The ones who deserve the credit are the CIA and military forces used over the years, starting during the Bush administration. Bin Laden was found because of GitMo and the techiques/torture used there, eventhough the Obama administration and human rights groups were against it. I know it may be hard to give the people you don't like their due credit but you have to when credit is due and I give Obama credit for sticking with the goal to the end of getting bin Laden even though I don't care for Obama and his administration.
I wonder how Bush gets any credit for this capture and kill of Osama. 7+ years in office of the Presidency 'after' 9/11 and not catching the man responsible for that crime should make any President bang his head in shame, but for GOP, they will rewrite history, rather than learn lessons from it.
The focus and priorities of these two Presidents have been unmistakable, Bush spent his energy in getting the man (Saddam) who tried to kill his dad. While Obama caught the man (Osama) who was actually responsible for the killing of thousands of Americans.
Republicans can argue all they want on this, but for a regular apolitical observer, this is the truth.
I dont get it, what does Americans gain by killing an unarmed man? All the reports say, he resisted arrest, what a crock of shit. Your telling me the USA Navy Seals could not put cuffs on him..
Raj, while I may disagree with some of your conclusions, it is a pleasure to read a well thought through, reasonable post. Your perspective is appreciated.
I also agree, For once it was good to read these (most) posts and lot of good points and good thoughts. People where respectful and open minded with little or no judgement. Thank you.
Just listed on e b a y my L A Times from Sept 12, 13, 14 2001 and May 2, 2011, if you want them.
Those are for jiggaboos
Fareed, you truly are uneducated on such matters.
Your comment about Osama displaying bravery...may I remind you, such a brave man hid behind one of his wives as a human shield when navy SEALS came knocking at his door.
Also, peaceful demonstrations in Egypt? Allow me to also remind you that people were killed there as well. Not on a scale that in Libya and Syria have showed, but even still that wasn't an entirely peaceful change of pace.
I think he is making the point from the perspective of a Bin Laden follower. I doubt he truly believes Bin Laden was a brave man. But you are right. There is no such thing as peaceful change. There was violence with Ghandi. There was violence with MLK. Also, let us remember our Revolutionary and Civil War days that were extremely violent. Change and the subsequent power shifts on this level will always be violent in nature.
You don't know that he hid behind anyone. She might have been trying to shield him out of love for him. It happens. you know. Osama was, like the guys that flew the planes into the WTC, undoubtedly brave men. But so what? Personal courage in the service of an evil act is wasted. I don't understand this attempt to paint Al Qaeda leaders and followers as cowards. There is ample evidence of their deep commitment and willingness to die for a cause, however perverted. It's enough to say that they chose a destructive path and are now paying for it in a terrible way.
I don't think Mr. Zakaria is personally calling bin Laden 'brave' but that the "brave soldier" persona is one that bin Laden cultivated and used to incredible success in the Arab world. Hitler did much the same thing, based on dubious actual military experience.
@Christopher: There was violence with MLK and Gandhi because of the people who were against them were violent towards them. We call MLK's wor,k and the work of those he collaborated with, as non-violent because that was how he and his followers operated in the movement....even though violence happened to them by those who hated them. Change can be peaceful, because anything is possible. When we stop believing that anything is possible, then we lose our humanity and belief in something greater. If you expect bad things, then you will get it 99% of the time. So, when we speak of peaceful or non-violent in regards to MLK we speak of the person and the movement not about those who hated him.
Dont believe the accounts from MSM on combat, as they are done as straight through propoganda to villify and demonize their enemies. Dont get bought. . They wanna make themselves heroes but a woman is dead, so best to conclude "its obama fault used as shield to fit into the story". This Obama announcements is very propagandic in nature, evidence are not brought and let everyone else vouched in. In combat it just need a bullet to richochet to kill a bystander. If you read history long enough, its just another battle of the Western powers vs a Foreign Power in the last 900 years. It is all about power and sphere of influence, albeit OBL outfit is without the country, borders and standing army.
I think you should read the article more carefully. Dr. Zakaria (an international expert on the Middle East and Asia) was speaking from the point of view of potential followers and not from his own. Dr. Zakaria has spoken frequently about Terrorism as an editor for Time Magazine, as a scholar and as an analyst on CNN. It is very clear to anyone who is thoughtful that he was not stating his own views about UBL but about how those who follow UBL think of him. Read more carefully before you spew.
John Lemon: "the guys that flew the planes into the WTC ...brave men"?!?
Are you serious??
Bravery is defined as heroic, showing spirit or courage, NOT as killing thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
Please don't cloud their "cause" as something borne of bravery or heroism. What OBL and Al Qaeda represent(ed) was the polar opposite of bravery: cowardice, cruelty, and pure evil.
Wow. It's sad you would even think their inhuman and selfish acts resemble anything even close to bravery.
If you actually read the article you would see that Fareed is specifically refering to Osama's bravery in battle against the Soviets. He is not saying that the 9/11 people were brave or that Osama was brave when he was killed. He was refering to Osama's bravery in fighting the soviet invasion of Afganistan.
Please try to read the comment and comprehend what someone is saying before you post angry notes about it.
I couldn't have said it better. My sentiments exactly! What a 'husband', huh?
"A new lead emerged when post-9/11 detainees gave investigators a glimpse into the al Qaeda chief's inner circle, the official said. During questioning, detainees repeatedly mentioned the nickname of a man they said was one of the few couriers bin Laden trusted"..
OMG! How gullible are you people?? Obama wanted to shut down guantanamo and put them in civilian courts where they would not be able to question these guys without a lawyer present!
Do you see that this is all the effect of our previous' presidents decisions to be a true leader and do what it takes to get intelligence and find these monsters???
I am amazed how gullible people are... Obama had ZERO to do with this... He just "ok'd" the order to kill.... Nothing more.
WhatAJoke you are really WhatADope. Man/Woman up and give Obama and his crew their dues. Done under his watch, he gets the credit, just like you would have blamed him if it failed. Grow up ya moron.
WhatAJoke: You realize that it was up to Obama on whether or not the mission would go forward, right?
Well, he knew that there were some risks involved, and he chose to go forward with the mission
You sound like you hate Obama more than Bin Laden. Check yourself. Your hatred of Democrats and liberals is robbing you of enjoying this victory of your country.
‘I truly am not that concerned about him’, said President George W Bush on 13 March 2002 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PGmnz5Ow-o)
Obama shifted the focus from Iraq back to the war on terror. don't fool yourself. don't marginalize the efforts of the SEALs by making this seem like an easy clean up job. a lot could have gone wrong. obama risked his presidency making that order. it is not obama's victory alone, but the man deserves credit.
If it goes well, President Obama should get the credit. If it had gone sour, I am sure that he would have gotten the blame. President Clinton tried to kill Bin Laden in 1997 and failed. President Carter tried to rescue the Iranian hostages and failed. In both case, the President gets the blame. If you never try, you can never fail. President Obama could have said let the Pakistani try to do it and when it failed he could have blamed them. So he gave the order for the mission and it succeeded, so it became his mission. Thankfully the mission succeeded beyond most people's expectation.
If it had been Bush's watch, he would have called Bin Ladin and told him we were comeing. ( not literally but by haveing Pakistan do the job) ANd then he " wasn't home" they would say. Bush didn't have the intestinal fortitude to do it the way Obama did. He was even a whimp when it came to drone strikes.
Well said Punchline. I'm not a fan of Obama and know this started several years ago but Obama deserves major credit for pulling the trigger. It took guts. I only hope that every other president we have would have done the same. I'm a proud American today!
You are the Health Ledger of the baggers. Carter lost the Presidency because of the failed Iran hostage rescue. Obama put his Presidency on the line as well as the lives of the troops. It was his call and it was the right one. He deserves tremendous credit.
What a joke. That's what your comment here is. It must be. I see how you cant appreciate what obama just did. He got the man who caused most of the problems IN THE WORLD, not only in the US. that's why people that hink like you dont succed, people who do the real thing deserve the best. Thats my opinion. What obama did (kill bin laden) is biig. people out therw need to appreciatw what others do for us.
What a joke you really are! Osama Bin Laden only ordered the kill, he didn't do any of the legwork either. By your logic he didn't have anything to do with 9/11 then. See I just owned your sorry excuse of a brain.
Ane I seem to recall another President call for his head dead or alive and then go to Crawford TX on vacation and show off his golf driving skills. Imagine how much credit he would have claimed if he actually, as you say, ordered the kill. Then you and your cronies at FAUX news would be giving him all the credit in the world.
--> ????? "previous' presidents decisions" .... what a dooty head ..... I think you meant: "previous president's decisions" ... UNLESS you actually meant to include Clinton, Bush and Obama (i.e. "previous presidents' decisions"). And that is an important point: Success was the result of persistence spread over several administrations. We didn't give up. We won't give up.
U people are idiots. How much guts does it take to say ok go shoot him since you know where he is. Obama deserves credit for being in office at the moment our CIA and intelligence agencies finally caught up with bin laden. Not for killing him or leading any charge. Quit assigning every good or bad thing that happens to our society to how good or bad our president is. They are powerful men but they're not god. Give credit to the real heroes and soldiers and real leaders who deserve it. Not some figurehead politician
WhatAJoke,
You are conveniently forgetting that when Osama bin Laden was cornered in the mountains of Bora Bora in northern Afghanistan and the U.S. army desperately asked for reinforcements to capture him, Rumsfeld rejected the request, which ultimately resulted in bin Laden's escape across the border to Pakistan. Thank your buddy G.W. Bush's obsession with Iraq for that bone-headed decision. Don't be so blinded bu your rabid hatred of liberals and give Obama credit where credit is due.
I thought Bora Bora was an island in the South Pacific. Musta moved it!
Sorry, I meant Tora Bora, not Bora Bora!
WhatAJoke… Yeah, you are indeed: WhatAJoke if not a total buffoon…
Actually, King George thought of and implemented the entire courier policy of the Obama administration. King George has been in constant contact with the CIA, FBI, NSA, and Homeland Security from his home in Dallas. He even helped train the 24 Navy Seals that conducted the operation, personally sent back the video from Pakistan, and threw bin Laden off of the Naval Carrier into the sea. Were it not for King George and his great intellect, courage and perseverance in saving our country from al Qaeda, none of the current events would have happened. Osama bin Laden would still be alive, living in Pakistan. [“Bring it on!”]
Again, it is only because of the tremendous effort, foresight, and careful planning by King George, aided by his devoted librarian, wife, Laura that this very coherent plan reached fruition. All praise and honor to King George!
WhatAJoke is clearly what you are; you actually make the C- student King George appear almost close to being normal… Almost!
I agree...it's a joke and it's just in time for re-election. What better way to boost his opinion of the job he's doing. Wake up people, it's time to start campaigning!
Saying that Obama doesn't deserve credit because he didn't fire the shot is like saying that Bin Laden isn't responsible because he didn't fly the planes.
Well said. It is all about effective popularity numbers with November looming on the horizon.
I am with you! And what Abduhl said is the truth! Open your eyes people! Obama taking credit for what our military did? Your liberal minds blind you! Wake up! It will be over when God Almighty says it's over.
Actually, Clinton gave Bush the heads up about Osama..... Bush and Father Bush were both focused on Saddam.
I agree. The hate for Obama exceeds hate for OBL. But I'm sure he wouldn't question the myth that Reagan won the cold war.
It's worth noting that leaders seldom train worthy successors. Jefferson, King and Gandhi were followed by whom? In any event, charismatic leaders are never trained or sculpted for their role. They are born and take advantage of circumstances they had little to do with.
Excellent point Henry.
Ah, REALLY big-brainer! Henry, while the rest focus on the stuff on the surface, the people who see where things are really going look to history and the underlying strategic clues. Forget the specific region or religion, look to the now dead IRA. They kept going for decades NOT because the majority of the general populace supported them unconditionally, but because a very small group of so-called fanatics (emotionally disturbed individuals pooling together with the like-minded) relied with their family and church members to support them unconditionally.
That was not democracy (power of popular will) that was driving events, it was a small group of nut-jobs who really enjoyed blowing up lots of people up, killing innocents, no remorse, no Catholic morals. Psychotics.
Osama Bin Laden was not a terrorist, he was a megalomaniac, a nut-job, multi-millionaire, totalitarian dictator who, like Hitler, Attila and so many others, really loved taking people's lives. Here's just one cynic's opinion on what really goes on around the world with these odd-balls who attract fanatics:
http://justonecynicsopinion.blogspot.com/2009/09/using-label-legitimizes-psychopathy.html
BIN LADEN IS DEAD BUT HIS GROUP STILL LIVES AND THRIVING IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY STRIKE AGAIN AS REVENGE FOR BIN LADEN DEATH
That is the silliest statement. Leaders like MLK were sculpted by their experience for the role that would take. MLK had to deal with and witness racism that you would know nothing about. He had to witness how African Americans were treated, his life as a pastor trained him to operate in a nonviolent way and rely on his faith in Jesus to sculpt him into a unique leader with unimaginable power and influence to change the course of history...I mean read your history books. Although violence was directed towards him and those who marched with him...he led an non-violent protest and movement. That day when we he led that epic march to Washington...all that experience and God's own hand gave him the power to say one of the most pivotal speeches in our world's history and still be held today as one of the most inspirational and change-making figures in our history. He was not simply taking advantage of a situation....he was leading a movement that would change this nation forever and have major world impact.
@Christi – You misread what Henry was saying. He was commenting on replacing Ghandi, King and others AFTER THEIR DEATH. He wasn't talking about their followers during their movement. This article is about the effectiveness of Al Qaeda AFTER bin Laden's death.
If you were half as educated as you think you are, you might be able to follow the conversation instead of incorrectly pointing out non-existent flaws.
Rajesh, i think Fareed's macro analysis is the most probable of outcomes. i don't believe he is saying OBL will not continue as an inspiration (he undoubtedly will...but no where near the scale of what he was prior to his assassination). further, i think bin laden himself likely was quite surprised (and perhaps cautiously pleased) by the fall of dictatorial arab regimes...as a devout person however, he would prefer to see the regimes replaced by islamilic governments rather than non-islamic ones. in a sense osama lived to see some of his dreams being achieved, but just not in the way he conceived. Bin Laden's analytical error was the 'monster analysis' – ie assuming U.S. is evil by supporting dictators...so he moved to chop off the head of the his perceived evil dragon. This analytic error led to bin laden's raison d'etre: which Fareed correctly identify as ceasing to be with the unforecasted 'Arab Spring' (arab/muslim people did not need osama to free them from arab dictators by destroying their 'supporter', the U.S.A....Arabs/muslims were doing it themselves with street protest and IRONICALLY with the moral support of president Obama who INSPIRED the Arab Spring in the first place startng with his June 4, 2009 Speech at Cairo University (google copy of transcript online if not familar with this speech)
Yea bringing Thomas Jefferson, Ghandi, MLK... that kind of ruins that post for me. These people, especially Ghandi and MLK preached words of peace that will echo down generations to come. Osama preached hatred and violence. History has proven that those who show peace and mercy to the world are the ones that are immortalized whereas those who preach and show hatred and violence to the world are studied in history book as to "what not to do." Hitler was idolozed by many during his time and praised by Germans but he certainly isn't being praised anymore after his death. Terrorism I believe will always exist with or without Osama, but this is a huge blow and I do believe effectively ends the Al Qaeda. It's over...
Hi Nick,
MLK, Jefferson and Gandhi are iconic figures for all the good reasons. The world follows their teachings as described in my post "their ideologies are used in a positive manner". Osama is a leader of a terrorist group who was actually on a war against USA for supporting Israel. That has been documented as the prime reason by most news agencies. Now, This is not a world war where a treaty signed would mean the end of the war. These damn terrorists are unidentified people lurking in their hideouts planning their next attack. Osama modified the true meaning of Jehad to 'inspire' young minds against USA. I feel the 'inspiration' and anger will magnify now, and one gets the feeling there is some attack round the corner, but we dont know where. It is a very scary thought. Eventhough it is very comforting to have the notion that Al-Qaeda is over, I believe otherwise and want to dig deep into what exactly happened in the killing of Osama. Why couldnt US find him for so many years? Is the 'intelligence' not intelligent enough? Pakistan and Afghanistan are not huge impenetrable fortresses.
Please comment
With all due respect Rajesh, T. Jefferson,MLK,and Gandhi did not teach violence ,hatred and murder.
Hi slove,
Gandhi, MLK and Jefferson as as much my idols as yours. I didnt compare thier ideologies with Osama. I was merely comparing the impact of the ideologies. MLK, Gandhi and Jefferson inspired the world. Osama inspired a group of brainwashed people spread around the world to fight against USA and their allies, for reasons only they can justify. I only hope that everybody posting is right and the Al-Qaeda is finished. But, will the impact of Osama's anti-USA drive die down just like that? I fear the worst is yet to come.
while zealotry's drive has to be taken seriously, the words of terrorist leaders are an attempt at self-fulfilling prophecy. sort of like a greek tragedy oracle or a modern day analyst. the more absurd and outlandish a claim is: the more chances people will take notice and act in anticipation of it. therefore instead of a zero probability outcome u get a higher pourcentage.
dont make the same mistake the anti afghan war journalists made when they took osama bin laden at his word: saying that he wanted a full scale war with the US and a clash of civilization. thats true he intended war with the US but he was hoping people would take his word at face value and not attack until it was too late and/or that the muslim population would listen to him and join the fight against a preemptive US.
Since the muslim ignore him then i really dont think al queda 's ideology was as widespread as they would make u believe. AS someone in the comment below mentioned u kill a dragon by cutting off its head and therefore if they say you wont fight a war because you are weak and fight for 10 years you win. al queda's head was never bin laden, it was its credibility.
I got a crush on Osama
Rajesh – What words of Osama did you have in mind. After all Jefferson wrote All Men are created Equal – still a firebrand statement. And with the others you mention it was also the continuing effect of their words.
Maybe I just haven't heard them – but what words of Osama have this effect. The Q'uran does, but Osama did not write the Q'uran
Hi fadograph,
Osama drove a group of men to destroy USA. I dont see them becoming good samaritans any sooner. How can change people to become good if we dont know who they are. With due respect to all the great leaders I mentioned, MLK, Gandhi and Jefferson, I was only comparing the impact of their ideologies on a group of people. Osama only spread hate and that is a known fact.
A very important lesson to take away from the death of bin Laden is the power of coordination and surgical operations. Hopefully in the future the US will learn its lesson from Iraq and Afghanistan and make smart decisions about how to deal with terrorists.
You are very smart to point this out, Rajesh. We may have opened Pandora's box.
It nothing but a new beginning for the truthful, Osama was not what west has made of him, not a solder but a lightning rod against imperialism of USA and Europe, Majority follower of Alqasida have never seen him and have never heard him speak but hey follow him, not because he is Osama but he represented nothing but Aoqaida (THE TRUT) Against western imperialism, He was not killed by the American forces but by his bodyguard according to his will, not to captured alive. claim is of his death is no more than a wish list of imperialist criminals like the analysis of freed Zakriya. Alqaida is alive and vibrant more than it has ever been and proof of his teachings and examples are in over through of criminal imperialist stooges in Egypt and Tunisia. Worst is yet to come.
Rajesh,
Fareed is saying the "Al Qaeda idea" HAS been destroyed. As a matter of fact, he says, the idea was being destroyed by the Arab Spring and the killing of Al Qaeda chief puts the nail In the coffin.
Power Ranger
Many commentators and editors have been posing the question what is the significance of osamas killing? In my mind, this is a great victory for America and people throughout the world. Of late everyone has been questioning whether Amercia is still the leader of the free world, given the depressing economic news, deficits and IMF predictions about other countries. With pursuing osama with determination and killing him, America has clearly re-asserted its leadership in the world by improving the security situation. Given the fact that Al-qaeda and osama have targeted many countries and have killed many innocent lives, this news clearly has brought cheer not only to americans, but many other countries.
Osama ebay
Osama bin Laden planned to make it too expensive in money, manpower and casualties from terrorism for the west to maintain a presence in Islamic nations. Instead, he made it too expensive in so many ways for us to withdraw. It wasn't a challenge we couldn't afford, but a challenge we cannot ignore. Although many of the irrational zealots that followed bin Laden cannot understand why democracies work this way, the fact that the US was willing to spend more than 500 billion dollars fighting a war on terror (albeit with a lot of political infighting and other energy/economic considerations) is not lost on the more thoughtful radical Muslims. Khadafi, despite his erratic behavior, and many other radical Muslims are neither stupid nor entirely blinded by their religious beliefs.
Some radicals now realize that terrorism will never defeat democracies, and will alter their behavior to the extant that they recognize it is necessary for them to survive, . Some won't.
Free, democratic societies are in some ways like the Borg; we will assimilate radical Muslim fundamentalism, but we tolerate, even encourage the appropriate expression of its beliefs – after all, we let that Koran burning wack job Pastor Terry Jones run around with firearms, even though his religious intolerance is anathema to our fundamental belief in religious freedom. bin Laden was given a burial at sea in accordance with Muslim religious beliefs because in order to maintain free democratic societies, we must collectively respect each person's right to religious freedom, with a very high bar as to where that interferes with the rights of others. If you want to burn a Koran, or put a Christian crucifix upside down in a jar of piss and call it art, or put up a billboard ridiculing the concept of End Times, that's permissible(but you better be ready for vociferous criticism). Free democratic societies don't dump our enemies headless bodies in ditches, or hang them on display from bridges, or spit on them, or otherwise abuse them. A person's color, ethnicity, religion, social background, sex, and so on doesn't automatically make them an enemy. Some of our best friends are Muslim; or Jewish, or Catholic, or French, or gay; all of our friends are something, and they are not all the same.
Unlike the Borg, that assimilation does not suppress diversity, but free democratic societies gain strength from it.
Well said, thanks for using reason, and thoughtfulness.
What Brian Dodge said. Over and over again. Well done, Brian.
Well noted.
The people really responsible and who perpetrated the 9/11 tragedy killed themselves with the attacks, to avenge killings in Lebanon and Palestine by Israel and its US lackeys. I don't think Bin Laden was a mastermind or anything close to influence anyone for anything, ultimately its the unfair US foreign entanglements and ridiculous quagmires that are to blame for this fiasco. Chickens coming home to roost. The Vietnam war killed 4 million innocent people along with 100,000 Americans, and it was influenced by the US Government. The US military industry also tries its best to keep the political fires burning around the world, for corporate profits. In other words this is bigger issue than just Bin Laden, numerous slime filled special interests are part of this insane global catastrophe.
Rajesh I'm from India too, firstly putting Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Osama in the same context is the worst disrespect to the greatness of the former. Where's the LTTE today after the death of Prabhakaran? Even fanatical Tamil people who initially supported them ultimately understood that violence only breeds violence. Today they openly criticize the failed Eelam agenda as much as tomorrow Muslims would come out openly criticizing the Al Qaeda agenda. We're all just humans after all, doing the same thing, trying to put the bread on the table !
Very true!
Osama will remain iin the mind of those who loves him.So,there is no amount of campaign can stop his affection.It is unfortunate and high level of bias,that Osama is bieng villified today.Meanwhile, a lot of people are blind to the facts that these set of people also guilty of the same offence levelled aginst OBL.Susan Rice,Rumsfed,Geoge Bush and others for killing innocent people in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world.There is no justification for the senseless decimation of the people under the guise of fighting terrorism.These are haters of the world,they hate other people as well.When is justice is going to be done?
Hi Rajesh
I partially agree with you that AL-Qaeda is not thoroughly uprooted and we have to be careful for the next few year.
But the good thing is that it will be on decline. And most importantly its strength will be decided by the handling of the war torn countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. We should support all the non-military activities in the countries.
Finally, I do not agree with the comparison with Gandhi and other revolutionizer. Their ideologies were based on LOVE and PEACE so it inspired every thoughtful mind. I will compare LADIN with Gangez, Hitler and other ruthless that buried their ideologies with themselves.
Seyab Khan
Pol·ly·an·na
[pol-ee-an-uh]
–noun
1. an excessively or blindly optimistic person.
–adjective
2. ( often lowercase ) Also, Pol·ly·an·na·ish. unreasonably or illogically optimistic: some pollyanna notions about world peace.
-proper noun
3. CNN apologist commentator Fareed Zakaria. For historical parallels, see Neville Chamberlain.
Look - I'm TOTALLY OK with assassinating (aka murdering") this terrorist....just as long as we didn't water board any other terrorist to get information about his whereabouts. See how the Liberal mind works? Scary, isn't it? Not even intellectually honest enough to address that blatant inconsistency.
Controlled torture of POW's in captivity is a bit different from killing armed enemy combatants in the field.
Absolutely!
Killing a man in combat who is known to have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of American civilians is morally no different from torturing captive prisoners. Besides, we're getting many of these prisoners from random Afghani warlords with long histories of tribal infighting, loyalties, and rivalries. What could go wrong?
Liberals, what the heck are they thinking?
The point is not that there won't be backlash from a few of his followers. The point is that Al-Qaeda is over as an organization – for all intents and purposes. It will be very difficult for it to recover from this. However, the problem is not Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda was just on manifestation of the Muslim Islamic terror ideal that has spread across the globe. There will most assuredly be another Al-Qaeda, because the mindset remains the same for these groups based on their fanatical religion; to kill anyone who does not fall into the house of submission.
I think Fareed is correct, as he usually is on Middle Eastern issues.
Yes, MLK, Ghandi, and others are remembered but their effectual ability to lead to action has been lost. One never sees any action remotely similar to the events these people were able to cause. For example, here in the US, once MLK was lost, the movement evolved into the militant Black Panthers and the like and progress for the blacks slowed greatly, unfortunately.
Had al Qaeda been a centralized, organized body the effect of his death would have been much less. However, al Qaeda is loose group of multi-national people not bonded by cultural similarities. Now they are like Fareed said, just a bunch of loosely affiliated pods of extremist.
I cannot celebrate the death of anyone but can raise a toast to the death of everything bin Laden represented.
You are right Obama says He will do something... He does it but in His own time!!! When He does it like He did Iraq it stays done... Not like Bush Sr that Bush Jr had to go back!!! He is a doer like Bill Clinton!!!
Rajesh, as a fellow indian I understand your emotions. But I disagree with your conclusion. That conclusion has always been sign of a tolerant and weak INDIA. when will that stop? Instead of being scared and praying, why doesnt India go on the offensive with PAK instead of doing the useless peace talks? You know why, Because the India Congress Govt. has to appease the Muslim voters in India. Pathetic, isnt that peopple ? I hope and pray that the Indian Govt. grows some, you know what, and starts talking to PAK with fist and not love. PAK CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED AS A FRIEND. Lets stop with these BS talks. Have we forgotten the Mumbai attacks. This is the right opportunity for India to go on offensive and NOT start begging to USA to get their job done.
However, I am so glad that OBL is history and even happier that he was found in PAK, a fact that PAK politicians have been rejecting since day 1. PAK govt, and ISI have always been sympathetic to AQ, OBL & Taliban just like they have been sympathetic to JeM, LeT and other Kashmiri Outfits.
Zakarria is absolutely wrong. His analysis is primitive and misleading. BinLaden was retired, but AlQaida has been working.
SAUDIS jumped in the NYMEX crude market in a big way yesterday to drive the price of crude up. They are (insert bad word here)
Rajesh....You are absolutely right we should kill the IDEA of AL QAEDA But how?
You got to be fair when you are dealing with other countries including Isreal, Stop supporting Dictators in middle east,
Stop bombing civilians ( For your info more than 1.2 million civilians killed in iraq) Ther was no WMD or alqeada before the war. Give all countries equal representation in UN ( only 5 got Veto) Etc.......If you follow this YES we can kill Idea of ALQEADA.
Well, that's the other side of his point. In a vacuum, perhaps the allure of OBL would live on. But there is the Arab Awakening as he calls it, which provides a more constructive alternative to the path of al Qaeda. Would Maclom X perhaps be more widely regarded and would the march toward civil rights in the US been more violent had it not beenfor the constructive, non-violent approach advocated by MLK (inspired by Ghandi)?
I think exteme Islamic Terrorism has been reduced dramatically by the popular uprisings in the Muslim countries, and the death of Osama Bin Laden. So their influence will be severely diminished, but they will still exist as long as it is percieved by them that we are stepping on the toes of their Tribes in their lands. The vacum of influence will be filled by more moderate Muslim factions. They will form their own Governments based on a mix of Democracy and Religeon and Tribalism. They will figure out something to fight about whether we join them or not. Doug.
We can be passivists and hope that by not challenging the devil, he will be kind to us and will not attack us and let us live. That's the life of a coward and should that have been sufficient, India should have continued under British rule. The resolve that the US showed is commendable. The use of the term "pursue at any cost" culminating in his killing has sent a clear message to many about America's resolve to protect itself and its citizens. One of the biggest reasons that Pakistan and the islamic militants continue to attack India with such abandon and then actually sell themselves as a victim on the international stage is our passivist and "chalta hai" attitude. OBLs killing is not going to solve the palestinian problem, the middle east issues, terrorism from any fundamental religious outfit. That was not the intention of going after him. It was about sending a clear message to the whole world that a nation was serious about bringing to justice the people who hurt her citizens. I am no fan of all US policies, but so are most Americans I know. But there is something commendable about this resolve. Donot forget that nationals from more than 56 countries lost their citizens. America went after him for all of us. The least we can say is thank you. The lesson we can learn is protect our own citizens like they do theirs, rather than be passive and believe that if we leave the terrorists alone, they may just choose to kill a few rather than many. If we are to be six feet under, it's more honorable if we went down fighting.
Good logic there Rajesh! But there is adifference between then and now. No offence to the memory of Mahatmaji but he is now only an academic interest inUnivs and a picture on the wall in Govt offices in India where corruption is so rampant. Same with great leaders like MLK and TJ. We refer to their life and ideology often but lets be honest, the majority are not disciplined enough to put those high ideals in action in the physical absence of these leaders. So I agree with Fareed's assessment that the Alqaeda movement will loose steam and strategic direction as time goes by. Also Islam does not allow any one to honour any one living or dead as God. Revolutions in the Arab world have set the clock ticking for AQs ideology. Very soon there will be no takers for that sort of crap.
You make a great point, but it destroys some unity. I saw some people point out that these smaller cells will fight back. But you have to realize, it takes a lot of planning, training, and resources to pull big terrorist attacks. So if they work independently, they would have trouble pulling resources to do things like 911. And likely show up doing it.
However, it probably won't be hard to pull small attacks
So Hitlers fascist movement is as strong now as it was when Hitler was alive? Fascism & racism may be alive but without someone as charasmatic or insane as Hitler around it will be nothing more than some skin head and rednecks dressed in bed sheets. the best way for our country to prepare for the next Al Queda Attack is to insure we elect a Pres that wont ignore the warnings of a terrorist expert the way Pres Dubya the Decider did when he ignored Richard Clarks warning. No more Pres who would start a war based on counterfiet evidence to try to monopolize their familys oil fortune.
You better touch my pickle or ill tickle you. HEHEHEHEHEHE
PS:Its MJ
Bin Laden is, at best an emblem. He did NOT plan 911, as always he just supplied the money. He was happily surprised when he found out how it was used. He was a rich boy who never grew past playing warrior hero. Those who have met him did not find him the bright bulb of the family. I am disappointed in the press and in Fareed Zakaria for fostering such ignorance. Smart devils abound, the US has NOT killed the brains of the monster.
Him being dead is a wonderful thing. Yet still, if you dont blame religion, you're out of your mind. If he, or the people he brainwashed didn't think they were doing "God's" work, none of this would have ever happened. Assuming religion never existed: "Good people would be good.. and bad people would still be bad. But in order to get a good person to do a insanley bad thing(like murder an abortion doctor, fly planes into buildings, make women not allowed to learn) you need religion" It is the factor that makes all problems exist. Even if you are a muslim or christian or Jewish, and you are a peacful person, you claim to know there is a God with no proof."FAITH" it is the essence, and the beggining of stupidity and control. We are brought in as kids, that dont know any better, and told by 75 yr old virgin preists and rhabbis on how to have s#x, what to eat, and where to kill. every religion tell you to loook no where else. What could be worse for humanity? They literally tell us to not think and to not learn. Religion has ruined our lives as humans. The good it brings is miniscule compared to the shear terror it has bestoed to us. millions of women arent allowd to read due to religion. What could be worse? Go back 3000 years and take it away. Let women learn and read, that more than doubles our chance at learning about what we KNOW exissts.. and we'd prob have alot more disease cured. It doesnt matter if its extreme or not. People actually think they are talking to "God" or vice versa. We dont need it. We never will. Everything we need, all the rationality and reason, is in our brains. All our passion, and love, and humanity, is in our mind, and our hearts. Lets stop giving something the smartest people we have in the world dont belive the credit for sunlight, for love, for fear, for hope. Lets give ourselves the credit. There inlies the true meaning of our lives. And maybe one day, if we have faith in OURSELVES, we will undertsnd that by thanking our mothers for life, and not a made up ghost in the sky, we will all love eachother a bit more. Maybe if we dont govern our lives by rules given to us by old men who said that ghost in teh sky told them, we will ake our OWN desiscions, and relaize our greatest gift is that to choose our own life. Not guided and influeanced by a "God" who made everything, except a dollar bill. Maybe if we realize the idea of heaven is no more stupid then not being allowed to eat meat on a friday, we will stop being so quick to send our troops there. And if we can one day all NOT belive in the fear of hell, or not going to this heaven, we will then be truly united, and then truly brothers and sisters. And then make the life we have on this earth, the only one we know, a peacful one.
This is an interesting point to compare to Martin Luther King and Ghandi but there are some notable differences which I hope will make Fareed's analysis correct. First, as he pointed out with the Arab Awakening, there is a much better organization doing much closer to what Martin Luther King and Ghandi did – the civil disobedience – that is winning the causes in a manner disassociated from al Queda. So at the very least, many, many more who will support change will do it through other channels. Though of course the few terrorists may invoke bin Ladin's name. I also like to believe there was a great reason that MLK and Ghandi succeeded besides their charisma, and that was their speaking the truth, and peace. The very cowardly nature of terrorists rather than being a true open message for peace will hopefully contribute to their disintegration. Finally MLK and Gandhi were more in the midst of the oppression. The war against the west is one over a long distance. If al Queda remains more as a message to fight against oppression within their own country, as with MLK and Ghandi, perhaps then they will simply merge with and join the other Arabs who are seeking change in their countries.
MLK was a brilliant man. He was most likley an agnostic. He had a vision that came from his heart. He was a lover of all. But his brilliance was most certainly shown in his use of religion. His message was pure and real and saved lives. And he knew he had to get that message out. So he used religion as the vehicle to do so. He knew the majority of the people he was speaking to only knew ONE book, the bible. So he exploited that book to appeal to the mass. It is certainly documented that his organizers were absolutkley athiest. his lead advvisors weren't catholic. But how can you get a message accross in those times to poeple that were so much more brain washed and less enlightened then they are today? use what they belive. He did have faith but was certainly intelligent enough to know that religion, and its teachings are BS. most do. He also knew that religion, unfortunatley, was/is culture. When you school a religious person on the horror that religion is, you will notcie they attach their family to it, and leave the validity argument alone, so as to pin you as a bad person. When you denounce judism to a Jewish person they will bring up their families in the holocaust... I feel deeply for them til no extent. I have the utmost compasion for the people that perished under Hitler(who was religious), but it lays no proof if its real. MLK should not be compared to Ghadaffi. If anything you should pool these three together: Ghadaffi. Hitler. Pope. kim jong il. All see or saw themselves as a God. and all wanted a one world race/religion.
I think irregardless of the fact that Al Qaeda may still be on the move, it is important for America to celebrate. it only makes sense to celebrate when so much effort goes into something, that one celebrates progress when it happens...
Rajesh, I think you are incorrect in your comarisons to Ghandi, Jefferson, and King. Recall, the basic objectives of those men were accomplished in a legal sense ... and so the "staying power" of their message derives from the real-life gains their followers enjoy. Jefferson has the US Constitution, Ghandi has Indian Independence, American Blacks have the Civil Rights Bill, the NAACP, and the EEOC, which were the main objectives of those leaders.
People are less interested in a message than in a result. Doubt and skepticism are much natural than faith and sacrifice in the absence of charismatic leadership.
Al Qaeda, in contrast, has not accomplished any of its goals. At all. Not a single Muslim country has an Islamic government (except for Iran, to a point, but that happened before al-Qaeda, and since it's a Shia government, Bin Laden disliked the success of it). Al-Qaeda operatives are hunted around the world. 7 out of 8 Muslims worldwide, according to some polls, despise Al-Qaeda and it's message. Al- Qaeda lost in Iraq. Perhaps Bin Laden's message died even before he did. Finally, some important Muslim countries have found their freedom in spite of al-Qaeda. The failure of his message is virtually total.
No, Fareed is right here – Al Qaeda is dead. And just like the Mafia in the US, there might be a few stragglers, but the game is up for all intents and purposes.
Rajesh's point is obviously correct, the ideas are still there. But of course, those ideas were there before bin Laden, it is just that fewer people paid attention. The number of people moved by ideas alone is quite small compared to the numbers moved by ideas communicated by a charismatic leader. Wouldn't you agree?
Al Queda is indeed finished the same way the Nazi movement under Hitler is finished. Sure there are skin heads and idiots in white sheets espousing Hitlers racist rhetoric from Mein Kamp but the are next t nothing compared with Hitler. Bin Laden had a certain charisma to go with his insane rhetoric and without a leader with that type of peronality Al Queda will never recover to the proportionate level it had when Bin Laden was alive.
To insure that we dont have another attack here from any terrorist groups in the future we must make sure not to elect any charismatic mental defectives that would ignore the warnings of any terrorist experts the way Dubya ignored terrorist expert Richard Clark. No more blood for oil war or any war based on counterfeit evidence as well
@ Rajesh,
I don't understand why are you so scared of Terrorists attack on India. I feel that the water has risen till the nose of Indians and any major act of terrorism in the future will mark the end of Terrorism ( Pakistan). if there is any terrorist activity in the future we will have whole world's support except China, which can openly cannot defend terroristan so max it can do is sell weapons to pakistan.
From your fear I feel that this terrorists are winning. If we had ministers like Americans there would not have been any Pakistan on the face of the Earth
Jai Hind
I totally agree. How can anyone be so sure that Al Qaeda is finished? I think it will be stronger than ever. There are plenty of well trained subordinates to take up the banner. The martyred bin Laden at the hands of the hated American interlopers will be the rallying cry.
Osama may be gone, but that does not purge his brand of evil, in the name of I s l a m. Until all cultural oppression is abolished there will always be lesser Osama's on the rize.
Osama was no better than HITLER. Look what happened to that regime. This is someting that has happened time and time again and although you can never completely destroy these organizations, they lose so much. He may have taught and trained someone to take his place but it's not the same and will never be the same. You cannot replace an Osama, Hitler or any of those types because that amount of hate and crazy doesn't reside in everyone. You don't have to twist the words and teachings of a religon to do good in the world, but you do to spread hate.
U.S is paying Pakistan for Bin Laden's mortgage for his 1 Million dollar house
I AGREE WITH Rajesh Gopalan.
Bin Laden only ever was a meglo-maniac trying to elevate himself on behalf of Sunni Islam to a level of the transcendent Imams of Shia Islam. I think he watched the Jewel of the Nile one too many times......
Rajesh,
I hear when you say that the killing of a leader will not stop a movement. You quoted examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. What sets these people apart from Osama is their ideologies. While MLK and Gandhi pursued the path of non-violence, Osama resorted to extremism to achieve his ends. A more apt comparison would be to Saddam Hussien on Hitler. These people are dead and with them has eventually died the toxic and blind hatred towards people which was justified in their eyes. This one timeless truth stands no matter what: Evil can only be overcome with good and chains of ungrace can only be broken with grace. While MLK and Gandhi seemed to not only understand this but pursue it with passion, others missed their mark. For this reason, I see that the juggernautish force of Al Qaeda has been maimed with the death of Osama.
I have to agree with you Rajesh. I dont want to, but I have to
Good article and good comments. When you look at the last part of the article, where he mentions the peaceful overthrow in Egypt and some promising signs elsewhere, I can't believe I'm saying this but could George Bush have been right to start in Iraq and hope the democracy movement grew? If that's true then all those American lives we lost would not have been in vain. George Bush right? God what a thought!
Don't be confused, Hamas is like al Qaeda, a terrorist organization that wants to destroy the west.
A great day for the entire world.
the only reason Ossama Ben-ladein , I do think that theirs for sure connections between Al-quada and some of the arab dictators , like in libya we never had them , but the mint Gaddffee is feeling danger then he start using them like in Morcco and Italya last month , I agree the al-quada is an idealogical more that an organizations and lasted this long because of the Arab dictators. for sure with free of the arab world from their dictators we will have minimized this pictures , Ossama and Gaddffee has the same way of thinking terrors is the way to attack and I am not sure how works for who
Rajesh, well thought, but where is the idea and ideology? What last is the ideology of peace and word that is well carved out that emphasise human progression and coexistence. That is what we call beneficial and lasting ideology. Those people you mentioned above and Ghandi are embodiment of those type of ideology.
I think Fareed has just given the best analysis. What left behind are bunch of gang called al-Queda.
It is becoming clear that Pakistan has had access to OBL for six or more years, and defacto control of the entire Al Queda
organization can be assumed for at least that time period. A conclusion can be justified that perhaps this entire terrorist debacle is a creation of the ISI,
that in fact the war on terror is a contrivance of elements of the Pakistani military apparatus. If this proves to be so, then certainly the threat of terrorism as experienced in the past decade can no longer be upheld by Al Queda or other terrorist organizations.
HELLO, I FIND YOUR COMMENT VERY TRUE IN MY CASE TO KNOW ME IS VERY INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW OF A PERSON WHO IS CLOSE TO THE PLACE WHERE THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING BECAUSE I AM FROM AMERICA AND THE NEWS OF THE WORLD IS ONLY GIVE TO KNOW THE INFORMATION YOU AGREE TO THE UNITED STATES.
BIN LADEN'S DEATH IS AN EVENT THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED AT ALL THE WORLD, THAT IS WHY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE FACTS AS IT HAPPENS, TO LIVE IN PEACE AND QUIET.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT THIS ITEM, AND THEN THAT YOU COMPLETE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT ARE AFFECTING INNOCENT PEOPLE.
I agree with Rajesh;
AL-Qaeda is not dead, but we can help defeat him with daily propiganda ,telling the world how many moslem women and children have been murdered in each country in the last 10 years..
they take credit for killing them like bragging
Not just the Al Qaeda but the vast majority of the Arab populations in the Middle East and around the world will never come to term with the U.S. fundamentally, or ideologically. The Western world should never have tried to impose religious belief or Democratic policies upon the Arabians. We (Americans) should never have come to aid another country with direct military involvement whether there is regional or tribal conflict. We should have enough respect to leave especially, the Arabians to handle their own affairs. If we had not interfered fundamentally, politically, religiously, and ideologically from the beginning, we would never have had to suffer the dilemma of terrorism. We have brought this "DEEP ROOTED HATRED" upon ourselves by the Arabians because of our act of interfering. We are not just fighting a contemporary military war, but a spiritual one. Until we can erase them from the map then we can be sure to win.
I agree Rajesh, with Islamic totalitarianism as fertile ground, new variations will emerge, especially as the core and center is not even identified by western society: Iran.
impossible to undestand the act but some nazis european use immigred to robbe abuse jewish communauty today in france in communication or bussiness this is conséquances of september 2001 i ask the french president to arrest hackers and nazis group make bussiness with jewish ideas need help after my agression in south of france is hell for jewish communauty the police dont help mayors dont care less my money of sacem robbe ben yair humanities robbe by terrorist cyberterrosts make theu ideas in the cultures for me is united nations all the believes all nations joelle esther benyayer my music for you the song new york city 1991 against nazis group and terrorism
Well I think your right Gopalan. If anything its going to get a lot worse, I mean already 80 people have died in response to Osama Bin Laden's (OBL) death. I am sure like most people have stated here, that OBL, had plans in case of something like this. What's more It does not make a lot of sense that after ten years of avoiding capture that all of a sudden he gets caught and blasted in the eye. If anything I bet he would kill himself first before getting shot.I mean for goodness sake there have been criminals hiding in America that have evaded capture for a lot longer and your telling me that a man who has the field advantage with mountains and caves was just sitting in a mansion of all places and got killed? It almost feels like that this was setup and that he planned to die so that Al Qaeda would grow from the anger caused by his loss. The even weirder thing is why did they not capture him? You telling me that they could not have put a tracker on the helicopter or even send a drone out to look after him and where he went? what about a stealth operation? Why did we go in with heavy artillery?Couldn't there have been a smarter way of capturing OBL???
FAREED IS AN AMERICAN AND AN INDIAN STOOGE.
FAREED IS AN INDIAN AND AMERICAN STOOGE.
Hi Fareed,
The ideology of Osama bin Laden will unfortunately be everlasting, in that it will transcend his own demise. As long as the United States is portrayed to be the enemy, and with the compounding factor that they were instrumental in his death, this might facilitate the bin Laden loyalists in getting some kind of twisted revenge. While it is definitely a blow to this terrorist faction, it might be premature to proclaim that Al-Qaeda is dead.
Also, since most of the Al-Qaeda members likely have never seen Osama bin Laden with their own eyes, and no one has seen his dead body, there will always be some sort of reasonable doubt.
Let's wait until the third day, and then we'll be sure
Well played, my friend!
Surely you can't be comparing Osama with Jesus? What have you been smoking?
True. Even Nazis exist today. But, if bin laden isn't safe in some remote outpost in the pakistani mountains, then the rest of the cowards can be assured that there is no rock they can crawl under to hide any more.
Yes, that's what I take from this too. It shows the brainwashed killing machines that we'll get you eventually.
The problem is the martyrdom complex of many of the fanatical footsoldiers. They're not actually trying to hide under rocks at all.
That is where You are wrong... now the Tarriest knows that if They attack the United States... Obama will get the leader know matter where He is and kill Him!!!
I'm afraid I have to agree, to a point, with Mr. Gopalan. The remnants of al-Qaeda are going to strike out, I believe, with great determination, using whatever funds and personnel are in their pipeline, probably in a near reckless frenzy. There may be attempts among some to fit his life into a distorted version of the Mahdi. In the long run, yes, I think al-Qaeda is finished, I don't think that they can stand up anyone to compare with the charismatic person of bin Laden, however, I suspect that the west is in for a few rough years before al-Qaeda fades from the world stage completely.
Don't be stupid. Don't create false hope in our country. We have succeeded in killing the leader but don't be naive that is MANY followers will not seek revenge. They will and in reality it may be worse then if he were still alive. It has been almost 10 years since he has attacked us, by killing him we have made the US a huge target. I pray we do not experience something as horrifying as 9/1/ but it is unrealistic to think we have won. IT is just starting. I pray our government is prepared for this and can help keep our people safe.
Zakaria has a triple-digit IQ, and you're calling him stupid. Wow. You tell him not to create false hope. You should be telling yourself to stop believing in the fearmongering from certain political elements. Without cash, without organization, without inspiration, terrorists can WANT to strike out, but they will have severely limited capabilities. Stop worrying like a frightened child, believing the scary stories that politicians are telling you.
More than 1/2 of all people have a 3-digit IQ...
@mark...this zakaria dude has been WRONG on EVERY account that has given about LIBYA, and he is wrong again,here is your proof that A-Qaeda is going to be around for quite some time. this zakaria dude should stop writing propoganda for CNN and stop making himself look like an idiot every time that he writes a column that he knows is a lie before he even writes it..................
Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi, a leader of U.S.-supported rebel forces in the fighting around Adjabiya, went to Afghanistan in 2002 to fight against the "foreign invasion" - that is, U.S. troops who invaded Afghanistan in retaliation for the September 11 attacks. The Telegraph says al-Hasidi told an Italian newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, that he was captured in 2002 in Peshawar, Pakistan. "He was later handed over to the U.S., and then held in Libya before being released in 2008," the Telegraph reports. Al-Hasidi also told the Italian paper he recruited about 25 Libyan men to fight against U.S. forces in Iraq.
Al-Hasidi's story is consistent with evidence presented in a 2007 report published by the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. That report, by professors Joseph Felter and Brian Fishman, examined records of an al Qaeda-affiliated organization found after an October 2007 raid near Sinjar, Iraq. The records contained biographical information about nearly 700 foreign terrorists who came to Iraq to fight against the United States between August 2006 and August 2007.
Felter and Fishman found that the largest portion of foreign fighters, about 41 percent, came to Iraq from Saudi Arabia. The second-largest source of foreign fighters, at nearly 19 percent, was Libya. "Libya contributed far more fighters per capita than any other nationality in the Sinjar records, including Saudi Arabia," the authors conclude. Since previous studies had indicated far fewer Libyan fighters in Iraq, the authors suggest there may have been a "surge" of Libyans into Iraq in the spring and summer of 2007. "The apparent surge in Libyan recruits traveling to Iraq may be linked to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group's [LIFG] increasingly cooperative relationship with al Qaeda, which culminated in the LIFG official joining al Qaeda on November 3, 2007," the report say.
The Telegraph, citing U.S. and British government sources, reports that Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi was a member of the LIFG.
The Combating Terrorism Center reports says that Darnah, Libya - al-Hasidi's hometown– supplied more foreign fighters to Iraq than any other city, including Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a city far larger than Darnah. Benghazi, Libya, now a rebel stronghold, was also a major source of Libyan fighters traveling to Iraq. "Both Darnah and Benghazi have long been associated with Islamic militancy in Libya, in particular for an uprising by Islamist organizations in the mid-1990s," the authors report. "The Libyan government blamed the uprising on 'infiltrators from the Sudan and Egypt' and one group - the Libyan Fighting Group - claimed to have Afghan veterans in its ranks. The Libyan uprisings became extraordinarily violent. [Libyan strongman Moammar] Gadhafi used helicopter gunships in Benghazi, cut telephone, electricity, and water supplies to Darnah and famously claimed that the militants "deserve to die without trial, like dogs."
In the current fighting, Gadhafi has said that the rebels fighting against him are affiliated with al Qaeda, but his claims have found little acceptance.
There is no doubt that the rebels associated with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group are violent extremists. The Combating Terrorism Center Report found that the Libyans, along with Moroccans, were more likely than others to become suicide bombers once they were in Iraq. The Sinjar records, plus political developments in the 2007 time period, "suggest that Libyan factions (primarily the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group) are increasingly important in al Qaeda," the report says.
Now, it is not clear what portion of the Libyan rebels, who enjoy the backing and assistance of the United States military, have been associated with al Qaeda and attacks on the U.S. in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. That's one reason critics of the Libya war say the U.S.-led coalition doesn't really know who it's fighting for. But we may learn more in the future, especially if the rebels prevail and some former jihadis find themselves running Libya, courtesy of the United States. .............
Mark,
Are you actually suggesting that keeping Gaddahfi in power is better for the US!?! His government has been as bad as Iran in supporting terrorism against the West. Don't you remember Scotland? Bush basically had to bribe him in 2009 to give up his WMD program.
He is personally unstable, intensly hostile to US and has accumulated a decades long record of supporting a variety of international terrorists. If anyone meets the definition of rouge state it is Libya. So you are suggesting we should have let his forces overrun Bengazi and slaughter thousands because a few Islamists are fighting for the opposition?
Please step away from the right wing radio, and join the rest of us in reality.
Sorry Mark...my comment was directed @ mar.
YOU think HE'S stupid? This gentleman is very intelligent and incisive. Reading his articles, listening to him speak shows how incredibly intelligent Mr. Zakaria is and how very knowledgable. I'm afraid, Samantha, that you have shown bad taste and ignorance in calling such a person "stupid". Really, you should be ashamed of youself. But, considering what you wrote, I doubt that you understand Mr. Zakaria. But you do know how to call smarter people than you names. Ok, then.
pam..zakaria is PAID by this AMERICAN propoganda site to print AMERICAN BASED LIES AND PROPOGANDA! if you dont believe me, see my earlier post for proof!
Libya: Former Guantánamo detainee is training rebels
A former detainee at Guantánamo Bay has taken a leading role in the military opposition to Col Muammar Gaddafi, it has emerged, alongside at least one other former Afghan Mujahideen fighter
Rebel recruits in the eastern port city of Derna are being trained by Sufyan Bin Qumu, a Libyan who was arrested following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and held at Guantánamo for six years.
Abdel Hakim al-Hasidi, a senior Libyan rebel commander in Derna, was also held following the invasion of Afghanistan and handed over to Libyan custody two months later.
Both men were said to have been released from prison in Libya in 2008 as part of a reconciliation process with Islamists in the country.
Mr Qumu, 51, a Libyan army veteran, was accused by the US government of working as a truck driver for a company owned by Osama bin Laden, and as an accountant for a charity accused of terrorist links.
The appearance of Islamists in the country's revolution, and supportive statements by Islamist groups, has led to fears that Western military action may be playing into the hands of its ideological enemies.
Abu Sufian Ibrahim Ahmed Hamuda Bin Qumu
Abu Sufian Ibrahim Ahmed Hamuda Bin Qumu is a 51-year-old citizen of Libya. He was transferred to Libya on Sept. 28, 2007
Mr.Qumu is also a member of the TALIBAN and was the director of a charity run by Osama Bin Ladin and he was also the personal truck driver for Osama Bin Ladin while they were livig in the Sudan. Immediately after 9-11 Mr.Qumu was given the responsibility of escorting the family of Osama Bin Ladin to Iran to avoid capture byt eh american forces. the person who gave him that responsibility was OSAMA BIN LADIN HIMSELF! Zakaria is a liar and a propoganda writer! AQ is going no where. we know they will be in Libya if we continue to help them!
Mar sounds like someone with a cardboard sign on the street corner yelling at passing cars. One negative aspect of the internet is that crazy people can easily disguise themselves...
Yeah, ok. Samantha, who probably has a community college degree and evidently poor rhetorical skills, calls the Harvard graduate with a PhD in political science "stupid". Give me a break.
They will think twice about doing it knowing They would die too!!! They will be afraid of the United States now with Obama in office... They knew Bush would o nothing!!! He just wanted to keep the wars going...
Sure, Al-Qaeda may be dead, but LeT, the ISI, the Pakistani military and several other groups from the Al-Qaeda network are not. In other words, terrorism is not dead. We have won a very significant battle and are winning the war on terrorism. But I don't think we can afford to let our guard down. I hope we aggressively continue our intelligence gathering and do what is necessary to keep terrorists from getting a foothold anywhere in the world.
We also need to watch out for the Indian intelligence which has killed many innocent Kashmiris in India. Two thousand innocent Indian Muslims have also been killed in Gujrat., Countless Sikhs in the Golden Temple and the list goes on and on.
here we go again with moronic false equivalency and diversionary nonsense on behalf of the Pakistan military and intelligence establishment. Their complicity – whether tacit or active – in global terrorism has gone on long enough. Thank goodness this President and his administration have not put up with it from day one, despite all the controversy. And now this utter embarrassment for the Pakistani leadership ought to wake up the few remaining people in the world still sleeping on the menace that is Pakistan's intelligence apparatus. Dawood Ibrahim still lives like a king in Karachi with nary a concern for his safety. They need to cough him up, or stop pretending that they are a member of the civilized community of nations.
Haroon Akhtar your opinions are not based on fact rather one sided. You need to understand that the so called freedom fighter of Kashmir are killing many inocent non-muslim people. And it looks like that you are OK with it. Remember these fights are not started by USA, Britain, India or any other peace loving countries but the terrorists. Unfortunally while cleaning the dirt you may end of lossing the inocents, that sad. I think you left India and settled hear it US and that's why lost reality, I could you?
No more free dollars for Pakistan. Only free pork from now.
Thanks for your replies .You Indians have kept profile names of people from different parts of the world to fool the American people, most of whom are justice loving unlike you Indians who will stand up for your country and blatantly lie even when your Government and intelligence have committed criminal acts and victimized innocent people.
Dog barks and the caravan goes.
@Haroon,
Time has come for all Pakistani's to accept that the islamic state has produced only terrorism. Islam is not the way, give up islam ... its nomadic concept, if you follow islam, you will remain backward.
Also stop pointing finger at great country like India. Pakistani's dont have " Aukat" to speak about India.
Give up Islam, embrace other religion or else you are doomed. !!!
Thanks for pouring your hatred for Islam. You can go on worshiping cows and monkeys. Atleast the God of Muslims is not a handmade idol that you worship. Your knowledge is very limited about Islam and how this beautiful religion has originated.Muslims have been radicalized by the repressive policies of the West and other nations such as yours. Islam is a Religion of mercy and compassion.
Who killed half a million Hindu Kashmiris and and many living as refugees in their own country, who are responsible for that, who occupied Indian Kashmir, give me one name of nation with muslims living in peace. you guys are pain in @$$ and will be forever.
People...please...this is NOT about religion. Don't try to make this about religion. This is about the failed political state of Pakistan and the conniving, terrorist-sympathizing liars who have become deeply entrenched within its security apparatus. They cannot hide this fact anymore. It is plainly obvious to the whole world – including Muslims like Fareed Zakaria, so stop the anti-Muslim crap.
it's ironic that muslim kashmiris think that pakistan is a better option than india...not sure when they will wake up and decide to embrace a country (india) that has a stable democracy and a robust economy. Why do you think pakistan has a problem? fundamentalism is on the rise and the economy is tanking, no jobs...so what do the poor in pakistan do? get brainwashed by people like osama and take up a path of violence. Wake up kashmiri muslims, educate yourself...build a better future as a part of india....pakistan will lead you nowhere.
@ Haroon
Answer this : In which religion's name innocent ppl are getting killed in phillipines, indonesia, india, Pakistan, russia, Europe, Sudan, nigeria, US ....
Answer : Islam !!!
Another simple question: When you hear works terrorism, name the religion come ot your mind.
Answer : Islam !!!
I have enough understanding about islam to know how rotten it is. Let me educate you a little bit :
- In the name of Islam , thousands of innocent ppl are killed every day.
- Islam says all non-muslims are devils and must be killed.
- Islamic nations follows nomadic islamic law– killing women by stoning, cutting body parts ....
- Islam preaches killing of innocent in the name of fatwa.
Then also you claim Islam teaches mercy and compassion !!!
you said muslims are radicalized by rest of the world .. as if only muslims have problem... and whole world is conspiring to kill muslims... we all have our share of problems, but we dont become terrorists like muslims. Wake up and see the protests in Arab world .... they are not revolting against western countries, but their own muslim masters. no other country is more repressed then richest islamic state like Saudi Arabia.
To summarize for your little islamic brain to digest:
- ISLAM = TERRORISM
- PAKISTAN = TERRORISTAN
There is still time, either evolve islam with current times, or perish!!!!!
FUCK ALLAH ..... the biggest drag queen for all time... the guy who fucked 72 virgin goats...
Broke back mountain story was inspired by allah screwing 72 virgin goats !!!
Indian intelligence , a message for all your agents who have been paid to spread lies about Islam and Pakistan need to know that the Creator of human beings is all powerful and He supports only those Nations that are honest and honorable. Your lies will not get you anywhere and God will expose your evil machinations to the world.
@Haroon
I have a dream ... a dream of seeing pakistan destroyed. Your mother , sister and children running around begging for food , cloth and mercy is not far away .... ahhhhh what a scene... what a dream !!!.. there is indeed god.. but not allah.. he was anyway a nomad who roamed around screwing goats, and that is why he dreamed of screwing 72 virgins & that is how you guys still mould young lads into jihad .. on the dreams of virgins. You muslims are really pervert. That asshole Osama was hiding from death, then also he wanted 2 of his youngest wives with him in hideout and fucker was producing babies while shiting in pant in the rat hole… he had like 8-9 kids in there. What he fuck you muslims are !!!
Anyway, coming back to my beautiful dream. And you know who is coming to make it come true ??? not your ISI, your army or your trained terrorists... its ppl like you !!!
Terrorist cannot destroy a country, its the common man like you who fail to see or do not want to see what wrong your army & ISI is doing. The playing you... they cover-up their dirty acts under the umbrella of patriotism & you don’t see the writing on the wall.
you said the truth will come out... its out for a long time and you dont see it !!!
check out these facts ...
- today pakistan is synonymous with terrorism. Ask any civilized person ( which automatically excludes any muslim.. very obvious ) and the work pakistan resonates with terrorism. And so is islam.
- Try to fly out of your country, showing pakistani passport in airports is embarrassing . Even if you go as tourist, you guys are hesitant to say you are from pakistan.
-Look at your country ... after separation from GREAT country India, what have you achieved??? You are in such a miserable state... All your citizens have ashamed your nation, may be it your nuclear scientist or the paki person responsible for times square bombing or your ISI with Osma incident. I am very happy that you guys separated from India, else it would have been us on the block now.
- Pakistan has always exported terrorism... first in Afghanistan, then in India, which you are still doing, and then to US, Europe, Indonesia etc... now that same terrorism is biting you hard. you guys keep saying... US used us in Afghanistan during Russian occupation.. were you guys 5 year old kid that US came, fucked you and went away? your army & govt opt to get exploited for money.. so stop giving this excuse !! Grow up !!
You guys made a BIG mistake to create a nation in name of a religion.... freedom of all kind including religious is needed for healthy development of nations. No matter how hard you try to get away from terrorism, you cant because you have tied whole nation to islam, so in name of islam you will always be exploited. Good luck !!!
you said " Creator of human beings is all powerful and He supports only those Nations that are honest and honorable".. Considering the situation pakistans is after decades after creation, do you think your allah is supporting you ??? How blind one could be !!! Dont you guys want to wake up , have your own independent thought and see what lies your ISI & army is spreading to continue their rule & look what they have done to your nation.... a nation of terrorist...
So at the end, my 2 cents : Wake up, listen and act !! Ask your army , govt & ISI to give up terrorism !!
Else , my beautiful dream of seeing fucked up failed state of Pakistan in ruins will come true. Then India will build a public toilet there to honor once stinking neighbour.
God will win in the end and all the evil forces in the world will come crashing down. There is no Nation on this earth that is all powerful. God is omnipotent and ultimate power rests only with God Almighty. The Arabic word "ALLAH" means ONE GOD. Muslims,Christians and Jews believe in the GOD OF ABRAHAM.
Maybe now the Pakistan Military will think twice about double crossing the United States like They have!!! I think Our Enemies will have more respect for Our Country knowing They wouldn't be safe anywhere...
Mr. Zakaria,
Upon reading your article concerning the end of Al Qaeda as a result of the death of bin Laden, I was left with one key question: What is to prevent bin Laden from being considered a martyr, an inspirational symbol to future generations of Al Qaeda terrorists? As you mentioned in your article, he was an exceptionally charismatic figure, thus, could he not serve as an inspiration for the future of the organization as a symbol, or rather, a rallying point for which both people and resources might be accumulated around to perpetuate the existence and well-being of Al Qaeda?
Sincerely,
Kieran Dunne
P.S. Thank you very much for your talk at my school, Cornell University. I greatly enjoyed hearing your insights.
You have got to remember that its a holy war founded on beleifs that their leader has defeated the west. Now that the west has killed their godly leader these religious fanatics will no longer be able to keep their hopes, dream, and beliefs alive!
You have a good point there!!!
Kieran: you make a good point, but if I may expand on what I think is Fareed's point, it is that there is no-one in the group to match OBL's power to inspire new recruits alive. His power lay in his eloquence, background, and the fact that he was alive and apparently thriving. The group is operationally no weaker today than it was yesterday, but it has lost a leader with unmatched ability to bring in new people. Plenty of movements have gained a boost from the early death of a key figure, but I think you need to have a set of ideas and policies that are resonant enough to outlast the leader. Al Qaeda's ideas are not strong enough, and now have to compete with the more simple, practical and attractive ideas of the Arab Spring.
..and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri will turn to a life of selling Girl Scout cookies.
This might be the single most dangerous post (from someone anyone trusts) this year, perhaps on this topic, ever.
And the headline? Irresponsible and unsupported by the material.
@DanFarfan
Hi Fareed,
I think these readers are as foolish as any Obama hater. I think yo uare right! Most Americans dont have a clue what al queda is all about. Al Qaueda is about fighting a holy war. A holy war that only got to where they are because Osama Bin Laden became like a godly figure in their eyes and now that this godly man has been killed i gaurantee you A LOT fo these young impressionable little kids who get recruited by Al Qaueda will snap out of it and come back to the real world.
I think Al Qaueda is DEAD! I think this is the last blow they could handle... Since 9-11 the US has destroyed their safe havens and hide outs and dismantled their intelligience and unity... I thin kyou are totaly right that a few group here and their with whatever resources they have left are going to seek revenge and I think that leaks will allow the US to stop many of these attacks. Furthermore you have got to realize that Al qaueda is like the stock market.... It is held together by a belief, by a common feeling, so when a ddevastating blow comes in like this.... IT SHAKES the entire foundation it sits on.
All the people who fund al qaueda will now think twice about giveing money to a non-Bin Laden terrorist in fear that this new terrorist will be unable to replace Bin Laden.... Like I said, its like the stock market.
The fact that the US military saw fit not to let the ISI/Pakistani military in on this mission, and that bin Laden was found relatively close to a military facility underscores the fact that PAKISTAN and not Afghanistan (and to be honest, maybe not even IRAN) may be the true existential threat to American interests. Especially worrying is the recent killings, no, assassinations, of political moderates in Pakistan willing to take a public stand against the growing extremism. Essentially we have a state that is slowly destabilizing and evolving into a tacit sponsor of global jihad. Al-Qaeda may have established the brand, but unfortunately it's been franchised to others such as Al-Shabaab (Somalia) and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani group that masterminded the massive Mumbai attacks in India. bin Laden was a necessary target, but his group is just one head of a nebulous hydra that will bear its fangs in the coming days in search of its own retribution.
It just shows that You can't even trust those We are fighting for!!! He got Him because the United States was the Only Ones that knew about it... That is why He got away with it!!! We can't even trust the People We are fighting with when it comes to something as important as that was...
Yes, i can of agree with you but Osama bin Laden's foot solders will continue to propel this obsolete ideology in another version.Osama had implant destructive tendencies in the minds of his followers.
Al Qeada is not dead.And who told you it was Osama Bin Ladin they really killed.
This is not Bush and Cheney that would lie to get what They wanted!!! Why would Obama have to lie about it??? Our Enemy will think twice about attacking the United States again... Let the rest of the Counties take care of Their own Countries!!! We have to take care of Our Own...
I I think that bin Ladin had largely become an icon, if you will, for the whole terrorist community. Now that he has been martyred by his execution at the hands of the "American Devils", Al Qaeda will probably struggle on and eventually fall apart under it's own weight. I agree that the Arab Spring has diverted a lot of the venom towards America, for now.
I believe the he was already dead. The administration thought it was time to bring closure to 9/11.
I know You are a Idiot!!! I bet I'm right and Your wrong...
Definitely Al-Queda is not dead with the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the second in command in Al-Queda and other members of this terrorist mafia, will do their best to avenge the death of Osama, one of these terrorist are killed and ten are born with the same or worst strategy, therefore if one think's that by Osama's death Al-Queda is dead is living in a fool's paradise.
I think They will think twice about going after us again!!! They know Their lives are not good if They do...
This is not the end but the beginning.
It is the beginning of the end for Those that are against the United States!!!
First year University essay writing mistake – Never start a paragraph or thesis with the phrase "History teaches us...".
"History teaches us...". Since "history" is a concept and not an intelligent system in the environment, it cannot act, it cannot teach. But we certainly can learn from documents about history.
Also:
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel – What experience and history teaches us is that people and governments have never learned anything from history.
Also, Mark Steyn sums it up a lot better than you, Fareed:
"Osama bin Laden is dead and I'm glad – and I certainly regret that he got to live the high life of a retired Pakistani businessman this last decade. But it was never about him, and what it is about goes on, whether we're paying attention or not."
Are you paying attention, Fareed?
He may actually understand that, but choose to use the phrase anyway because it's in popular English – there are many times where "it shouldn't make sense" and yet it's a convention in the English language
This probably means the end of al Qaeda, but not the end of terrorism. Islamic terrorism will be with us from now on. It will forever be embraced as a righteous path for millions of Muslims.
Mr Zippy, sounds to me like you have lost your leader. It has been proven that the majority of Muslims do not care for the terror campaign of the fundamentalists. And how can it be a righteous path when the extreme Islamic Fundamentalists are disobeying the Koran?
It is the end of Tarriest as far as the United States is concern!!! It won't be so easy to get People to try to attack us now the We killed Their leader...
Regarding the immediate burial of bin Ladin's remains at sea,
the only thing more lame than the empty explanations by John
Brennan, were the weak, indirect questions by the main stream
media reporters asking the questions.
It's certainly not an accident if nobody challenges the authenticity of this, after the birth certificate debacle. Now, Obama could tell you the moon is made of green cheese, and if you disagreed, you'd be branded a fool, or a racist.
WHY would bin Laden's body be disposed of at sea? Why wouldn't the government want every photographer, and every cinematographer flood the newspapers, television, and internet with thousands of photos ... when everybody would want undeniable proof that it was actually him, and that he was actually dead ??? Something is very fishy ???
The burial at sea was attempt to accomodate Islamic Law about the speedy burial. The only thing "fishy" are the conspiracy theorists and the denizens of the deep where he was laid to rest.
His daughter claims she saw him shot, what would she stand to gain from lying? Also, if he wasn't really killed, why haven't we heard from him yet? Surely he would want the world to know right away. Some of you right-wingers are just pathetic, and this is coming from a centrist
While I aggree that this does away with OBL, he is only the titular and FINANCIAL head of AK. Anyone, including you, who think this is the end of the organization has only deluded themselves.
Well, it's not the end of the organization, but it really hurts the organization's charisma. Also the US got tons of documents discussing the Al Qaeda network
The Repubs want to keep up the fear and the credit of killing bin Laden to Dubya and his failed policies.
The Republicans will deny anything Obama does is good so They can try to get Him out of office!!! But Obama keeps proving He is the right Person to be in office...
The motivation behind al-qaida's mission is rather deeply rooted. If you look at the list of US vetos in favor of Israel, you will find this.
I do agree that without a well funded leadership al-qaida will not exist as one organization.
Despite the lip service OBL played to Palestine, the roots are in Saudi Arabia, not Palestine.
After the Saudis let the US into the country to fight Saddam, OBL was FURIOUS.
Why didn't Bush know not to trust Pakistan??? It just Shows Obama was smart enough not to trust Them!!!
Saeed. You obviously aren't from here. The only folks who wish to see the destruction of the Middle East are the extreme Islamic Fundamentalists who are so brainwashed that they think nothing of killing hundreds of innocent people, a lot of whom are their countrymen. If they want to see the Middle East grow and prosper then they should work for it, not strap explosives to themselves in a futile effort to rid the Middle East of "Infidels". Stick some C4 in your mouth and smoke on it for a while.
Well stated. We may be a long way from daybreak in the war we started, but its nice to at least see the predawn glow on the horizon.
Let's not forget the overall message that the U.S is delivering to all terrorists:
Our forces will not stop tracking and killing you. You will be found and you will be dead. And the next guy that takes over, he will be found and he will be dead too.
And to the soldiers that where involved, great job and please stay safe!
Well said, James!
It is a good gain after 10 years into war. BTW, Haroon Akhtar your opinions are not based on fact rather one sided.
History is full of examples that show killing of a charismatic leader does nothing but strengthin the resolve of a movement. When the king of england beheaded William Wallace and hung his decapitated head for all to see, It did not end the rev oution. Violence only begets violence. The only people who should be celebrating are tbe familys of the victims of bin laden.
Will Bin Laden's death have any effect on the financing of El Quaida's operations? He was once thought to be one of their principal bank-rollers. Do you think he was still doing so? If not, is their financial support coming from Iran, Syria, or elsewhere?
Piso Mojado, what kind of name is "Wet Floor". Get a life (and another name)
You should try to render your opinion on something you know well. Obviously you don't understand the difference in Islamic factions.
Come on Bill. "Piso Mojado" is a wonderful name!
Not so much OBL's death (though it may cause financiers to turn away), but all of the documents that the US found at the mansion in pakistan
I think this is an incredibly naive article, or should I say, yet another of it's kind from FZ. First, let me address this "Arab Spring" he so often waxes poetic about. The "Arab Spring" is nothing more than an attempted regime change in multiple nations, but we don't know what it would change to. Remember, the "Muslim Brotherhood" and Al Queda are involved there too. (Muslim Brotherhood being the murderers of Sadat, may I remind FZ). Look no further than Libya, where a populace CELEBRATED the release from prison of the terrorist bomber of the Lockerbie flight just one year ago. Now FZ thinks we should be all kinds of hopefull that those people in the cheering section might take over should Quaddaffi be deposed? Again, naive to the extreme. Now, on to Al Queda...Bin Laden was no Hitler. Unlike Hitler, his generals have no life full of material goods and chalets in Austria to shrink to. Al Queda's members swear themselves to death for an afterlife cause. They feel their reward is on the other side of eternity, not this one. This is not the SS, who melted once Hitler died to go try to get back to their lives. For Al Queda, death is the life. HUGE difference. FZ would be wise to understand the poison that is radical foreign Islam. However, he has no clue.
Well stated. and I think David Midwest Guy might want to buy a one way ticket to the Middle East if he thinks Fareed is so great a truth teller.
You're a bit confused. It's not Islam but religion that's the problem. After all, Christian atrocities in the past 60 years have surpasses Muslim Atrocities. I guess your history book forgets the Church's Culpability in the Holocaust. Hitler used Catholicism and the years of anti-antisemitism to give rise to the Nazi Party. You can argue that his views were a perversion of faith, but then the same argument is equal to Islam. A few are perverted the faith for their own self gain. Yet, Hitler was able to kill 6 million Jews and 6 Million Gays, Romas, etc (undesirables). Lest you forget Milosevic, the Christian Orthodox Serb who massacred 150-200K Muslims during the Bosnian War. You also have Clergy Sex Abuse, People like McVeigh whose belief's were rooted in Catholicism (A Time's Interview explicitly stated his refusal to denounce his faith as a factor).
Judaism is also not free from atrocity. Jews overtook the holy city of Jerusalem which has led to ethnic strife in the Middle East. Now, Palestine and the Arab world are often antagonizing Israel, which responds back, and both sides solve nothing.
So before you run off condemning Islam, realize, religion in general deserves the full condemnation. Anyone willing to kill in the name of "God" is a MORON. Period.
Fareed is the best observer of global complexities working today. EVERY TIME I see him in print or on TV, I find myself thinking he struck the right chord, he made the right nuance, he picked the right words. This guy is a national treasure, and we need his honesty, insight, vision in the worst way. Our politicians disserve the public with their histrionic gestures, and most journalists mirror the political displays with their own mindless proclamations. But there Fareed stands - nearly alone - as the voice of reason. Thank you, Fareed. And yes, al Qaeda IS dead. Thank you, Fareed, for stating what is obvious but hard to say aloud.
Osama was not training anybody these last years. He was hiding plain and simple. The lieutenants are out there recruiting and training. This is a game changer. We will not rest until we get you. You organize attacks and talk yourself up....we will eventually get you. It seems as if the failure to deal with poverty and take care of people in some of these countries always ends up with badmouthing the USA and making Jews a scapegoat. These days are over. We are the most diverse and loving people in the world ....USA ! Israel takes care of its people and has created a beautiful little country. You can't blame lack of freedom or bad economic planning on us or Israel. Advice to many Arab countries....create a good economic atmosphere....allow freedoms for women so that they may be equals, and attend school and have a voice. How about just allow freedom. And stop blaming us for all your problems. The amount of money the U.S.A has dumped into certain countries to promote better well-being is mind boggling. Iran should try something new..very easy....have a democratic election
I gree!! Let the US stop the aid payments and monetary gifts to these "third world" countries and see how well they survive. They can't make it on their own in their present state. They all come running to the good old USA to help bail them out.
I think the death of Bin Laden is definitely a tremendous hit to Al Qaeda, but i dont think is it finished. This group feeds of extremism. Extemism is usually fed into people that because of poverty or other social conditions are ignorant and easily brainwashed into a belief.
There is so much poverty and bad conditions and the arabic world that I see a lot of fertile ground for extremism. Mr. Zackaria mentions the arab spring as something positive. Problem is that with the change of regime they will have to elect a goverment. There is the danger that extremism will win the elections in these countries, taking advantage of their believes and misleading them into extremists goverments.
So I really dont think this will have as much impact as the author assumes. Of course, it is huge and it should be used appropiately by goverments and society. Let's hope it helpe some people to get into their senses.
Sometimes extremists come from wealthy backgrounds. Like OBL himself, or Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab...
Speaking of Farouk, I wonder how he's doing
I agree for the most part, however there have been exceptions in history, such as jesus christ, and the prophet mohammed
I think they buried him at sea for 2 reasons:
1. It is a traditional muslim burial that shows a form of respect for the muslim faith and was a indication that they are attempting to not infuriate and transform every Muslim that has a potential of converting to extremism.
2. Now he has no formal burial ground for the terrorists to gather or see as a symbol of his martyrdom. His DNA and photos of head and body are all that is left.
To minimize Obama's role, Repub are already on the roll propaganda wise. Yes, praising Obama but saying "it all started
under Bush. Another couple of weeks and they will be saying "Bush did it mostly". BUT for them to admit ANYTHING
crediable in favor of Obama is choking them beyond measure...LOL......go, Mr. President.
After working in a DNA testing lab for some time, please tell me how the DNA was INSTANTANEOUSLY matched?. It just doesn't work that way, even if "they" had the sisters DNA, and a sample was obtained from the body that was shot yesterday, it could not have been instantly matched. Or the other theory I have read today in other venues tells me "they" had previous samples of Bin Ladin's DNA, that still does not satisfy my curiousity that this was really Bin Ladin. And again tell me why the body was met with a watery grave so shortly after he was shot. That this person that was shot matched the description... Many men would match that same description. There is something we are not being told.
I find it hard to believe that al qaeda will be simply fade because of the death of one man. Hitler died because there are still Nazis, neo-Nazis, etc. Also, it seems in the past the "heads" of al qaeda groups in one nation or another have been killed and someone always takes his place. I think that the democracy movements in the Middle East and North Africa offer more of a danger to the bin Laden's ideology. The question is whether you can take the groups of people in various locations (Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somali, etc.) who are dedicated to killing those who do not agree with their extremism/ideology and get those people to change their modus operandi. I don't think so.
I do wonder what will happen to all the money bin Laden had.... Where will that go?
How is everyone missing the 911 vs. 5111 symbolism? We will never forget 911 nor will they forget 5111. Good thing they waited a day.
It just dawned on me that if Laden resided in such an expensive place, he might have had the lion's share of direct control of Al queda finances. If any of those materials at the scene contain bank records, it would go along way to starving the organization to death.
Just listed on e b a y my L A Times from Sept 12, 13, 14 2001 and May 2, 2011.
Just would look to say that it looks very fishy that Bin Laden was found in a multi-million dollar compound near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad. Fareed you're article did not mention this at all. Yes we know he helped to fight against the soviets during the Afghan/Soviet war, but he remained hidden in Pakistan for many many years and Pakistan did nothing to find him! Interestingly enough, the gentlemen who were found guilty of throwing acid in young Afghan girls faces were from Pakistan. What do you have to say about the role Pakistan has in harboring terrorists, (Bin Laden), and extremists who are trying to destabilize the Afghan government and morale?
I'm guessing that the Arab Spring was a prerequisite for America to finally find and kill Bin Laden and wondering how that will play out in months to come. Has the US forged a new relationship with Arab revolutionaries that will keep us embroiled forever?
Hi Fareed (and others),
First, I'd like to say I watch GPS religiously, and always find Fareed's "take" on things well thought-out and listen with great interest. However, like many others here, I think it's premature to declare AQ dead.
W.R.T. comparison to Somali pirates, remember that Somali pirates generally operate more-of-less in the vicinity of the Somali coast (I doubt anyone will find them cruising up the Mississippi looking for loot anytime soon or coming to the US looking for $$$), AND their primary concern is $$$, NOT the re-establishment of any caliphate, pursuit of a "higher" purpose, the glorification of Islam, etc etc. etc.
There will also be those young ideological Muslims in the foreseeable future who will see lack of opportunity or purpose in life, or who feel disenfranchised, and who want to look to the "martyred" OBL as a "guiding light" in their life.
Yes, it would seem to me the death of OBL *IS* a serious blow to AQ and could discourage many Muslim youth from following along that path. Hopefully the "Arab Spring" will serve to provide a constructive outlet in terms of looking for a future they want to try to create for themselves, and that the path of "terror" produces nothing but dead-end results.
But remember it was a relatively small group of radical, extreme, ideologically-minded young Muslims who wanted to create a big-splash and carried out 9/11.
Cool. There will always be terrorists, but it's time for the US to concentrate on it's own affairs. Bring all the troops home. Let the rest of the world worry about itself. If they blow themselves up, then they do and it does not concern us. If we want to continue being the best nation on earth, then we must work on it. We will have to work very hard to make our country better than China, India or anywhere else
Yeah so listen up all you little terrorist wanna-be's out there....end up like Obama...not like Osama...Stay in school and DO DRUGS
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers."
Yeah, like Jesus for example, I mean everybody completely forgot about him after he was killed... Oh wait...
Maybe Fareed can have some more "reformed terrorists" on his show to support his "conclusions"....
you are 100% CORRECT!! HE CANT BECAUSE THEY DONT EXIST! ZAKARIA IS A PAID LIAR BY THIS SITE!!
I agree with Fareed's take completely We've spent ten full years in this country fearing Al Qaeta. Al Qaeta has had these same 10 years to do it's best " fearful revenge or whatever". But maybe they just aren't much of a match for the forces of good after all. Besides, the killing of innocent civilians on purpose doesn't bring to mind "hero"or god wish to me.
I worked in number 4 world trade ctr., so 2001 sent shock waves into my existence for sure. But to watch airports turned into petting zoos and for people to become rediculously fixated on air travel terror senarios has been moronic. All terror isn't gone, but we do have more important things to spend our attention on.
Bin laden's elimination gives me even more confidence in the world and the USA. Well done !
"""OBAMA GOT OSAMA"""""
Not sure where Zakaria is coming from. He states, "History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers." Apparently, he forgot that Christ was crucified and as a religious martyr has stuck around now for a couple thousand years with millions of followers. At the time of Christs death, he had no large financial backers so money did not propel his legacy. (No, I am not comparing bin laden to Christ. I am comparing the concept of martyr) He then states, In the past few months, we have seen democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia. We are seeing these forces changing almost every government in the Arab world." I am not sure what news channel this guy watches but the CNN I watch showed a quite violent uprising in Egypt. Mr. Zakaria, would you please call Lara Logan and discuss with her why her brutal rape by multiple assailants was a non violent act? Afterwards, please write about how well that conversation went. Perhaps he does not recall the Egyptian police and their raids. How he calls Syrian, Libya, Egypt (or I guess he omits Libya and replaces that with Tunisia) as evidence of the peaceful progress of democracy. The revolutionaries of Egypt deserve more credit that Zakaria is giving them for their courage.
While I was willing to give Zakaria credit as a seemingly balanced commentator, this article demonstrates something beyond words> While his stylized patois may convince some of intellectualism, I find the content and construction of this article absurd and quite nescient.
Bill you are brainwashed and in need of a dictionary for spelling. Proffessor? Sheesh!
Fareed,
It's a happy day for all of us. I think Al-Qaeda maybe dead but ISI is still there. ISI is far more dangerous than Al-Qaeda. The worst is they are offiial and wear the mask of ally. Everybody(at least every indian) knew that ISI & Paistani govt was protecting Osama. If we want this world to be a better place to live and eradicate the terrorism, US should declare ISI as the terrorist organization and impose severe sanctions on Pakistan.
Had ex President Musharraf or ISI chief questioned or rather interrogated, US would have found Osama 9 years back
By bringing ISI into this don't make your India's personal problem as World's problem. You Indians always try to show that you are truly following Ghandi's steps. But in reality your country is responsible for many problems around your neighbor countries. Your country should take major responsibility for instigating Muslims in Kashmir turning towards terrorism. Your country trained Tamil rebels to fight against Sri Lanka in 80s. If you say ISI is worse, I will say your RAW is worst ever. BTW I'm neither a Pakistani nor a Muslim.
Ayman Al Zawahiri is a huge part of Al Qaeda. He IS the brains behind the organization, and to discount him is foolish. He is an angry, vicious, dangerous man and he shouldn't be taken lightly. He's smart enough to keep Al Qaeda going.
Anyone who thinks that Bin Laden's death means the end of Al Qaeda is just fooling himself. Ayman Al Zawahiri will hold them together and plan further attacks that will be carried out. He needs to be given the Bin Laden treatment.
Just like cult-ofpPersonality-founded ideology died with Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin (wait, TWO Soviets?), Kim Il Sung... I know these are states, and al Qaeda was not, but anyone who believes with fervor and leads by charisma is only damaged by the loss of their leader, not destroyed. I find Zakaria as of late to be extremely naive yet presumptuous. Who can predict something like that without sincere knowledge of all their inner workings? Who thinks there are no more crazies with money willing to support terror? His article flows logically, but his premises are unfounded, and I don't think you can make those assertions with the assuredness he claims to have.
Sure, the Arab Spring has given the common person another option, but does that necessarily mean violence is no longer alluring? Many people joined because of bin Laden's perceived heroism and charisma, but does his death change that? As soon as people stop joining the Communist Party in China and take down the Mao posters, I don't buy it.
Osama bin Laden bin hidin, but he ain't hidin no more.
Keep in mind, Bin Laden was not just the spiritual leader of Al Qeada, his success and survival were a testament to his followers that he enjoyed Allah's protection from the Great Satan – the US. But now he is dead. Allah did not protect him. He and his jihadist phylosophy could not have been preserved by Allah, but by luck alone. Allah was not with Bin Laden. His death at the hands of US Forces is proof of that. There is no sacred protection for their cause. No devine justification for Al Qeada's existence. The head of the snake has been cut off. The tail will thrash for a while, but death will come soon. And the body of the snake will bloat in the heat of Islam, and rot with a great stench in the Arab world.
How good can it be for a person's soul when billions of people are overjoyed by their death? Osama just joined an elite club.
Soon, the new World Trade Center will be open and functioning, and Osama bin Laden is sleeping with the fishes.
Part of his skull was blown off.....yeah, I like that.
Tolstoy would disagree: His central tenet in "War and Peace" was that people are but tools of societal forces. Removing an individual doesn't greatly affect the forces at work. In this view, bin Laden was a symptom, not the cause.
Pics or it didn't happen.
If AQ is over or not, only time will tell. However, if you kill the Shepard, the sheep will be lost. I'm not saying that the sheep may not re-organize and pose a threat – I am just saying the same thing I think Fareed is saying; While AQ may exist here in the future, it won't be as strong as it once was. Especially not with the peaceful protests and middle eastern/Muslim governments toppling; along with the symbol that has lead their terrorist beliefs (UBL) is now dead.
The ME is starting to stand up for themselves, think for themselves and realizing that they will find a friend in the western world if they stand up and fight for freedom. The basic right that all human beings deserve. There is no shed blood when differences can be worked out politically.
There was terrorist organization before bin laden and there will be after. The key is if opportunity is available to the people of the middle east then the terrorist pool will become limited.
This event is just what Americans needed to stimulate the economy. Fanatics like bin Laden drift into a painful history, while freedom and freedom loving people move on. Thank God for President Obama and also President Bush. If President Bush had not acted so forcefully after 9/11, this day may have never arrived. Now if only the Republicans and Democrats can move together to solve the jobs problem we will all be on top of the world.
Would be nice, but they're probably too busy arguing over abortion and tax cuts for the rich. Even the Republicans who have managed to praise the accomplishment seem to mutter some negative "but..." comment under their breath.
@ George
If president Bush had done his job
911 would not have happened.
Arab Spring would not have been possible without BinLaden, and it may not succeed without him. Every peaceful revolution needs its violent counterpart, to pressure the opponents, and to provide a contrast. Without the threat of Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood violence, Arab dictators would not have left, and America would not have looked at the revolutions as the peaceful alternative. Bin Laden educated the Arab masses with his rhetoric and actions to end their oppression; and provided the contrast that made the uprisings look like the preferred alternative.
I hope your analysis is correct. It makes sense. I hope someone in the Arab world can come forward and bring the rest of the yahoos on line to find peace with Israel. I think that is the only way to keep us safe.
Naivete!Al Qaeda is not dead, Osama Bin Laden is dead!He went to be with 72 young virgins!We have given him special status at a time he was irrelevant.According to Al Qaeda and their dogma he has now become a mucahit(martyr).Yes, Al Qaeda has a reason for rejoicing today.They can now try to imitate him.Could suicide bombers care less if he is dead or alive?'Victories' could go either way
Dont mean to spoil the party but the real bin laden died in december 2001
Very good analysis. I agree completely, though I often do not agree with you.
Very well done.
Highly cogent, convincing analysis. I had concluded the same, but doubt I could have articulated it nearly as well. Thanks Fareed.
My only concern now is that once the dust settles, Al Qaeda sleeper cells in the US and other countries may awaken and become operational in order to avenge Bin Laden's death. We must remain extremely alert for any evidence of presumably "home grown" terrorism. Some of these people have been inside our country for a decade or more.
I agree, Fareed. President Obama can use this moment to change the national security narrative. He must lock in our exit from intractable wars that have us hemorrhaging money we desperately need to offset our yawning national debt. With Bin Laden dead, we have an opportunity — to declare victory and change strategy: Ending the clumsy war on terrorism, but maintaining a focused and flexible regime of measures on the ground — an updated approach that addresses the new reality of self-radicalizing extremists, infinitely more maneuverable than the average military formation.
I also wish the president would take a second look at our intelligence apparatus.
Here's the problem: Osama bin Laden wasn't cowering in a cave. He was, according to ABC News, living in "an acre-large, million-dollar compound with 12 to 18-foot walls [...] eight times the size of other homes in the area and just off a major highway" — some 800 yards from Pakistan's military academy in Abbottabad. And it took us a decade to find him. Really?
http://leondsouza.blogspot.com/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-and-lessons-of.html
Osama/usama or whatever he called himself died the death of a coward. Couldn't end any other way. What a joke he was, coward hiding behind a womans skirt in a mansion far away from the combat zones he created. Not in a remote rugged cave in the mountains with his "troops" suffering, surviving like some romantic jihadist leader, but in a custom built fortress with his family enjoying all the comforts he supposedly condemned. What a fake POS. His cowardice didn't even allow for an honorable martyrdom just a whining coward. We always win, always! Wake up Islam, if you support this coward and others like him you too will meet his fate. The USA will never lose and cannot be intimidated. We will find you and destroy you. God is on our side! Look out Mommar, Iranian president (name unimportant), Kim Jong il and Chavez the Blackhawks may visit you next. You are all nothing but a pathetic group of losers! 1 more puzzy dead. What's wrong Chavez no smartass remarks. We win again. Case closed.
Seriously Keith? Can you please shake off the Rambo mentality and go easy on the chest thumping. No doubt US intelligence & the Military is far superior than any other in the history of the universe.
Sorry fellow I earned the right to thump. Seriously! I agree with your assessment of the military but I refuse to allow others to threaten intimidate and talk crap without hearing the truth.
The "coward" theme has to end.
There are many things to call someone whose influence has been as pervasive and evil as Osama bin Laden's this last decade. Why not use appropriate words, rather than petulantly resorting to "cowardice" from the safe distance of our keyboards out here in the electronic gloaming? The guy holed up for almost a decade against the world's remaining superpower. He died in a pitched firefight. Call him perverse, deride the preening self-regard that caused him over time to confuse his faith with his ego, anything, but don't kid yourself that he was somehow a sniveling or fearful figure. Nor was Saddam Hussein. The guy ran a guerilla war against an occupying power from a hole in the ground. It makes us ludicrous when our leaders, fresh from their own carpeted underground bunkers, emerge to sneer at the captured leader in his grizzled beard. People can see the juxtaposition.
We need to somehow avoid saying the opposite of the truth, and "coward" as a attempt to deflate evil doesn't help.
COWARD!!!!!!!! How about POS! You can find some reason to avoid saying the truth but I will not. Firefight??? I was never in one when we used a woman as a shield, but I never fought with cowards. Hitler was an evil coward too! I call em like I see em.
Wonderful insight WRSI. Osama was a lot of things, but certainly not a coward. He is one of the most influential and probably one of the most courageous men of the century. But it is difficult for simple people to appreciate the difference between an enemy and low character. My father, a military man, used to say, you have to show respect to your enemies.
@ Keith C
Feel better Rambo ?
bin Laden's strike ushered in warrentless wiretaps, National Security Letters and Federal fondling to board air transport. His death does changes nothing.
B young, please let me know when and where I can send you a plane ticket so you can get out of this country. I am sure you will find all the freedoms you seek in Pakistan, Iran, north Korea or some other despotic shithole. What retard!
He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither
Words words words. You are an educated moron. I can quote many many beautiful passages from philosophers, generals and other historic figures as well. Unfortunately that's all they will be is historic quotes. Remember chamberlain? Peace in our time...., what about Jefferson and freedom must, from time to time, be paid for in blood, maybe lincoln suspending the writ of habeas corpus. Come on chief, that crap my impress your girlfriend but not people who are truly educated in life, history and academia. Thank God my parents gave me the first two as well as the doctoral degree. Grow up boy. Never served a day in your life have you.
Keith
Educated moron ????
Are you applying for the position ?
You are over qualified.
Hey fareed stop trying to sweep islamic terrorism under the rug...there's tons of it daily..its not over..
Nicely put jak. The muslim people just can't admit it. Fareed is no different. God bless America and it's heroic military. They are the greatest the world has ever known!
While this may be true: "The Arab Awakening has already crippled the basic rationale of al Qaeda," I wonder how much 9/11 had to do with changing the world stage to make The Arab Awakening possible.
Wonderful insight Rachel. I had a similar comment about this. We often miss the close relartionships between our friends and enemies, because life is more complicated than just good and evil.
OBL lived in a mansion, while ordering followers who actually DID LIVE in caves, believing he did as well. He died a cowardly death behind a woman's Burka. What a legacy to live up to...THAT is Al Qaeda's BIGGEST threat to survival now.
Fareed, I sincerely hope you are right. But it is premature to pronounce al Qaeda dead. Time will tell, and it should become clear in the next year or so if, in fact, this despicable pack of murderous extremists is actually gone from the world stage. I am concerned that you point to the Arab Awakening as evidence that al Qaeda is finished, since the Arab Awakening itself is not finished...and the actual outcome is still unclear. It is very promising, for the people of the Middle East, to see these populations finally wake up to the nature of their plight: that of being ruled by individuals or groups of self-serving opportunists for their personal benefit. They have figured out that much of the world enjoys far greater individual freedom and vastly more opportunity for higher standards of living as the result of having more open and democratic governments. But let's see how things turn out in Libya, Syria, Yemen...and even Egypt and Tunisia, for that matter. Hopefully these popular uprisings will not be hijacked by either extremists or the kind of "strong-man rulers" that have dominated the Middle East for as long as any of us can remember. And if, when the dust from the Arab Awakening settles, we have not heard from or had renewed terrorist acts by al Qaeda, THEN we can pronounce the beast, like its founder, dead. Maybe.
Let's all let our guard down now that terrorism is dead! Everyone loves us now! I'm going to sell my gun on ebay and unlock my doors!
I am with you Greg. You hold down the mountains and we will be ready in the south. I was referred to as a chest thumping Rambo by one of these losers. Never seen a Rambo movie in my life. I was busy working paying my taxes and taking care of my family when they were watching this Hollywood fantasy. Oh well good post.
wow what a group of dimwits posting here. if you don't think killing off the leader is important then you are too stupid to be mocked. al queda is weak and pathetic.
At least us gun toting bible thumpers know how to spell "Al Qaeda."
WHERE I AM FROM IT'S U AFTER Q.
I am most relieved and almost in disbelief of the death of the mastermind of this evil regime. At the same time, I fear that what we are fighting is more of a thought process than anything else. Hatred against the US is rampant in the Middle East and thousands continue to burn the American flag. If there is money, motivation, and any leadership within the Al Qaeda, a new leader with take Osama's place. Despite the big blow to their core, I fear there is a lot ahead.
This guy was the "Where's Waldo?" champion only took more than ten years to find this guy, well at least he deserved this.
READ. 'An American Style Democracy In Iraq?' On Amazon.com
I'm no Obama fan, but I have to say, he got this right. He made the decision, and the SOC team executed the objectives perfectly. (Weirdly, I just finished re-reading Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy.)
But this is not the time for politics. Let us all savor the moment - the US and its military have a clear cut victory. Let us be proud and united in this.
Like most of the rest of the world I'm glaad Osama is dead, but when the president in his speech daid thaat Bin Laden was responsible for killing thousands of women and children, we shouldn't forget that GWBush was also responsible for killing thousands of civilians during the bombing of Baghad at the start of the war. I remember in an answer to a tp aa qiestopm . I believe at a press conference, "How many people do you think were killed in the bombing of Baghad, Bush, very casually answered, "Oh, about 30,000, give or take a few. " I don't remember anyone ever referring to him as a butcher. It was simply regarded as
colateral damage."
You bear the name of another POS. Pathetic try at making a great moment in US history political. We are one people. Bush protected his people. Glad we didn't have you making the decisions.
@ Keith
Hey Keith, 911 happened on Bush's watch......
Yup he pro – tected us just fine
keep sucking up to this traitor.
The death of bin laden might make al qaeda more dangerous.their leader is gone.and they would do anything to please him.America should still b on its higest alert.inp
reality they r many more like bin laden.from my view I think it make al qaeda much more dangerous.god bless America and watch over her always.these people will never stop.
Although I appreciate Fareed's commentaty, the root cause of these enemies are from different source. As long as US and other western countries police the world and interfere only for political and economical gains in the region as they have been since the World war II.. it is only natural that enemies emerge for obvious reasons... maybe not be as extreme as Osama but the notion that West only interferes only for some kind of greedy gain..this doctrine will continue to grow that US sells this as freeing this countries from dictatorship but in fact doing a long term seeding for future. We have seen this with so many corrupt leaders that the were supported over the years by the West and only when they no longer “listened” to they were toppled. Remember Osama and his gang were called Freedom Fighters when they fought against Russia the former USSR ..and then they became terrorist when US was done with them because they were dumped. In my opinion the root cause is all to do with Economics. Why is there is no hostility against a prosper country like Denmark for example? They live within their means!
Bottom line is that Super powers must change polices and do not interfere and exploit so no enemies are created. We then do not have to go to war and spend trillions of $$$ to kill a figure head that was not as big if the west did not make it so BIG!
What? Millions of Muslims around the world rioted for days when the cartoons of Mohammed were published five years ago in the Danish newspapers. In-fact, they continue to break up terrorist plots still actively targeting the cartoonists and newspapers that are responsible for them. Do you people actually do any research before you make your stupid comments or no?
Stupid is you and your ignorant.. rude remarks... Thats all I can say about you and people like you mentality which buy whatewver media feeds You Idiot!
what is a blog on cnn without our bible thumpers? i want to hear their take. truth- jesus was much bigger after death. he may have risen but only his people saw it so?... i want to hear what the outome of the holy war is supposed to be and how this can be placed into that story. that is what will determine the effect this will have.
After a successful jaunt around the world, I hear Secretary Clinton may be stepping down at the end of the President's first term. What an asset Mr. Zakaria would be in those shoes.
I am very pleased by this operations success and Fareed Zakaria conclusions. The compound was filled with computers. Reports are that every hard drive on those computers was taken. Al-Qaeda tactical strength was in the anonimity of its foot solders and mid level commanders. With those computer hard drives in hand, the U.S. now has the names and likely addresses of every single major Al-Qaeda operative in the world. Every one of them is now a marked man. Every one of them must now run for their lives forever. They won't have time to go after U.S. or Western targets while they are looking over their shoulders every ten minutes for the CIA assasin who will kill them. The tactical affectiveness of Al-Qaeda has now been cut to a fraction. Al-Qaeda's army is now essentially all dead men.
Doesnt the story say, no internet connection ?
Bin Laden was just a man. His beliefs and statements merely reflected the ideology and goals clearly stated in the Quran. Any Muslim who believes that Muhammad was a true prophet and that every word in the Quran is true, would have to agree with Bin Laden's goals, statements and actions. To say otherwise would be hypocritical. Bin Laden's methods were barbarous and reprehensible, but then so to were the beliefs of the religion's founder. Was the founder of Islam really a prophet? No. He was just a man with a commanding presence with the ability to control others to his wishes, just as were the other so-called prophets. Until mankind can grow beyond superstitious beliefs in invisible bearded men in the sky, occasionally granting wishes, the evil perpetrated because of passages in the so-called holy books like the Quran, will no doubt continue and doesn't bode well for man's future.
I find it fascinating that bin Laden complained about the oppressive dictatorships when the alternative he proposed was an even more oppressive theocracy. While I agree that bin Laden's death marks the beginning of the end for al Qaeda, it does not mark the end of Islamic extremism. Only when the Saudi Royal Family has been neutralized along with the Shia extremists in Iran will there be peace an prosperity for the Arab people.
First I will say that I do not agree with Zakaria on many things because of his democratic political agenda, however, he is correct here. Al Qaeda is dying if not already dead. The Arab Spring is long overdue. I have been saying for months now that the people of the Middle East have risen up against the scum despots because they have figured it out. They have been lied to, stolen from and treated like dirt by their scum leaders and used by Al Qaeda for the same end. Bin Laden was in it for power and money just like all the other despots. Their days are numbered and all we have to do is back the democratic movements. Syria's despot will fall and so will Iran's despots, including the self serving clerics who claim they have the right to money and power because they are above everyone else. We will see democracy acoss the entire Middle East in the not to distant future. Too bad it took so long to get Bin Laden but it is done, good riddance to the face of evil.
Al Qaeda is like a Hyrda–cut off one head and two more grow back. It ain't over 'til its over.
Hydra that is.
Dave, Everyone has the ability to make their own choices. There is no excuse for what Bin Laden did, no matter what any book says.
'Downfall'
http://www.zoharme.com
Graphic Commentaries on the Middle East
Well Said Rajesh... My adding comments: Al-Quida and terrorism are like weeds or mushrooms in our own home lawn. It spoils the lawn but it doesn't look like it hurts you.
On the other hand democracy, independence, freedom of religion and peaceful life is like roses in the tree. It looks really good, smells really wonderful. But whenever you try to picking up the roses the needle pricks, scratch, and stings in your hand. Bin Laden has spread the seeds of weed and it grows with less water. You have to work against this to kill always.
Therefore Al-Qaeda and terrorism will never be finished in democracy and for peaceful life. We all should always be united in defeating this.
Great article, especially the 'one-two punch' example.
Fareed – "democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia"...really...peaceful...are you certain?
Also, I want to congratulate Obama, our President and all the forces for this great success. An unfinished job of Bush, the past president is now finished by the current president. I hope the republican will not throw nasty politics against this president rather they can be quiet.
Democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions? Two out of three...with the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood as a dominant force in Egyptian politics, complete with popular calls for morality police as in Iran, one can hardly consider this a secular revolution. Egypt today is not Turkey of twenty years ago–or even Egypt of twenty years ago. It is decidedly more fundamentalist in its approach to expressing Islam.
Similarly, Libyan nationals–from eastern Libya, the seat of its revolution–are represented as a proportion of their home population in greater numbers than any other Arab nation among non-Iraqi combatants in Iraq. If Ghadaffi is toppled, there will be another strongly fundamentalist Islamic state in North Africa, thank you very much to the West for helping to establish it.
As for the rest...it may be that Al Qaeda has been decapitated. I hope that doubt and fear among other leaders (have I been compromised?) will be enough to slow its advance.
Be careful what you might be leading others to believe. Though we have killed obl you might understand that we have a greater enemy to defeat. To think that this will weaken Al Queda is good to assume but we must not lead others to think that we have defeated them. We have much more to do and it will be a long road ahead. I do appreciate the fight that our men and women have taken to the enemy. I can only say thank you for what they do and I hope they come home with a sense of pride that they deserve for a job well done. Hooorrraaa!!! Go NAvy SeALS
So wait..let me understand this..so we killed the leader of al qaeda, the same group we're helping in libya RIGHT NOW???
BWAAAHAHAHAHA!!!
Why it took so long to find Osama? Your intelligence was wrong. They were searching for him in holes and caves of Aghan Mountains. It took so many years for the American troops to realize the fact that he wasn’t hiding instead living a lavish life just like anybody else.
His god was apparently, not as powerful as our god!
Faeed, I very much agree with your post. I also see one other effect that bin Ladens death may have that could have a blow back effect in the U.S. Now that bin Laden is dead why are my fellow Americans in Afganistan dying? Before the mission had at least one focal point of clarity for the American public, get bin Laden. Now that he is dead it will be interesting to see if the war in Afganistan will become less popular over time now that the "mission accomplished" banner, so to say, has been flown.
Fareed Zakaria is a member of al-qaeda, that's why he knows this.
his real name is Fareed Zacarias Moussaoui, aka the 20th hijacker
Well, now we can all rest easy: Fareed says the war on terror is over.
In the captured materials we will probably discover that OBL has been receiving massive amounts of U.S. social security payments and unwarranted tax refunds to enable a life of luxury.....perhaps our deficit condition will now be improved....
Fareed,
You are on eof the few that can add some meaningful contributions to our understanding. I am a bit surpirised that you use the term "existential threat to the Western world". I never found AQ an existential threat, no more than the IRA, RAF, BMG, HB and all those homegrown terrorist movements that preceded AQ. AQ has very quickly divorced itself from massive popular support by targeting the innocent with a profound disregard of the ethical norms thatmost people can suscribe to. Be interested how you rank existential threats (global warming, terrorism, obesity, access to drinking water) and still have AQ coming out high on the list.
It took Obama to get rid of the number Tarriest in the World!!! He also is the one that got Our troops out of Iraq and will get the Troops out of Afghanistan!!! All Bush was good for was starting the Iraq War and not finishing the Afghanistan War and getting Bin Laden... Obama is the type of President like Clinton that will clean up the Bush's mess!!!
how did you pass the ASVAB? You are a moron
AQ were finished even before this event...elimination of UBL was the last blow.
Also I think both Pak and US knew were he was all these time, I believe they were just waiting for the right moment to get rid of him..
I think the Paki's were under intense pressure from the US, to help on the war on terror. They had to save face, keep the relationship massaged because of their friends to the east. They made a couple of lower level arrests, and I would not doubt for a minute, that they received that info from UBL himself, for his own immunity and protection. I think the compound was so close to the Pakistani military bases because UBL did not use electronic communication, they (Pak Army) needed to alert him face to face therefore they needed to be geographically co-located.
And wouldn't it be something if the compound was built with US money that we intended for Pakistan's fight against terrorism.
Killing Hitler didn't completely eradicate Nazi's or their ideology; we still have Neo-Nazi groups to deal with. UBL was the poster boy of Al Qaeda; but the operational brain of Al Qaeda is Zawahiri. So, this vile organization will probably continue to exist in some form. What is important is to marginalize them to such an extent that they get pushed to the fringe of the fringe. This is why the 'Arab Spring' is so much more important. When people realize that they can live their lives to their potential, they will have little or no reason to give any legitimacy to such groups. There is no guarantee that the arab spring will bring about friendly governments, but it is easier to deal with them in international forums like the UN than on the streets.
IMO the difference between Jesus and OBL is the tenants that held up thier ideology. OBL was about violence for a cause that was really about himself in the end, plain and simple. Jesus' were about Peace and loving your fellow human, and this ideology trancends all people, all races, all sentient life and lives beyond the physical form. Truth is truth and cannot be extinguished, no matter the deliverer. Self serving motives are always questioned and exposed in the end for what they are to the rational person. Especially when rhetoric is infused to try and warp said truth.
Fareed is right, without bin Laden there is no center to hold the terrorists together under one umbrella. They'll surely fall back apart into the disparate fringe groups they were prior to al-qaeda's heyday in the mid-to-late 90s. This is to the War on Terrorism what the Berlin Wall was to the Cold War, and the Arab Spring could still be what the disintegration of the USSR was.
Geez people. READ.
Mr. Zakaria is not saying that there will never be another attack from al-queda affiliated terrorists. He's saying that al-queda no longer exists as a threat to our very way of life and position in the world.
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization."
I don't agree with that. They got rid of Jesus and look at the consequences...
binLaden is far from being Jesus, but he is for some.
The Arab community was never 100% for Al Qaeda, so the changes that are occurring now really have no effect on that terrorist group. We are dealing with dangerous extremists here. They do not need to have an entire population behind them.
What I really think would give the final blow to these people would be the head of that number 2 Egyptian doctor, and get rid of that American SOB in Yemen. Then ... we can say that Al Qaeda is history
You know? Fidel Castro was right. Men only believe in strength. Keep bombing the sh*t out of them, and you see how fast those followers will disband ...
It's a terrible mistake to think that it's over.
Career thx for being the voice of logic wisdom and sound judgment. You bring in the broader context so clearly.
Sometimes when the charismatic leader leaves the scene, the organization does thrive. Just take Jesus and Christianity as an example. When Jesus assended into heaven, the apostles fanned across the known world and Christianity flourished and became the religion of the Western world. So it all depends on what bin Ladewn's supporters do from here on out.
Al Qaida is not dead. They now have a martyr to idolize and his "ideals" will live on and his followers will continue to rain mayhem on whomever they perceive to the the enemy,
Just listed on e b a y my L A Times from Sept 12, 13, 14 2001 and May 2, 2011, if you want them. Also have the Ventura County Star until the 16th.
It really is.
This is not even news. Bin laden was never charged or convicted of any crimes relating to 9/11. He hasnt done anything in 10 years. Totally irrelevant.
Thanks for a sensible discussion,,, at times we lose perspective of what we really want as Americans.... We attack each other like a pack of hungry wolves.. Why we do this... Because we can is why I presume...there is nothing to gain.... Bin Laden was the enemy and that was the goal to destroy him.. That huge objective has been met...
Obama 2012!!
Osama ebay dud
Sixty six years after Hitler died there are still nazis and other racists who follow his word. People die but their words and teachings live on for generations. Lets hope the Arab spring will wash away those teachings.
I hope the president doesnt release any photos of the corpse that was Osama Bin Laden. Barack Obama runs a much better government than the George Bush team that paraded photos of corpses through the news. Every terrorist Bush killed, he had his team of military generals parade the photos of the corpses online and on live TV. Sadam was hung on live TV for christ sake. During the Bush administration we saw american military and members of the media beheaded on the internet. Since Barack has been in office, those images and videos have slowly been cleaned off the net. We dont need to see his body to know he is dead. We can feel it in the american concious...in our souls. And, soon enough you will hear his followers confirm his death. They are always the first to confirm that we have killed one of their people. We Americans need to listen to our President and believe what he tells us. He is not leading us on like the previous administration. We Americans need to better ourselves by taking the evil out of our lives and start thinking about better things. Viewing corpses is not good for you soul. Ya heard?
U killed their leader, hundreds will want to replace him, to be like him, they want revenge man. Now not only there'll be hundreds of new leaders that we cant go after, Ayman Zawahiri, his right hand man, will know become the next symbol of bin laden. He will come out hard, more fierceful than bin laden, while hundreds of new leaders will act on their own, while Zawahiri, will overlook all operations. Common man, Zakaria, be more educated before saying something like that. The revenge wont happen within the next few years, so dont ever never think Al Queda is gone, stupid!
You're the one who's stupid. Bin Laden's been fish food for over 24 hours, and no one is stepping up to the plate. They're history.
Agree totally. Al Qaeda is on the ropes, and a comeback without Bin laden seems unlikely.
Mr. Zakaria, I Could not agree more. I think you have throughly explained why we should not fear this evil organization. The head of the organization has been cut and the body can not think without the head. This event should be a wake up call for all the terrorist organizations around the World; their cowardly acts will always be met with swift justice. They could run, but they can not hide. The capacity of Al-Qaida has been hampered on many fronts. Like you point out, they do not have money and recruiting has become that much more difficult because of the rebellions in the Middle East and North Africa. The people of this region have figured out that terrorism only leads to one thing, the end not progress. Thats why we are witnessing this ¨Arab Awakening,¨ or the ¨Arab Spring.¨ The people of this region have realize whats good for them. I think this will turn things in the right direction for all of us, hopefully!!!
What a HUGE joke. I'm all for him being dead and caught, and for healing to old wounds. But seriously why did it take a week to identify the body? It's either him or not, and why the hell did they let the public know? Really? Good way to start up a new war on america. Good job obama, your brother is finally dead and at your request. So conveniently close to elections.
The joke is you. It took 24 hours to identify the body. The president made his announcement 12 hours after UBL was killed. You obviously have been getting your information from god knows where and you insult my country by equating my President with a terrorist. I'm sick of nonsense and silly proclamations from people like you.
I envy Bin Laden, in fact. He must be in the company of 72 virgins!!! Fareed, did I get the number right?
Fareed, Your sure telling us what we WANT to hear. I just hope your spot on!!
Dear Fareed – Obama may be dead but Pakistan is still alive and is a ticking time bomb.
Osama seems to be an inspiration for nut jobs around the world who follow his ideology. Failed nations like Pakistan easily embrace militant Islam as they sincerely believe that their failure is due to the success of India or US or UK. They refuse to look inwards. This kind of "I'm victim, they are the villain" mentality creates rationale for hatred against someone who is hardworking, successful or just plain lucky. Wahaabi Islam is just an excuse, a seductive way of rallying the troops and giving the impression that the final outcome is not only lofty but also sactioned by sacred texts. The most surprising aspect is that educated middle class people like Atta or KSM also subscribe to this idea of radical ways to fix the "injustice" around the world. They all need a cause greater than themselves to find some meaning to their lives. Instead of putting their talents for constructive use, they believe that reducing the world to a rubble and starting all over again from fourteenth century will somehow make it all better. No music..just long beards and veiled women. It is great that we got Osama. What remains to be seen is how far this cancer has spread inside the Pakistani military establishment. Aid given to Pakistan is the most likely source of finance for the next terrorist attack. Pakistan is the country that the world has to worry about from now on...
@ Fedman
Obama is not dead.
Still in the White House.
Zakaria has always tried to further his own interest by espousing "profound" statements which are also condescending.He has not much respect for the intelligence of the people of this country and is usually sucking up to the administration in power. Particularly if it is democratic.
zakaria the one who dreams of being secretary of state one day.
Boo hoo zakaria.
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization"
Mind showing a few examples from history where the killing of the head killed the organization? Dont say hitler.
Great article...I agree. There are a lot of people who have become rich promoting the "war on terror" so they will try to keep their "businesses" up and running, and denounce you for telling the truth.
Thank God for Obama, I don't think Bush and his crew really wanted to find Osama, the reason is "terror may so many republicans rich" and its always good to have a boogey man to scare people so they will vote for Republicans to save them from "terror" . OBama is a good man and wouldn't do that...Obama is the best!
Osama Bin Laden has been dead for years. If you even gave thought of what has transpired over the past 24 hours and what evidence remains you would see. Compound burned to the ground. No actual photos of the body. Buried at sea. Nothing to prove any evidence of Bin Laden actually killed, maybe his son, but not Bin Laden. Think! But still the potential for retaliation now exists that threatens America. And for what reason? Why?
Oh puhlease. Have you even paid attention to this event? It started 4-5 years ago. Events were put in motion before Obama was in the Senate. You don't think it was a bunch of lily white guys hanging out and observing this compound for all this time or trying to find his courier. We had to regear and rerecruit half our inteligence agencies. I give Obama props for giving the order, but the groundwork was laid long ago.
Obama has been President for 2 years. To all the people who are giving Bush/Cheney credit for this, I say, okay, you want credit for the end of Bin Laden, you should take credit for 9-11, it happened on your watch. Bush/Cheney sure used 9-11 for their own gain. But to respond to this article, Al Qaeda by any other name would be the same, I'm glad Bin Laden is dead, but don't know if it makes any difference. It does show that Barack Obama is up to the job. He did something Bush couldn't do. Oh, yeah, Bush was looking for him in Iraq.
I Knew Bush Could do it !!!!!
Bush found Bin Laden in Iraq, sitting next to
the weapons of mass destruction,
My Hero.
Muslims around the world will not miss the icon of Arab Sunni extremism. He will not be mourned by the Darfurs, Druze, Berbers, Kurds that are in fact Sunni. All other non- Sunni believers will be relived when our religion will no longer be defamed by the actions which appear to put us in contrast to civil society.
His shrine will now be the ocean, The ultimate receptacle for all of our waste!
Outrageous news...propped by China and Pakistan..in that part of the world !
Chinese news says the entire effort of killing Osama Bin Laden was by Pakistan....( US came in only at the end )
even the Helicopter was Pakistan's...!
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/02/c_13854920.htm
Ill expect to see several attacks, the 'death throes' if you will. We 'll just pray it won't be on the scale of 9/11.
Fareed,
It is always a pleasure to read your articles.It is important to ensure cutting off the terrorist financial funding from their private & state sponsors . I would wait and see how much courage US Govt. has to cut off funding to Pakistan which you agree is the epicenter of terrorism. From Musharaf to Zardari, the story is the same. My guess is Pak will play the Nuke card next to continue receiving funds.
It is a devastating blow. Unless there is one out there we don't know about, Al Queda will be on the decline. Sure, they will still be around, but as groups like this lose leaders, they lose inspiration. Look at what happened to Al Queda in Iraq once Zarquawi was offed.
Sorry, Fareed, you've got it wrong AGAIN.
Cutting off the head of the organization in this case doesn't kill it, a new one will grow in its place. The organization is a decentralizaed group of losely affiliated terrorist organizations, and because of this decentralization of command structure, is extremely hard to kill.
It's one reason that the so called "war on terror" will never be over. The Western Governments will continue to use this as an excuse to crack down on the freedoms of their citizens in the name of security, in breach of local and international laws, without care for their citizens.
This will simply lead to a continuation of a policy that is a war that has no clear mandate, certainly now OBL is dead, and has no clear goals, and will simply just go on and on in perpetuity, like the war on drugs.
Al Qaida are certainly not in their "death throes" and it's poor reporting to try to sway American opinion into believing this.
I actually have a question, not a comment. Has bin laden been financing the organization all these years? If so, does this mean that they lose the main source of their funds? They obvioulsy have some sources of revenue themselves, but I bet OBL had been paying most of the big bills himself. Won't losing the money hurt them as much as losing the leader?
He did inherit some $300 mil,and they had a lot of sympathizers in Saudi, so I am sure it was added on to. My understanding was he used alot of his up when he fought the Soviets. But in reality, it does not take them much to pull off their terror ops.
slime begat slime. the never ending ooze of slime will continue.
We have not stopped a thing by this action, the Muslims are like the Borg: you will be assimilated or die it is a religion by the sword and millions more will die before it is over. Anyone who hears God telling them to kill someone is insane.
Obama accomplished what Bush and the Bush administration was too incompetent to do. Bush was too cowardly to put it all on the line on an operation of this nature. Did anyone happen to notice a major shift in Pentagon and CIA leadership by Obama only a few days before this operation? Panetta to Defense, Patraeus to CIA. Obama is an operational genius, he did a great job masterminding Bin Laden's execution, and anyone who is against him, is against America.
Mr. Zakaria in his classic style deliberately disregards the radical Islamic beliefs, groups like Al-Qaeda and a zillion other franchaisees subscribe to, while portraying their struggle as one against their oppressive rulers, and for democracy. To this end Mr. Zakaria never fails to trash America for all the excesses committed by these rulers.
The fact of the matter is Muslims all over the world have always hated America, Israel, Europe, Russia, China and India for a host of reasons which does include political ones (support for dictatorships, Af-Pak, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Xinjiang, plus countless other issues Burka ban, prophet Mohammed cartoons, Minaret Ban, etc.) but much more importantly for who we are.
That's the bottom line. As long as that intolerance exists, Muslims will continue to hate the free world, a fact that Mr. Zakaria will never admit to.
Amit-Atlanta-USA
I completely agree with Zakaria! Bin Ladin was the soul of the movement. As Peter Bergen stated earlier .. Al Qaeda operatives swear an oath of allegiance to Bin Ladin. That allegiance doesn't just switch to someone else. There is nobody out there that had the power that this man had. An arrow was shot directly through the movement's heart, right at the right time. Good job, Obama and every man and woman that was part of this operation. Osama bin Ladin was killed on my 43rd birthday and I could not have asked for a better present! Happy Birthday to me.
I was married to a Muslim and she loves America. She knows more about it's history and it's government than most native Americans do .. which are famously uninformed about most things, compared to the rest of the world. Take your hatred elsewhere Amit-Atlanta-USA.
.. and of course I didn't mean "First Peoples" Native Americans ... but people born and raised here .. and of course I don't mean everybody that was born here, either .. like Obama
No it didn't! Do you really still believe winning the war on terror is still possible??? I'm not for any radical group but the war on terror is like the war on drugs...USELESS! we got the man who funded 911 but now lets see what happens...hhhmmm other terrorist will take his place, and the relatives of bombed civilians will join them and so on and so on and so on and so on! I stood on the world trade center as a kid and was deeply sad when the attack happened, but killing one individual in a sea of enemies doesn't solve anything!!!
It's so sad that Bush & Cheney through America under the bus! Trillions blown in 2 terrible wars! The economy thrown into a 2nd Great Depression, millions unemployed, terrorists on American soil, awwwwwwww
Romney/Bachmann 2012
I know...threw.
Trump/Palin is my #1 choice over Romney/Bachmann then Palin/Bachmann...
Even Trump/Kiyosaki! Yeah I know Trump's buddy Kiyosaki is scam artist that charges up to $50,000 for a seminar of special secrets!!!
Maybe these two scammers can rip off a few libertards!
GOP in 2012! Hey that rhymes!
@ 12-21-12
Amazing.
You admit Bush/Cheney destroyed the country
but will vote Republican and continue the same policy ?
You people are realy f*cked up.
F*cking insane !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, but Bin Laden's time and purpose was served, and has passed. He brought recognition to a plight, albeit in a negative way. Many of those in the Middle East in the last 4 months have taken their fate into their own hands, rather than entrust another with ulterior motives. We don't need surrogates! Proxies! It is the same misguided practice that weakens America! Be the change.
The true nature of democracy, check that, of freedom ( such a casually thrown around phrase) is that it is only true if won. I cannot be given, or recommended. The Arab Spring brings with it such hope, such inspiration that it may, in fact, chill heated blood. We must, as Americans, let it chill our heated blood as well. Our blind hatred for the "other" be they foreign or domestic must be stemmed. This is a moment of unity. the death of bin Ladin is righteous, yet it is still a footnote in history. Our actions as we move forward will tell the tale of our perseverance, or our demise as a global community. Hatred, ignorance, intolerance, suspicion, fear of what is known and what is imagined...these are the fashions of a post nuclear 20th century, the holocaust that affected us all. With globalization comes the outright responsibility that we seek to understand similarities, and accept differences. the absence of that understanding, on all sides, will meet us with rancor, anger and death. The state mentality is now obsolete, gone the way of the dodo. We may all be on different teams, but we are all playing the same sport; humanity. Good night bin Ladin, a relic of the cold war and an offshoot of the great wars. Your message was furious, poisonous and in the end, meek and lost to the wind. Now you are just irrelevant.
Osama Bin Laden was powerful in life because he promised change and he brought it to the Arab world as a hero in places like Afghanistan. While his approach was brutal in western eyes, the Arabs often see him in a just fight to throw off oppression. The oppression still exists in their eyes.
Imagine the frustration of young Arabs who see vast oil resources being exploited, but their families not seeing the benefit. Instead Arab leaders point to the West as the boogie-man. Bin Laden takes the fight to the American soil and becomes a hero (despite the innocents killed in the process). He dies at the hands of the Americans... does this not give way to martyrdom and the potential zeal that follows? I'm not so sure that this evil is quelshed at this time. Ten years is a long time for the infection to go deep.
Hi readers, as if the world does not know without DRAMA the americans cannot exist reds under the bed weapons of mass destruction always dramatic nonsense that they force down the worlds throats osama bin laden was more than likely housed & supported by the americans just to keep the drama alive, really pathetic these people.
Fareed,
It doesn't matter if he is alive or dead- he has inspired many againt the injustices of the western countries.
Further Al Qaeda is not a person it is an ideology that believe me most muslims in the islamic world have to varying degrees. This mainly comes from western foreign policies and not necessarily due to economic reasons. Palestine is one of the biggest of these issues.
You will see in the times to come more attempts by different cells to avenge the shooting of this man but you should understand that unless the root cause is resolved-problem will always remain.
- anitus, Palestine is actually relatively very tiny in population and area and is merely used as but one pretext for radical Islamic terror. Even if little, secular democratic Israel (which itself is comprised of some 25% non-Jews, mostly Muslims, who are represented in its parliament, defense forces, judiciary and industry) did not exist altogether, radical Islam would still be hell bent on forcefully imposing Muslim law, Sharia, on the entire world.
Just wondering if the Arab Spring is not Al Qaeda disguising the wolf in sheep's clothing.
It would be an ingenious method of toppling governments and spreading a transformed idealogy that wold appeal to a larger audience...making the wolf more acceptable.
I'm not entirely convinced about the Arab Spring either .. and that is a very scary thought you laid out. Who would have the last laugh then? Pakistan protected this man and they possess nuclear weapons. Obama tried to give them a fig leave to cover themselves by allowing them to say some of their people took part .. but it's the beginning of the end for Pakistan. We may have to do something about them. I am in no way a hawk .. but this is a huge problem. Even Musharraf, who I respected and thought was a true terrorism fighter at least .. complained about Pakistani sovereignty when told about Osama bin Laden's death .. that surprised and frightened me! Pakistan is a nuclear armed country with a lot of radical Muslims. It's like a mine that can explode at any time.
Hi Ray, Can you read my msg at 4:02am name Ron. R. ...... what do you think of my thinking there?
Hi Ray in Vegas, Look at my msg at 4;02 am. Smile
Ray if you watched Musharaf last evening with Diane Sawyer, he said if Pakistan intelligence didnt know that UBL was in their backyard for so many years then it was also the fault of the CIA who couldn't find him though he was right there !
Mushy is an over rated but a clever politician crook who has sucked up to the US and got all the money that he and Pakistan could get out of our naive "love your ally" policy and has allowed Pakistan to become a nefarious basket case of a country which is not much but a swamp of terrorism.
If some of the conservatives posting here give Obama too little credit for this, his supporters give him too much. Yes, he greenlighted the mission, and yes, if bin Laden had not been there – or worse, if he had escaped and SEALs had died – it might have assured him a one-term presidency. However, so much of the process that lead to getting OBL was put into place before Obama took office, and the actual work was done by the CIA and the military, that to say "Obama got him" is just as false as saying he deserves no credit.
I'm a tea partier and I'm happy to say Pres. Obama made a very good call to greenlight the op, that it took guts, and it was smart and brave to keep Pakistan in the dark. No matter what I think of Obamacare, he earned his pay the day we got OBL. However, a lot of people, including the last administration, all deserve credit for this good outcome. We *are* a team here.
i am not fan of Bin Laden and followers but i know the whole setuation and facts... :- the Interesting thingabout the word “Al-Qaida” that it has more meanings to the “Base” also “ foundation” meant for the Bin laden organization, more to that it also has other literal meanings like “ setting!” or not standing up to walk away, also “ staying” and not leaving ! … ask a good arabic speaking person and will tell you more meanings of the word Al-Qaida! ... that is the forcasted future for alqaeda, it will live on as long as the couses for it are there>
If only you were right, Mr. Zakaria.
Islam itself began with a highly charismatic, perhaps delusional, 7th c. warlord who cleverly, but rather transparently (to modern, and many historical, observers), claimed divine prophecy in order to garner much greater support and allegiance than he would have otherwise. But Muhammad himself would be astonished to know that many centuries later people would still be killing in his name. That is why al Qaeda and/or its ideological allies – like the Hamas who condemned the b.L. killing and called him a "holy warrior" – are quite alive and kicking (or killing).
The "Arab Spring" is only pushing for mob rule that is a tyranny of the majority; the voices there for true democracy that is based upon absolute equality and civil and intellectual freedom are actually a small minority. This was made clear in the recent highly credible Pew Research Center survey of Muslim attitudes, (Views of Harsh Punishments" Q108b-d, Dec. 2, 2010), that showed that of Egypt's 90% Muslims: 82% favor stoning people who commit adultery; 77% favor whipping/ cutting off of hands for theft and robbery; and 84% favor the death penalty for people who renounce Islam.
The comparable percentages, BTW, even in a “moderate” country like Jordan were, among its 92% Muslim population: 70%, 58% and 86% respectively.
In the same survey, 54% of Egyptians also felt that suicide bombings can at times be justified (45% in Jordan).
American policy was never the major problem for radical Islam; it is America and Western values themselves, like the intellectual freedom and absolute equality mentioned above, that are seen as directly opposed to fundamentalist Islam (which itself means “submission”).
Radical Islam seeks nothing less than the forceful implementation of Muslim Law, Sharia, on the entire world and that has not changed in the least, if anything it now has a grand ‘martyr’. What WILL cause radical Islam to fade into history is education and free access to accurate information (largely through the internet) that will replace the heavy indoctrination and brainwashing from birth, including the rewriting of history, that has so dominated the Arab and Muslim world and hindered its development.
oops i placed my email in my name slot!
please change to Khudran
Obama's objectives achieved and Osama's objectives also achieved including drawing the US to the Arab Israeli conflict DIRECTLY instead of hurting the Arab and Muslims world from behind and for Israel sake, ... Osama bin Laden like anybody will die someday anyway. However, that was not Osama’s objective and he was never living for it that way, Osama’s objective was to die for and in the cause of Islam, and for follow Muslims and Arabs in the occupied Palestine territories. Bin laden where he was found was totally isolated and was virtually idle to impose any threat to anybody… killing him and ending his life this way was a an extraordinary gift delivered to him right to his place. A gift he always dreamed for and wished to receive somehow Allah decides. Thanks to the US and thanks to Obama for the mutual missions accomplished and for the mutual objective achievements.
Khudran, the Arab – Israel conflict is merely used as but one local pretext for radical Islamic terror, others are in Chechnya and the Indian subcontinent for instance. Even if little, secular democratic Israel (which itself is comprised of some 25% non-Jews, mostly Muslims, who are represented in its parliament, judiciary, defense forces, and industry) did not exist altogether, radical Islam would still be hell bent on forcefully imposing Muslim law, Sharia, on the entire world – which is the actual Pan Islamic objective of al Qaeda and radical Islam.
I think that, while this will be a crippling blow to al qaeda, that this does not mean the end of the organization. It is, however, the end of al Qaeda as the West perceived it: a jihadist army under the rhetoric of Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden is gone, and it doesn't appear that any of the likely candidates will be able to fill his shoes. What I see for al Qaeda going forward is different isolated cells, such as AQAP, al Shababb, etc., acting on their own terms. This is instead of these organizations looking to one man as their psychological leader. These cells will only have real power where there is weak central government and/or no forseeable opportunity for people to successfully protest in a peaceful manner. I'm thinking of countries like Yemen or Somalia. As for the rest of the Middle East, I think the Arab Spring will bring about a set of new countries, and the dictatorships that remain will constantly keep their eye on protest as they usually do. To sum it up, the Muslim world is moving in the right direction, but Utopia is not right around the corner.
way to go george bush. they finally finished what you started. if i had my way we would take a match to bin laden just like i did the koran last month. obama is next in line for some harsh lovin. hail to the victors vailiant and god save the queen cuz justice is being served.
Need to see the waterboarding vido...then...Bring us his weiner on a stick...only then will I believe he is dead.
Why would the united states care if osamas remains were handled according to muslum traditions? I truly feel like that was a slap in the face to all of the 9/11 families that lost loved ones in that tragic event!!!!
...and the Zen master replied, "We'll see."
It was a great mission led by our country special forces. All praises be to God and our beautiful nation. But some where is Osama flock, angry and ready to make an attack. If Bin Laden had enough power to pull off 9/11 while he was alive, then he has greater power while he is dead. Can you image want his "extreme" followers are feeling right now. I believe each and everyone of them are planning an attack if not in the act of an attack now. God bless us all. Please be aware and please stay alert.
We need to see the waterboard video and bring me his weiner on a stick; only then will we believe he is dead!!
Fareed, I just saw an interview with Ari Fleiscer AC at Ground Zero. You said that the Arab Spring and UBL's killing was a "one-two punch." This is exactly what commentator retired military [Ed O'Connor?] said earlier today on CNN Newsroom wiht Wolf and Canadian Broadcasting Channel this AM with Neil McDonald? You should at least credit the guy with your original remarks?
Also I love it that Fareed said on cover of Time (rag sheet like CNN losing credibility daily) "Radical Islam: Get used to it!" Now he jumps on the bandwagon and says it is dead? Great analysis. Piers Morgan, Fareed, no wonder Fox News is kicking your butt in the ratings!
The charismatic Stalin was followed by a succession of more or less colorless aparatchiks, yet the Soviet Union survived as a serious threat for nearly 50 years after his death.
Finally, the most wanted figure got his price. May he "Rot in Hell" whatever happened it happened for the best. Thanks to the commander in chief, the US force.... pls do some more in Pak... & the world around. There R still mini OBL in the thousand.
See first hand view of what is going on in Middle East, hunt for Osama bin Laden and Pakistan's duplicity check out novel
king of Bat'ha
http://www.publishamerica.net/product39201.html
Thank you, for an insightful look at al Queda and the result that bin Ladon's death will have. Bin Ladon may well have been the financial backbone for al Quaeda: his death will leave holes we can only imagine.
A section of your article dumbfounded me. You wrote "In the past few months, we have seen democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia." I would like to know from you is that, how is the democratic, peaceful revolution being labelled as 'Non-Islamic'?. From what I know, Islam preaches peace even in the most difficult of times, and should the revolution demmed peaceful, isn't that the very element of Islamic teachings? I believe, that one particular sentence is a contradiction to the teachings of Islam, which as all reasonable, educated person knows, being exploited by the Islamic terrorist.
Why does CNN insist on putting by this idiot on this site. Al Qaeda will go on either as Al Qaeda or joined into another terrorist organization. It's the nature of these organizations.
The main culprit is the pakistani ISI, the US is again making the same mistake what it made 30 years ago. By ignoring ISI & terrorist groups like L.E.T Jaish E Mohammad(J.E.M) & the haqqani network. Though they may not be a direct threat to US now but in next 10 years or so they will be, just as Saddam Hussain & Bin Laden were once on the US side. If u want to kill this Beast U must cutoff all the heads & not just a few selected once. US administration must think of the long term effects. Had the people in previous administrations though about the future People like Saddam Hussain & Bin Laden wouldnt have raisen to the level that they where at present
The main culprit is the pakistani ISI, the US is again making the same mistake what it made 30 years ago. By ignoring ISI & terrorist groups like L.E.T Jaish E Mohammad(J.E.M) & the haqqani network. Though they may not be a direct threat to US now but in next 10 years or so they will be, just as Saddam Hussain & Bin Laden were once on the US side. If u want to kill this Beast U must cutoff all the heads & not just a few selected ones. US administration must think of the long term effects. Had the people in previous administrations though about the future People like Saddam Hussain & Bin Laden wouldnt have raisen to the level that they were at present
The main Al Qaeda organization may be dead. But they have achieved something terrible. Look at the mess the world is in right now. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, look at the extra security in our airports, new religious laws in Europe, look at the polarization in the world between Muslims and others. Most of this has been since September 11th. I sincerely hope that the death of Bin Laden marks the beginning of the end and we can pull this world back from the brink, but you could argue that the chain of events sparked by 9/11 is too hard to stop. Not to mention the separate issues of Iran and Bahrain, and the new alliance between Fatah and Hamas. I hope for everyone's sake that it can be stopped and that things will get better for people not only in the West but also in these Muslim countries.
US must not repeat the same mistake again, never support any terrorist group or dictator, bcoz one day they may turn against you. If only people in previous US administrations would have though about the future & what results their polices would bear in the future, then People like Saddam Hussain & Bin Laden would've never come to power. They came in power with US support remember!
I am glad that the Target is gone but as I am American and white Deaf man. I am not sure if Bin Laden is also behind helping the Arab world who want to be free and democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia. I hope CIA will find what did Bin Laden's CD, DVD and Hard Drive may have information (which was taken by S.E.A.L. and CIA at the raid in Pakistan ) that Bin Laden's plan to fix the Arab problems. Well, i dont know. I do have Arab Deaf friends which I love them. Was Bin Laden's changing to be better person? What do you Think?
I don't think he was changing to be a "better person". I'm not sure he's behind Arab Spring but I'm still a little suspicious about the whole thing. It's all happening so fast. Hopefully the tyrannies will be replaced by democracies of some sort and not by more tyrannies. It was a good thing when the Iron Curtain was torn .. hopefully this is something similar.
Dear Mr.Zakaria,
I think you hit the nail on the head with this article. Al Qaeda will lack the leadership that it requires to be organised. But what concerns me is that during its years, Al Qaeda could have created micro movements which could mushroom into something like itself. A type of offspring in a way to the ideology called Al Qaeda. To be honest, Al Qaeda didn't make much of an impact since 9/11 and the level of response from the United States did not leave Osama with many options. History has taught us that we must not let our guard down for in this age humans will strive for freedom in whatever definition they deem fit.
The fight must go on.
Thanks
Oh Obama, look into this part of the website for the conflict history in the Ivory COast. Look past its criticism of you and into what every Ivory Coast citizens knows and so do most Sub Saharan African knows as they watch Recolonization take place. Is every African mother suppose to believe that her child was placed on this planet to serve and be inferior to others on this planet. Are we, Africans to pay the price for everyone desires. Please read this link and look past its criticism of you and into the facts that are.
http://ivorycoastgenocide.yolasite.com/ivorycoastconflicthistory.php
http://ivorycoastgenocide.yolasite.com/
@ Christian.
Do you think President Obama has nothing better
to do but sit and read posts ?
You might have better luck with Charlie Sheen.
Very nice discussion, but It would be appreciated by many if you provide sources to you information, if not a link at least give examples and where you got that figure or information from... People have a nasty habit of making up facts and exaggerating numbers to aid there argument. Any fact based in deception leads to falsehood..
Tell me what's your take on Bin Laden killing and I will tell you who you are (Hamas v Israel).
That analysis also rather smacks of a clever Islamic apologist rant. It is as if to say 'the bad boy of Islam is now dead, so don't worry, now you can relax and let Islam carry on freely'.
That is, of course, just what fundamentalist Islam would want the West to believe so that it can carry on with its Jihadist agenda of forcefully bringing Muslim law to all the world – American foreign policy, forms of Arab government and the existence of bin Laden notwithstanding. Muhammad said "war is deceit" and the fundamentalist Islamic doctrine of Taqqiya justifies deceit if it advances Jihad. One can even pretend not to be a Muslim (otherwise a cardinal sin) if it advances Jihad.
The West IS still under enormous threat from fundamentalist Islam since its basic values of democracy, based upon absolute equality for all, and intellectual and civil freedom, is directly opposed to fundamentalist Islam – which itself means "submission" to Islam's (or its clerics’) take on "god's will". Masses of Muslims are encouraged to, and do, migrate to the West to have large families (that are actually subsidized by Western socialist states) in order to attempt to democratically sway the West towards Islam. Radical Islam, quite apart from al Qaeda, is still responsible for the mass murder of random passersby and other killings everywhere from Amsterdam and New Delhi to Bali, Tel Aviv, Somalia, Lahore, and Stockholm – but, again, there is little reason to believe al Qaeda will not carry on in the tradition of its own mass murders as in London, Madrid, Fort Hood and New York City. If anything, radical Islam now has a new grand martyr to rally around.
'Ray in Vegas',.... Hi Ray, pls look aat 4:02AM; my msg is there. What do you think? Thanks......
My thoughts... We are avenged, and not just our American dead. It's not unusual to think only nation-centrically but let's not forget that those creatures (can't call them people, they surrendered their humanity the moment they decided wholesale murder was a good thing to do and won't insult all the world's other animals by lumping these "things" in with them) murdered people from 41 countries, including us on 9/11. Include all the other victims of these barbarians from all their other actions and it is fitting to feel a sense of relief and even joy.
Things like Bin Laden are not a type that Dr. King or Gandhi would have embraced or pardoned. Those men were men of conscience and heart; embracing an essence that things like Bin Laden and his ilk are incapable of... compassion.
Will "terrorism" miraculaously disappear overnight? Of course not! This mindset has been around since time immemorial; there will always be the morally and compassionately deficient among us. That's life. The Things that call themselves the Taliban are still very active and they, too, need to be ferreted out and destroyed root and branch. We must, I believe, stop thinking solely from our own perspective. Things like al Qaeda and Taliban do NOT look to the greater good of their people; they are driven by power and hate. Power OVER others and hatred for all who refuse to succumb to their ideology.
I'm a Navy veteran, a large portion of my family's history is tied to the military and I do not like war... BUT it is the responsibility of decent, compassionate human beings to swallow back their fear and stand against the monsters of this world. Is the thing Taliban a direct threat to the US? Of course not! We did NOT go into Afghanistan solely to hunt down Bin Laden; we went to stop the wholesale slaughter and rape of a nation who could NOT defend themselves; to rid them, and the world et al, of the horrors inflicted upon innocent people by monsters bearing no consciences.
It took us ten years out from 9/11 for all the elements to come together perfectly to remove the head of the hydra. There are no quick fixes; perserverance is what will get the job done.
As long as Palestine is not free there will be no peace. We have to go to the root of the problem. Make Palestine a nation and support it.
Smurfs are not real.
Say "No" to Smurfistan.
honestly anyone that thinks bad things aren't going to happen needs to realize this has only just begun. you're living in a fantasy world to think this group is dead. this is the real world people. you piss people off they retalliate. I mean did you honestly think that bc osama is dead al queda (spelling) is "dead?" no. wake up its been 10 years, he's definately had time to prepare people for war. get your act together america you're acting like 911 never happened. they can very well attack at anytime and we won't expect it bc we were so naive as to think this was over. ha. really let's hope none of our terrorist read yalls article then they'll really know how incompitant america can be!
Dear Fareed,
I tend to firmly agree with you on your analysis, however as an Egyptian who studied political science at the American University in Cairo and graduated in 1995, when the terrorist attacks on Egypt where at their peak, and who participated on the Egyptian Revolution and thank God I made it and am still alive, I can tell you that the avoidance of the appearance of a new Bin laden should be the focus currently. How did Bin Laden emerge? how these terrorists were created? why would they see in killing innocents that they please God? I believe two main reasons were behind all that; first, the lack of good education in the moslem world, and when I say good, I mean education with analytical approach, which enables people to question everything and choose through free will. Missing that kind of education has helped radical leaders to polarize the youth without questioning. Second, the authoritarian regimes in the MENA region, has forced a lot of youth to adopt the "bearded" model, as a way to show that they chose that look. Frankly speaking, those bearded people are not welcomed by our society, since they too are authoritarian in their ideas. They don't accept conversations, they are followers and whomever who opposes them is an infidel.
Another Bin laden should be avoided and I firmly believe Al Azhar has a great role to do in spreading the true fundamentals of Islam among the Moslems and before the West. Also, activating educational exchange programs between the West and the Moslem world became a must, in order to lessen the chronic gap between the two cultures.
best regards,
Mahmoud Soheim
Yours is probably the most sound and intelligent response posted; thank you. The perspective of regional residents is terribly important. Everyone, sadly, tends to assume that all people view the world the same way they do. Perspective is relative to one's life experiences and residence. Thank you, again, for an intelligent response.
Thank you.
Ray in Vegas...... okay thanks for ur replying.... No Proof..;Ok ... Hope that Arab People being friends with World Arab people ... Ok ..Good Night...
This is so funny. For 13 years myself and my four brothers have worked in a plant that makes and publishes the Quran. For the last nine years we have been using not leather but pig hide to make the covers. We estimate that over 9 million muslims have been carrying a pig around with them. Isn't that great!
First the intelligence that initially named the courier was obtained through advanced interrogation techniques at GITMO two things this administration fought the whole way........waterboarding led to the name that led to the courier....so that being said gee how terrible???? And second glad this evil S.O.B. is dead.......as far as Islamic terrorism? Not hardly Fareed.....Hamas just put out a statement decrying his killing of this "hero" Hamas you know the guys that are not one with the other portion of the Palistinian wonderful people........hillarious analyisis and clearly biased.....
Obama will take the credit and I am sure campaign on his "tough" stance on terrorism which in reality has been a joke.......just like border security on our southern border..............Glad this criminal is gone but I thank the US miltary and our CIA/NSA..............and defniiitely do not thank this administration for using information garnered through the things he has consistently whined and decryed and worked against....intelligence obtained without wiretap, intelligence obtained from GITMO and intelligence obtained from waterboarding...........
Veteran here, too. I swore an oath to defend our Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. When we degrade ourselves and our national philosophy to become no better than the monster we strive to overcome then we have lost all right to the assumption of the moral high ground. We have NEVER subscribed to the "end justifies the means"; there are always grey areas but some things are strictly either right or wrong. Torture is wrong. If I'm going to die, I prefer to die knowing I stood my ground and refused to succumb to the mob mentality of allowing horrendous wrongs against other human beings to save my own skin.
While it is true that bin Laden was the driving force behind al Qaeda we must remember that to destroy that group we must destroy their infrastructure. We must stay the course and finish the fight both against al Qaeda and the Taliban, why you ask? Because we owe to the Muslim people in countries where the uprisings have and are taking place. We have to complete the job so the changes can flourish.
So what happen to Osam bin ladeb money ?????
Al Qaeda may be dead, but not before slicing the jugular of the US as the world's economic super power.
osama bin laden was an iconic figure of this terrorist organization and his death is indeed a terrible blow to al qaeda cos that figurehead of inspiration n motivation is no more to look up to.i think this is going to take a very long time to find a character of his kind to indeed hold this terrorist group together.God bless the world with lasting peace.
Bin Laden was killed 66 yrs to the day of Hitler.....theres some numerology for you all to mull over
Al Qadea is not dead....by a long shot. there are others that will step up. Just cause you kill its leader doesn't mean the organization is dead. There are always individuals who will keep it going. Bin Laden was only the first generation...there are plenty of individuals to follow and carry on the movement
Is Ob(s)ama a convict ?
Fareed: Would you please comment on the opportunity that now exists for moderate Muslim leaders to up the ante on their ongoing attack against extremism within Islam? It seems that the next developments in this transformation depend heavily on what they do next.
Look - I'm TOTALLY OK with assassinating (aka murdering") this terrorist....just as long as we didn't water board any other terrorist to get information about his whereabouts. See how the Liberal mind works? Scary, isn't it? Not even intellectually honest enough to address that blatant inconsistency. What a bunch of whack jobs you Libs are.
@ I DONT................
Happy birthday
Heard you just turned six.
A perspective from my blog– http://leroidelacave.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/algebra-and-the-1-6-difference/
Fareed articulates a sober analysis of the facts: his assessment is based on current news, but also in history. A blueprint of what may actually happen can be assembled by looking at what happened to Shining Path in Peru after its leader, Abimael Guzman was captured, in almost ridiculously similar conditions: in the center of a middle class neighborhood of the capital city, Lima. Everyone thought he was hiding in the mountains for more than 10 years. It was not only his capture, but the intel that was with him that dealt a death blow to that terrorist organization that put Peru in the brink of civil war. Once Medusa was decapitated, the incentive to join in just fizzled and demoralized his fighters. Lets hope this happens with al Qaeda too.
look, for everyone arguing about obama. just because we dont like obama doesnt mean we are backwoods conservative. it just means we dont feel he has the experience to lead a country. it just means we dont agree with his politics. its not racist and its nothing personal.
I love crepes!!
Before you convince me I'm going to need something like proof?
Obama needed to lie about promised change to get elected. None of which has happened. Obama needed this in an attempt to get re-elected. Let us hope it is not a lie.
What I like about this killing is that the stupid smeark on Osama's was blow off! LOL!
I think the writer of this article is correct. My guess is there was quite a bit of information in that compound that will lead the CIA to whoever his top dogs to take over are. Id say Osama's next in line are not getting very much sleep right now. We will find them and take care of them as we did Bin Laden. The question is what terror organization will be the next threat to peace on earth?
Saying that this is the end of AQ is very dangerous. Is this the end of the OBL AQ, absolutely. AQ has morphed several times from a highly organized corporate structure group pre 9-11, to the structure that it is now (loosely based melange of groups calling themselves AQ). The one constant is change and they've adapted and changed when they've had to. More than likely, they will now adapt themselves to a new cause or join up with another group. They are wounded, but not dead.
Not going to read over 300 posts, but have to say the ones I read were really well thought out and written.
I think that Obama will have the troops out of Afghanistan by the end of the Year as He is planning to do!!!
when are you finally going to realize that radical islam is the cause of all evil and every koran needs to be burnt and we need to round em all up and ship em to africa and then just nuke the whole lot of em. including all you liberal jokers reading this. come to my church in florida and we can get started with ridding the world of this menace of society. bring CNN along cuz they need eradication just as much as the rest of em. achmed balli al achmed megaini al libi al achmed. and i meant to spit on you when i said that you liberal rascal
The fact that bin Laden was found living in the lap of luxury and not operating out of a revolutionary's cave is what will be most tarnishing to his legend. That that same lap of luxury was obviously provided by Pakistan - in the very heart of their homeland - will be the biggest fallout of the operation. With friends like the Paki's who needs enemies?
Osam Bin Laden has truly been no more than a figurehead and inspirational leader for a number of years now. The leadership has been handed to a younger generation and they are not going away any time soon. To let your gaurd down now would be tantamount to suicide.
Ray in Vegas and ALL OTHERS
You said: “I'm not entirely convinced about the Arab Spring either .. and that is a very scary thought you laid out.”
You are right. As I have said many times now all this propaganda fits very well in the overall plan of Mr. Zakaria and his allies to trash America and Israel. Decoding Mr. Zakaria is like an intelligence gathering expedition. There are lots of bits & pieces you need to put together to see the overall pattern.
HAVING SAID THAT, here's my take on what the Arab Spring is all about and its implications for America & Israel very briefly ( BTW, the term Arab Spring is often used by Zakaria to paint a rosy picture for gullible Americans!).
ARAB SPRING – CAUSES: Exploding population, lack of opportunities, modern education, inability to diversify their economies, intolerance towards minorities etc.
WHO GETS THE BLAME – US for propping up dictatorships, billions in aid with American tax payer money is termed as a ploy to subjugate them for ever, import of oil at fancy prices is projected as stealing their wealth, blame America for propping up Israel and a ZILLION other perceived acts of discrimination against Muslims all over the world.
ALSO, even more importantly either way the US loses – we help them, then we lose our trusted allies who will no more trust the US as a friend, and if we don't Muslim (the WORLD OVER!) will blame the US for being insensitive to their suffering!
Reg. DICTATORSHIPS: They forget that Muslim countries hostile to the US also have had dictatorships which the Muslim masses have accepted for decades.....no complaints there!
THE FACTS: – Countries like Egypt signed a peace deal with Israel getting back their oil rich Sinai peninsula, GDP had been growing at a healthy 5-8%, radical Islamic entities kept at bay.
WHAT's GOING ON: – Surely a genuine desire for even greater opportunities which radical organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood are silently exploiting.
Mr. ZAKARIA's efforts -Trying to use the discontent to stir up greater trouble for America & Israel, by highlighting ONLY the negatives, even converting positives to negatives, and trying to kick up PAN-ARABISM which took a severe beating after the Israeli-Egyptian peace deal, ASTOUNDINGLY by suggesting that the peace deal was between TWO REGIMES and NOT the peoples.
Propping up radicals like Hamas, Hezbollah as moderates – whose only stated goal is destruction of Israel, and also America & Europe.
REGRADING PAKISTAN:
You said: but it's the beginning of the end for Pakistan. We may have to do something about them. I am in no way a hawk .. but this is a huge problem. Even Musharraf, who I respected and thought was a true terrorism fighter at least .. complained about Pakistani sovereignty when told about Osama bin Laden's death .. that surprised and frightened me! Pakistan is a nuclear armed country with a lot of radical Muslims. It's like a mine that can explode at any time.”
MY TAKE: I truly hope that's true given that "Islamic Jihad" and "Terror" are INGRAINED into the Pakistani DNA, not merely with corrupt politicians. In fact Musharaff was classic CON-MAN (like most Pakistanis) who would say one thing to the US (& Non-Muslims!), but do the exact opposite behind our backs. In fact he has openly claimed several times that he has become an EXPERT IN TIGHT ROPE WALIKNG – saying different things to please both the Americans and his countryman, saying that otherwise nobody could survive in a country like Pakistan!
Check out this exclnt analysis of how Pakistan is nothing but a lose federation of diverse ethnicities fighting each other and waiting to implode.
http://www.ciponline.org/asia/reports/pakistan_the_state_of_the_union.pdf
Aklso check out this analysis by NPR – aptly titled: "Conspiracy Theories 'Stamped In DNA' Of Pakistanis…. Dec 24th, 2009
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121880229
Many enlightened Pakistani Muslims themselves have said that. Check out the writings of Irfan Husain, Nadeem Paracha, I A Rehman, Kamran Shafi, Cyril Alemida, Ardeshir Cowasjee, Pervez HoodBhoy and several others in Pakistan's #1 daily newspaper Dawn. Check out what they have to say on Islam, Terror, Muslim attitudes to America, Israel, Europe, India. Every word these Muslims speak is WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD! Hope our shameless Islamic sympathizer Mr. Zakaria also takes a cue from that! Mere story titles are enough!
http://public.dawn.com/opinion
Check out two of these GREATEST EVER ARTICLES again both by Pakistanis on
a) How Muslims are MISUSING AMERICA’s Freedoms (incl. our Fareed Zakaria!) specifically referencing the GROUND ZERO CARDOBA VICTORY MOSQUE initiative – aptly titled: “THE LIMITS OF TOLERANCE”
http://www.dawn.com/2010/08/26/the-limits-of-tolerance.html
b) THE ENTIRE PAKISTANI AGENDA their Jihad, their efforts NOT to let America win the war in Afghanistan, and their plans to make Nuclear warfare a reality. –Titled “MYSTERY or MADNESS”
http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/29/mystery-or-madness.html
Let me know if I am wrong!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
CNN: Where is the analytical reporting that ties Bin Laden and Al Quada to the events of 9/11? There are respected academics who ask that question of you. We have been told for so many years that that was just the way it was, but where is the evidence?
bin Laden has been hiding behind a Bush all this time.
He was so backwards I was embarrassed for him. It's like a caveman taking on a tank-he was and will always be a joke.
What is angering me this morning, is that people on the right want to
give the credit to Bush, but won't step up and give it to the current CIC who gave the order.
Decided over night I'd rather speak for truth than polite society. Bush may have run JSOC
forces for a while but he sure didnt invent them. That was 1980, and first thing Bush did was move the unit to the Philippines! Bush did nothing to directly operationally benefit the outcome, on the day before yesterday. If anything he messed up by taking the eye off the ball getting us into Iraq. Shouldn't have done that if he wanted credit down the line. When I see other who cant swallow a bit of pride and give an inkling of credit to Obama without condition, maybe just maybe thats code for a little something else. In which case, time to get some help, self reflect, and move into the new century. Fact is, Obama just kept a campaign promise. A rare thing for a President. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.
So, USA was looking for this man for almost 10 YEARS, you found him, you killed him and then you just buried him into the sea because of a "tradition"? Give me a break! And you people believe that????
Some facts: UNEMPLOYMENT 9.2%, FORECLOSURE problem worsen every day, GAS PRICES rapidly raising, OBAMA'S tarnished image, 2012 PRESIDENTIAL Elections, almost 10 years after 9/11 without justice and so on.
If we start with this "awesome news", we will very soon watch "men walking on the moon" for the 2nd time just to DISTRACT US FROM THE TRULY ISSUES WE ARE HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY!
So what is your point Adrian ?
Or do you just like to "Rant" ?
What a joke – the American still believe in the OBAMA Government without seeing the body of OSAMA
It's not the enemy you know and see that must be feared, but the enemy you don't know and can't see that poses that greatest threat. Bin Laden were a mere spokesman. Plenty of people behind the scenes called and still call the shots. His death will change nothing, as here was a mere figurehead. All we have done by failing to take him alive is to create a Martyr, which in the Arab World, is revered. Not a smart move.
Just had a word with a Saudi. He said Bin Laden died years ago. This was staged. The photo released was photoshoped.
Meanwhile, in Britain, 5 men have been detained after being stopped near a nuclear power plant.
Fareed–unless you have some inside information about al Qaeda and the Taliban, perhaps you should not write so hastily about their demise.
Funny that the left and right drones are fighting over who gets credit for killing a man, Obama violated the Constitution and probably 4 international treaties.... was not the left (as they should have been) all over Bush for committing similar acts without a formal declaration of war? Why not take him and bring him to justice via a war tribunal??? Most people have no idea what the rule of law actually means?? Unreal.
Killing that Jesus guy with the religious cult worked out really well for the Romans.
Terrorism is still at large just south of our border. Lets go after the Mexican cartels killing more people then osama ever did. Oh yeah and anybody giving Obama shit, you people were the ones who voted in a man who put this country in the shitter. Give Obama 4 more years and lets see what happens.
Better yet, let's go after the US Corrupted Authorities and American Cartels who freely widespread Illicit Drugs from Mexico-US Border to all over the Country.
If you think different, can you answer: USA with all its Armed Forces, Money, Intelligence, how can Illicit Drugs be widespread and put the USA as the World's 1st Country on Drug Abuse????
Funny, I went to the ULTRA in Miami, and you could see at least 20 police cars outside the event and many policemen in the event... BUT YOU COULD SEE THE HUGE MARIJUANA CLOUD, THE DEALERS SELLING ANY KIND OF DRUGS AND ALMOST ALL THE PEOPLE USING DRUGS.... Yeah, this is an example how the USA FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS! BRAVO!
Excellent article and I agree. When Hitler died so did Nazism. Of course I realize they were also in a war at the time too and it wasn't a situation where the leader fell and that was it. But we have been at war with al Qaeda now though for years. I truly hope you are right and this breaks their backs and they fall apart. Most Muslims do not like al Qaeda nor support them and that will help keep them down. They kill their own so of course they get little support from moderate Muslims..
Zakariah, a dyed-in-the-wool "post-American" liberal, is constantly going out of his way to make Obama look good. The credit for the killing of OBL should be given to the CIA and Special Forces, with a smidgen going to the President for authorizing the go-ahead.
WAR IS OVER – With Bin Laden Dead the US can DECLARE VICTORY. We are Scheduled to bring our troops home from Afghanistan in July and the War in Iraq is Over. We will have bases and a presence in the region – just like our Bases in Germany, Korea and ELSEWHERE. But for the FIRST TIME THIS CENTURY – WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE 'AT WAR' – we could declare PEACE.
We will never achieve peace until religion is gone. All religion. We have to have faith in ourselves.
On my part there simply a tense sort of moment of peace, they the eye of a hurricane passing over hear. The winds might be lighter as the eye above you drifts off and leaves you with the rest of the storm, even with that knowledge; there is little comfort in it. I don’t think we’ve the last of this yet.
Once al Qaeda figures out how to reconvene and strong leader is identified they’ll be back.. My objection all of this is that they are not a mentally stable people. I really don’t give a crap what Koran says about the 7th century of Islam seems to suggest. I have not read the book and I won’t; at least they get restless again and begins’ firing at us again.
I’m a vicious man. I don’t hate, as Melville wrote, “for hate’s sake.”
I am a vengeful man! If you’re the part in the machine making break down, I take you out and cast you aside. Hurt my family; well… we have saying down in Mississippi – It put the idea into crystal clarity, “Cause down in Mississippi.” I don’t know how many Bedouins, Tribes or Clans have been to the US and seen what our out environment looks like. We have LOT’s of trees, lots of caves and it didn’t help Eric Rudolph hide for Georgia authorities from
But you won’t get back tot this country. Besides, there aren’t many trees to hide behind in your part of the world. I’m fairly sure that why Osama was forced to build his own little prison.
So for the next guy that wants to try to make a single religion and force everyone into it. Just remember, the shoes you (Osama’s) aren’t made from reeds and rope, they’re made of semtex and they just might blowup when you’re putting them on
Or
You could just quit now. I’m never going to disavow my God. Just incase you didn’t here me the first time. My family will NOT convert to Mudhomanizu.
KOA
So, everybody drop your weapons or there’s going to be… trouble.
It would be nice to see how Bin Ladin's execution is being dealt with by Muslim governments, the "street", and media.
That would probably be a helpful sign of what's going on in Muslim countries. IFor example, undersand Hamas is in the "mourn the martyre" category. That's a good sign that Hamas is unrepentant and continaues to be a terrorist organization that rules a terrorist territory, Gaza.
So when the gloating finally ends, where will we find our next boogeyman?
Oh my WORD.. on 9/11 we lost many lives... if we sat home and did nothing I am sure it would have happend again.... we dedicated our Military to engage terrorism and thwe US and Coallition forces and yes even innocent civillians have been killed during this horror on both sides.. so people are happy that Osama is dead! You dedicate that much effort into the hopes of causing a change.. a catalyst for the world to say.. everyone has a right to an opinion and to be free... it is ok to question your leaders without fear of retalliation and have a difference of opinion without being shot. We are not in the streets denouncing Islam... we have finally eliminated a threat and with great cost... so yes there is rejoicing and finally some closure for America and anyone effected by this. I would rather stay home too and secure our borders and feed our poor and educate our children... the world needs to take care of each other or we will all in time fade away... FREEDOM is not FREE... but the US and the oppressed cant do it alone... Peace to all races, creeds and religions... Bless the WORLD
I just hope for true democracy for ALL Arab people. Especially women. There is a life under the oppression...may Bin Laden's ideology and beliefs die with him.
just because you remove the leader doesn't mean that the organization will fail.. the ideology is not baised on one man.. this thought is purely ignorance.. the fact is that someone will clearly take the new position just as anyone would in any large organization. this war isnt over
The CIA trained OBL when he was fighting against the soviets.
GPS, you make it sound as if forsaking a multibillion dollar fortune is a sin. The fact is I am glad that Bin laden is gone for what he represents. But ppl fail to realise that it was america's policies as so ably announced by Donald Trump of beating down those you cannot conquer otherwise, that causes the birth of ppl like Osama. America is still not well liked because of its high ad might behaviour and this is seen in how it does business. It can easily internationalise its commercial enterprises but let a foreigner try to setup a foreign franchise and see what happens to them. Up till recently it could dictate how much its dollar was valued same with the British pound. The US and it friends quietly dictated world affairs to the detriment of a impoverished africa ad latin america. I dare say ordinary americans are not to be blamed it i these rich business and political interests especially in the GOP that have caused grave damage to this world. Ppl like Donald Trump: if he was from another race and country would have been in prison already.
Interesting piece, Fareed, but seriously, an existential threat? The ideology of al-Qaeda was only an existential threat insofar as it could be used by Western authorities to justify the unfolding of the anti-terror security state.
Fareed, I truly hope you're right on this one. It's hard not to think this is wishful thinking but I do honestly hope you're spot on.
It's amazing how nobody is talking about how Bush fumbled this one by creating the disaster that was the Iraq War. If he had been focused like Obama and made Bin Laden a top priority I think this day would have come under his watch.
I hope you are correct. As you stated there will always be thugs around. However, I feel that all this attention given to bin Laden is a good thing. He is getting all this press and as long as he is kept alive through reporting he will not be forgotten. His whole life was such a waste, it is time to put his death behind us and move on.
I couldn't agree more. The decisive battles in the "War on Terrorism" have been won. The idea of terrorism for political gain has been dealt a series knock out punches. Right on Fareed!
Very interesting discussion. There will be a lot more killing of innocents by the suicidal doomsday terrorists. But I think for the most part Zakaria is correct, but for a basic reason. Mass murder and control of this nature takes money, and lots of it. With bin Laden dead, the faucet has been turned off. Sure, there will be others willing to donate their fortunes, but nothing on the scale that bin Ladin provided. And with the Arab Spring, al qaeda has lost its black soul. Its spirit is dying. Good riddance. Now if we can just do something about Hamas and the other murderous groups...
Osama is dead. But Osama was not the root of evil, he was an evil-doer, but not the source of evil. The source of evil is in the religion, if you read the text and understand the "commandments" in there, you will realize that terrorism stems from teh Quran, and those terrorists are just carrying out whatever God has ordered of them, blindly. I've read the book, and because I did I have compassion on those pour souls under its rule. Osama's assassination may bring a sense of victory to the western world, but it does not remove the threat of terrorism from our lives. I actually think it heightens it, now it's a game of tag, and they're it!!!
A dead, buried at sea and forgotten Bid Laden at the hands of the USA is far better than a martyr's grave that could be worshiped by thousands of extremists motivated by hatred.
I'm just glad he's dead. If there's another, we'll just kill him too.
Hey CNN, when you gonna cough up a picture of what you're reporting? Or are we just supposed to trust you because you're CNN?
Like a line of ants marching in single file, if you run your finger through the line, you distrupt their march and they will go awry...So will the extremist now that he's dead!
great article, my thanks.
Let's be honest. This is a huge blow to al Queda. especially since bin laden supported it mentally and financially,but there will always be crazy wanna bes and followers. We must not be blind to this fact. Don't be sorry be aware. I don't want to see innocent people die again by a false and ignorant belief.
I think we should have not released the killing of Usama until we had gone through the intelligence we got at the site, now if there was any info on locations, those people are taking off. Maybe into hiding forever or maybe just to a different location to continue on with their ideology of violence for change... No matter, the cat is out of the bag and as a service member, been to Afghanistan, Cuba detention facility, I am thankful he is dead.
I wonder how Trump will try to make this his victory.
they called bin laden charismatic LOLOLOLOOL
The serpant will now flap about without purpose now that the head has been severed!
Unfortunately...If history has taught us anything. There is always someone waiting in the wings to prove that he or she is even bigger than their predecessor. They try to do something bigger......act more insanely.....perform greater atrocities in an attempt to put their name on the map and strike fear in to our hearts. The only choice for us is live.....be guarded and aware but live!!!
The hatred towards America is still there. The only questions are;
"Is it still, or can it be organized?", and "What is it/will it be called?"
I also think they did the right thing with his body. Remember, what would jesus do? We are no one to judge.
As long as the Palestinian issue festers there will be fuel for Islamist extremism. That fuel is enriched by a mixture of anti-Western rage, domestic repression and the West's addiction to oil.
One of the anchors asked today "When is the last time there was so much rejoicing over someone dying?" All I kept thinking was "The Munchkins" – "(He's) gone where the goblins go, Below – below – below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out. Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low."
Didn't the death of the christian leader Jesus actually increase the movement? Just a thought.
RE: "...part of me that also suspects that the Arab Spring is part of Obama's plan too..."
Obama deserves kudos for his bold decision, but your comment is pure fantasy.
Yo Donald...Are you still reeling from the birth certificate issue? Or are you celebrating like the rest of us Americans the great thing Obama and our great Navy Seals just did by ridding the world of evil....something that really counts for Americans? Go count your money and hide under a rock!
My opinion is to kill them all and let God sort them out. Any ideology that believes that a single person of authority (Imam) can condone the killing of innocents (suicide bombers) in the quest of killing "non-believers" is tantamount to what Hitler did to the Jews, Russians, etc in the 40's. No one has the right to sacrifice innocent people in the name of religion, they are cowards, gutless, soulless, and power hungry thugs that should be eliminated without prejudice.
Interesting. On one hand you say "kill them all and let God sort them out" and on the other you mention no one has the right to sacrifice innocents in the name of religion. Genocide and God in the first part, and not using God to justify genocide in the second. You sound a little confused.
I feel the US has known for a while we this guy has been, but feared a fallout with Pakistan(whihc has nuclear wepons). I feel what brougt this to a head are the uprising in the Middle East. America rightfuly feared an Islamic oil empire controlled by Bin Laden.
The end of a movement ??? Like Christianity...(Jesus Christ)--or the civil rights movement...(Martin Luther King Jr.)
Who the hell wrote this article ?
Who the hell wrote the article is one of the worlds foremost experts on international relations and especially in Asia and the Middle east. If it does not conform to your warped and ignorant views, the problem is with yourself. You should watch Dr. Zakarias program on CNN and educate yourself. What you also did not consider is that the people you mention have survived their deaths because of the good they did. All Osama Bin Laden did was take and kill. He is also reviled in most of the Islamic world. He does not have the following amidst his own people that MLK, Ghandi or Jesus ever had.
pakistan is either as incompetent as a rock or a pack of lyers. USA is sending pakistan 3 BILLION a year in aid yet u cannot find bin laden 800 yards from your military base? i will say the same thing DeAndre Cole says on saturday night live..."what up w/ that"? ive often criticize obama but i must applaud the president for having the balls to go in pakistan and take this monster out. do the right thing now mr. president, stop sending that 3 billion to pakistan and use it to aid people here in america instead.
amen
Sadly it did
I think a more realistic comparison of charismatic leaders to Osama would be Hitler. The extermination of everyone different from your ideal is reminiscent of Adolph, not MLK. Not Gandhi. The Arab awakening had truly marked the beginning of the end for al Quida. Whether the West had ANYTHING to do with this is open to debate. We'd like to think so, but it is more likely that the despots had pushed too far, inviting their own fall.
If you believe this has in any way quelled the resolve of these people you are living in a fantasy land. These comments are purely leftist attempts to tie a bow around the whole post 911 response and move on. Stop dreaming, these people will be back and more resolved in light of the atrocity of killing such a beloved figure. If killing him solves as much as you predict then I suggest you look at the effect of Yasser Arafat dieing on the Palestinian terrorist. These people take resentment and revenge to a level weak minded liberals cannot understand.
STFU a$$hole......your feeble attempt at logic sounds like babblings from a retard. While the Republipukes were focused on busting planned parenthood, NPR and robbing the working class the "Leftists" were not "attempting" to eradicate the murderers of Americans they were DOING it! So close that C_cksucker under your nose and punch yourself in the face!
I reiterate, you're an a$$hole
Such angry weak minded liberals. I know you have been unemployed for a long time now due to Obozzo's economic policies but attacking people on CNN's commentary pages is a poor way to pass the time. Suggest you try the unemployment office to see if you can actually find a life.
@ Dave
PNAC, Dave. You Gotta read this.
The plan for a new American century written by the Neo-Cons.
Soviet Union fell, Cons decide we need another enemy
to keep us scared, keep the wars going
Bin Laden and Al Queda are created.
Doesnt matter that Bin Laden is now dead.
Its like playing whack-a-mole
they just pop up some place else.
You morons love to pin everything on the left and the libs
just too stupid to see the bigger picture.
Your Right wing conservatives created this mess.
Yes, we killed a leader but we didn't destroy Islam. Islam is the enemy. Osama only carried out the tenets of his miserable faith. Islam marches on!
Yep. That's the truth but no one can say it. We *are* at war with Islam, because Islam is at war with us. Islam is inherently political in a way that makes it incompatible with free and civil society. "Moderate" Muslims are merely *less* Muslim.
Trump...You have been Trumped! Obama produced his BC and still got the bad guy all in one week...What have you done lately? Oh wait...."Your Fired"!...Now go get your shinebox!
Trump is a loser, but you think you are a big man bashing a loser? You really need to stoop that low?
I think everybody should see the picture of Bin Laden shot to let ever one can see he is dead for them self.And the rest of the world will now that if they mest with the U S A it wood happen to them.
And you think the people who are demanding the pictures have the technology to prove they're authentic? Sounds a lot like the President's birth certificate. "Ok....now....let us see the long form. The short form doesn't prove anything." There were people getting excited about a photoshop picture, thinking it was real.
What will a "picture" accomplish? Will people stop claiming it's a fake? Will it bring peace? Imagine someone very close to you being shot in the head and then pictures being put on display to prove to some group of idiots that they actually killed them. I think it's safe to say you know your loved one is dead. So...is it going to make you less aggressive or more aggressive towards whomever killed them? Keep in mind the people you're going to piss off already killed thousands. You're a fool if you think they couldn't do it again. We can't even secure our borders right?
But remember beelzebubba, the son of man has risen! And will come to judge the living and the dead. And then you will believe.
The best way to re-energize Al-Qaeda is elect a Republipuke President again
Sparky, you are a silly little sheep. The first attack on the WTC was while Clinton was in office in 96. You must not have been born yet, which would explain why you know nothing about the middle east and all the trouble during Jimmy's presidency. Go ahead and follow your party blindly, while I laugh at you.
The September 11 attacks, often referred to as September 11th or 9/11 (pronounced as "nine eleven"), were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. Bush was President.
John, 9/11 was not the first attack on the WTC by OBL. You need to read up on your history a little more. The first attack was in the 90's while Clinton was in office. Albeit, the attack was not a successful as 9/11, it was still an attack. To say that OBL is targeting republicans / democrats is insane.
Sorry, That comment was directed at MB... not John.
@DJ – John said it was in 96 when Clinton was in office. "The first attack on the WTC was while Clinton was in office in 96. " The fact is the first attack occurred in Feb 1993, less than 2 months after Clinton was sworn in. The attack was linked to AQ, but not to Bin Laden, and there was plenty of missed opportunities to prevent it during the previous administration. As a matter of fact, there were stronger indications of links between the Yousef and the CIA starting in the 1980's....not that they were involved.
i think al quaeda is very much alive . i think they new eventually bin lden woulld be knocked off . i think they planned ahead . i dont even believe that was bin laden that was knocked off . they told us that before. obama is desperate things arent going to good for him in this country right now. that will assure him a second presidency
You people are proof that you'd rather have bad happen to this country than for a Democrat to be successful. HAHA!
You are an idiot if you think the threat is gone from these nut jobs. And those peaceful demonstrations that are threating like the Muslim Brotherhood are just a new breed of anti-west armies.
They want to destroy us and are surrounding Israel at the present time. So with your sugar coat article to try to catch us off guard...well some of us do not buy it and I feel sorry for those who do.
Your propaganda should be taken back to the middle east and not here in America where the WAR ON TERROR continues!
An former anti-war senator then and President now made an important final decision to how to end the life of OBL. I give President Obama a big credit to use man power instead of bombing his compound, the mission has been well planed since last Aug. Unlike former President Clinton who chose missiles from distance and failed, but always bragged that he "almost caught" OBL. Obama put his political life at stake by making this final but vital decision, got blame or credit, he deserves well the latter.
Now we need to focus on the terrorism of our own government.
http://adrianzupp.blogspot.com/2011/04/sen-lindsey-graham-loves-bombs-when.html
I'm glad he's dead. I hope they see us dancing and celebrating his death in the streets just like they did when the towers fell. The fact that he will no longer take a breath puts a smile on my face. I wish this on all supporters of this coward.
Let it be know that Al Quada may be wounded but not dead. Unfortunately the way that this group carried out it's ideology was wrong because innocent people lost their lives throughout the world. That said, it concerns me that the United States didn't do more to dismantle those dictatorships before the common people had to uprise and kick them out. And the question is, "Isn't this the main objective of Al Quada?"
I like your article, but would have been more persuaded if you could cite examples to support your comment:
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers."
Not sure what history books you are reading, but when it is a religious leader - It usually is worse after.
I hope you're right, but I don't think it's always true. The death of Joseph Smith made the mormon church what it is today. If he hadn't been killed we would have no idea what mormons are.
Zakaria is drinking too much Kool-Aid. Usama is a bigger symbol now, then he has been in the last 6 or 7 years and radical Islam is angry. Should have left the old man hide.
It's bothering you that Obama did in two years what Bush could not do in eight, that you'll claim you wish a MASS murderer had been left alone. HAHA!
The death of Al-Queda? Are you kidding? For every terrorist leader we kill, two more pop up in his place. From your tone you'd think we can just forget the war on terror and go on a picnic. Can you really be that naive?
I am terribly disappointed that nothing is being said about the lucrative smuggling and trafficking of opium in Afghanistan and Pakistan (as well as other illicit trade), which is funding so much of the corruption and violence in that region.
Why is the international community and civilized world not condemning and eradicating this insidious root cause?
OK so this whole process began while Bush was in office right? Do we even know if Bush was privy to the info? If the military was handling it under both administrations, I'm sure both presidents weren't informed until absolutely necessary and they had a real good idea OBL was in or around that compound,. So Its possible Bush had no idea what was going on. And if that's true, it makes President Obama that much more brave. He said he would do whatever it took to get high level targets, and he did that as far as we know. He made a promise and delivered. Let's congratulate him on that kept promise and reserve judgement for other areas of his presidency for a later time.
Pinecone, People fight wars to gain more wealth and power. Pure greed under the guise of religion. Most world religions have love towards their fellow neighbour as their core value. Faith in oneself is faith in those self serving, destructive and indifferent natural instincts.
Because of this Obama's propaganda move, aimed only to boost his poll numbers, now Americans face a new an increased terrorist threat. A former CIA operative wrote that Bin Laden was in fact kllled in Tora Bora in 2001, Bush wisely decided to keep it secret in order to preserve America’s safety, continue the war on terror and have an alibi to spread Democracy through the Middle East. That’s why he responded smiling to a question about Bin Laden’s whereabouts in 2002: "I am truly not that concerned about him…." (The New American, 4/8/02) Of course! For the scumbag was already in he|| by then.
Most experts agree that the next Mooslim terrorist attack will be nuclear. So besides unemployment, hyperinflation, high gas prices, we have to deal with a potential nuclear devastation, triggered by Obama's narcissism. Thanks Barry…
Yes and Humpty Dumpty was pushed and the moon landings were staged and... HAHA!
Then, move overseas away from the rest of us who are still proud of the U.S. Most of us are sick and tired of the crowing coming from the right wing conspiracy theorists. Why don't you people run Ventura, King or Beck? It is comforting to know however, that the majority of this country, right, left and in the middle, do not subscribe to the ridiculous ramblings of those who have peanut sized brains. A true patriot is one who holds their patriotism strong regardless of political party. Americans are Americans.....stop with the schoolyard antics already and act like adults.
11:30 Obama announces bin Laden is dead. 11:33 Obama announces bin Laden buried at sea. 11:33:01 The "Doubter" movement is born. Sigh.
I am soooo bored with your toddler type minds. The doubters were around when Kennedy was killed, when Nixon decided to be a crook, when Reagan sold weapons to Iraq and other little things like that, when Bush 1 raised taxes, when Clinton had his little fling and lied about it, Whitewater, the first WTC bombing, BUSH II weapons of mass destruction. Now you are crying because people don't believe Obama? Let's see. He is still in Iraq, Afganistan, bomibing Pakistan and Libya, Gitmo is still open. Yes, Change we will blindly believe in? HA! You poor little sheep.
Lots of discussion on here about who deserves credit:
1) The true credit should go the troops who were there, the troops that supported, and the Intel analysts who provided the insight
2) As far as presidents - Bush deserves credit for putting in place the military and intelligence operations and initiatives that made this happen (note the leads initially came up and started to be worked almost 2 years before Obama). Obama deserves credit for "staying the course" on those operations (despite the screams of yahoos in his party) and for having the guts give the "go order."
I find it troubling about the President and his staff watching it real time for two reasons;
1) How much overhead (comm links, cameras, etc) did that require adding to the op that could potentially have put the op at risk?
2) If they were ready to get involved in decision making that should happen on the ground, then it smacks of Johnson and McNamara setting bombing targets - something neither should have been doing, nor were any good at
@Jim – I did intel work for 12 years. I crack up when I see people posting about which political party is responsible for what. Not you, but others. "Bush got us into this mess and failed." "Obama is making this all up and he was never killed." It truly is pathetic and never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to self-identify as idiots.
I can say that there was not a single person that I worked with who gave a rat's ass which party was in office when it came to doing the job. Rest assured, if we had information, it was going to be forwarded appropriately whether it was Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Obama, or Snoopy. Having had worked under both democrat and republican presidents, I can also say even though I may not have always agreed with their decisions, political beliefs, or other, I do know they were going to do what they felt was best for the country.
I will also tell you that doing intel work is a lot like doing a crossword puzzle on a massive scale. You have hundreds, or thousands of little clues that you have to interpret and then make fit with all the other little clues. If something doesn't fit, then it's not good enough and you keep working to figure out why. It's extremely rare you see more than a little piece at a time, and almost unheard of to get to see the answer page in the back of the book. Usually while you're looking, someone is changing the puzzle so you can start all over.
Can you imagine how the right would be crowing had the rolls of Bush & Obama had been reversed?
I am sick of both left and right bashing one another when they both deserve a good bashing.
Get out the way then.
You have to wonder about the thinking that went into allowing OBL to escape in Bora Bora. Perhaps it was a deliberate decision – killing OBL that early would have undermined all of those lucrative military industrial complex contracts/expenditures, etc as the support for Iraq/Afghanistan wars would certainly have diminished without the OBL boogeyman out there...I wouldn't put it past the profit-driven Bush admin, honestly.
Thank God for President Obama and his ability to make decision that are BEST for the United States...not Halliburton, Lockheed, or the Saudis.
Another blind sheep. Do you really think that Jesus Christ would be so popular today if he had not died? Every single prophet in the bible died for a cause. With Muhammad's death, disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. We still have Hitler followers to this day. Every religious leader who dies, does so for the cause. Killing Osama will probably be Obama's worse mistake. However; It might be the debt he is raking up too.
Al Qaida compares, in many ways, to a virus. As soon as one eradication method yields results, it mutates and reinvents itself to cope with the new circumstances or environmental conditions. And like all viruses, it can always find a new host, because it is nurtured by ignorance and wanton aggression, two things that are prevalent in the islamic world as a result of poverty, corruption, and deep-rooted hatred. Until those things are eradicated, until the islamic world finally shrugs off its 8th century mantle and embraces the modern world, Al Qaida will always have a sea of host organisms to infest.
We can't prevent martyrs, but we can certainly create more of them by doing what we say we will do. This is not the end of terrorism, but it feels good to win a little here and there. In the case of making our point on this one, we did....and we'll do it again and again.
II fear he will become a almost religious icon for this extremist branch of Islam. I hope you're correct in your analysis and they will all disappear with the Arabic countries becoming democracies. However, I think, I fear he will become this religious icon representing the resistance to the wealthy powerful have-it-all Christians (and Atheism / Jewish).
Removing a symbol will end a movement to those who know that they were doing wrong, not those who "believe" that they are doing Gods work. They need revelation, not be elimination.
THANK YOU MR BUSH!
GOD BLESS YOU
Don't let the bitterness eat you up. HAHA!
The very ill-defined, fractionated thing some people call "Al Qaeda" may well have been dealt a significant blow by the death of Bin Laden. And the ill-defined, fractionated thing some people call the "Arab Spring" may well have diminished the opportunities for political power by Islamist groups who indoctrinate hatred of the West. Both assumptions are reasonable, though have yet to be proven.
However, the idea that Islamist groups who indoctrinate hatred of the West are significantly on the decline in the Middle East is hogwash. Setbacks do not equal eradication, especially for fringe movements who perceive systematic persecution and indivdual martyrdom as endemic to their cause.
Sorry for the bad news but there's still lots of folks out there willing to strap on a bomb, walk into a crowded marketplace, and yell "Allahu Akbar!" as they pull the pin. We're going to be dealing with that for quite a while.
– mm
I think in death, he will probably more charistmatic. He died the ultimate martyr. At the hands of the infidels standing up for what he believed in. He didn't just preach it, he ended up living it. I think there are probably a number of video tapes that will be released somehow, that Osama probably filmed prior to his death, expressly for the purpose of rallying the troops once he was gone. There was probably a variation so that if he died naturally, or was killed by the US or another government, or if he were captured. If one thing can be said about him, he was quite the planner and he was patient.
He ended up living what? Like an animal in a hole? Bin Laden got his just like Saddam, hiding like a coward from the rest of the world. I do not understand the attitude of "leave well enough alone" when it comes to bin Laden. He murdered 3000 Americans!
The death of bin Laden is a victory for justice, but it is just a single battle in the war on terror which will be with us until radical violent Islam is eradicated. There is simply no place for it in the modern world. I'd hope to see more American Muslims coming out strongly on this issue, because we are headed for a global showdown. What you fail to see is that bin Laden is just a figurehead. Across the Middle East, Arabs are still teaching their kids that Jews drink babies' blood on Sabbath. For every pissant bin Laden we kill, more are waiting to take his place.
The first thing you must realize is that "believers" think their wrong doing is right. That is why they are willing to die for it. Who would die because they knew they were wrong? Guess you don't understand mental illness.
Osama was a murderer. Plain and simple. He faught for a cause that he believed in and suported with his own life. His life and history will be displayed as we report it as a whole, which will be varied many ways thanks to the internet and social media. If the internet was around, do you think Jesus would of had the same legacy? People can only be tought and react on what they have learned through observation. What have we learned about Osama? I guess that depends on what section of the world one lives. To some Osama is a Saint. To others a Demon. When we learn to live as a human race, other then a "group" or "religious" foundation, we will grow and killings and mass murders will end.
I for one grew tired of seeing his picture, now I want to see one with the bloody towel on his head!!!! good bye coward!!!!!
Coward? Mentally ill, Angry radical Muslim, yes. Coward? No. We armed and funded him against the Russian in Afganistan. He did not reach the level he did without being shot at many times. How many times have you been shot at? Arm chair solders don't get to call themselves brave or other cowards.
Hopefully we will continue the war on terror over there just so we don't have to face Islamist extremists on the streets of Anytown, USA. In the war on terror, "waiting" is a poor strategy.
There is a far more dangerous showdown looming now for President Obama – this bold action on his part has put him on a path of collision with the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX whose utility and exponential growth will now be brought into question...especially given the general state of economic upheaval in our country.
Obama is living up to his billing – a man of the people....I just hope he doesn't the same fate as Kennedy who also took on the Military Industrial Complex. Fox Corporate News will continue indoctrinating the ignorant and the fearful...the question is, can he turn the tide and begin deflating the rapacious war profiteers.
"Al Qaeda is not an organization that commands massive resources. It doesn’t have a big army. It doesn’t have vast reservoirs of funds that it can direct easily across the world."
Actually it kinda does. From saudi arabia to the massive funneling of "donated" money from our country. They have tons of money.
Not to mention, it is well funded with American oil money and tax payer bribes.
Zakaria is dumb as the dirt, just like the rest of the 300 million clueless ,ignorant,blind,dead,and dumber citizen of America....
This is a fight between Islam and Zionist lying,swindling,thugs of America,and Zakaria is subservient of these master thugs...
The creep knows what I am talking about.....If Osama is dead than good for him,cause he was an idiot and dumb asss to be living like this in a mansion like compound with his wives and children and other families ...I have never seen morons like Osama bin Laden...
They want to change the world and have no clueless how to carry through ,You are fighting the mighty great Satan and living with your wife and children around ,Osama if you are dead man you are also dumb as the dirt ,just like your stated enemy AssAMERICA...
How about learning how to survive the mighty great Satan's biggest terrorist organization the CIA from Castro and Otega....
You will see many many better warriors will rise from the Muslim world with the smarts and wisdom that is required to change ones human predicament...
I have stated thousands times atleast,even before you goons became aware of the Pakistani leaders shenanigans of playing the doubles game,that Pakistan people hate America with passion,because they see one sided American policy in favor of Israeli against the poor Palestinian people...Until there is a resolution to that ignorant waste land of the holy crap ...You will keep fighting Islam till eternity and Islam will win in the end,cause its a religion of human Faith,which in its essence cannot be defeated...Islam defeated the mighty Mongol Empire and converted them to Islam...Its true deny it until your face turns blue,and you end up polishing your Zionist masters shoes,while missing all the cues in ignorance of the true nature of things....
I think your current batch of hasheesh was laced with something, so you better go get checked out...
...and wipe the froth from your mouth while you're at it...it's very unbecomming.
Yes? Americas addiction to Narcotics is legendary and Folklores of the Planet Earth...Sick and demented society always dreaming of Narcotics....
...and your backward culture's addiction to violence, murder, and sex with livestock are well documented...
Eh?Look who is talking about murder and backward culture?...lolololololhahahaha...Another clueless,ignorant,blind,deaf,and dumber of the viking barbarian remnants....
Fact America is the murder capital of the planet Earth...With unlimited supply of serial killers,mass murderers,Sadistic rapists,child molesters,Pedophiles,you name any unspeakable despicable human conduct ,America has it in abundance...
This is some kind of your demented version of an advanced society ...huh ignorant
Had it not for Islam,your viking barbarian ancestors would still be filthy and walking the hills of causeway...
Its was Islam that brought light to them,taught them how to take bath,taught them the city concept,taught them the concept of university teaching,etc,etc,etc.....Some kind of gratitude from an ungrateful viking barbarian remnant...Let me guess you must be an American,where they find learning the true nature of things a heresy and sin...Now Tis before I psssss with facts...
From Wikipedia: More than 90% of Mongolian citizens subscribed to some form of Buddhism, mostly Tibetan Buddhism with traditional Shamanism. 5% of Mongolia are Muslim, of which 120,000 are Kazakh Muslims, and 30,000 are Khoton Muslims. More than 4% of the population practices Christianity, of which an estimated 90% are Protestant and 9% are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Roman Catholics and members of the Russian Orthodox Church together account for the remaining 1%
It all souds very good and promesing whith the death of osama bin laden but in my personal opinion we want proof, dont get me wrong im one of many happy with president Obama sence day one i thing hes been doing a great job, but i still think that we need proof of his death we are talking about the worlds most hated, wanted and the most heart less mean in the planet i think every one would like to see to belive.
u sound like the duck man prove prove prove how can u ever b certain if its ligit prove oh and casey anthony is not guilty lol u want more prove get a life and the prove is in the pudding moron
I totally agree. It's not over but we have made a dent in their infrastructure.
You are wrong it is not a devastating blow to al qaeda they have been operating with little or no direction from him for quite awhile they knew it would happen sooner or later and have broken off into several splinter groups such as aqap they still are a grave threat to our national security with or without him somebody will take his place and continue his legacy
I rejoice not in a man's death, but in our pursuit of freedom!
Terrorism certainly appears to be working really well on many of you. Afraid of this, afraid of that, afraid of every freaking thing you see and hear. How in the hell do you folks make it out of your house everyday with the cold fear that a terrorist cell has plotted against your rose garden? Stop watching the news, action movies, Jesse Ventura conspiracy theory hour and Beck's blind take on the Universe at large.
Talk about cowards......those who are scared to death of things that will probably never hurt them. But, it's always good to be hyper prepared for catastrophies every second of the day. Fear, fear, fear...keep it alive, it's real, omni present!! Unavoidable...what will we all do now? Help!
I see Al-Qaeda as something of an Islamic mafia of sorts. You kill the kingpin and soon all the underbosses are aspiring to be the next leader. We may have just killed what Al-Qaeda could reference as their "president", but there are still generals out there who have based their entire life purpose on warring with the west. It's like Rajesh stated: It's the idea of Al-Qaeda and their mission that is the true enemy. Their ideal society conflicts with ours and this is a war based on two non-physical entities that produce physical casualties. I'm wary that we may actually see a lot MORE terrorist action due to this. The scale will be smaller, most likely, but nonetheless there are evil men out there who want to show the world that they aren't gone. A point is about to be made for the underground Islamic extremists. This wasn't some interesting idea that a few misguided fools collaborated; this is their religion! This is what they base their entire belief system upon; the idea that Allah wants them to "punish" our sin and unbelief by any means possible. The world we live in...the change has already begun. It's falling apart at the seams. If it ever begins to settle down and appear to be righting itself, I believe we may be witnessing the calm before the storm. I don't know about anyone else, but does the celebration in the streets seem disturbingly akin to the celebrations we see of the radical Muslim population in the Middle East whenever they "accomplish" something destructive? About the only difference is the fact that we weren't burning flags or effigies, but then again, that may only be because we have law enforcement. My closing thought is this: a group of individuals with a burning hatred and resolute commitment to a destructive lifestyle without direction and leadership will become chaotic and seek fulfillment of that desire by any means necessary.
Gf took gfd bj ji
The day finally arrived for this mass murderer of innocence, if You have problems with poltical leaders leave it at their door and not because u believe that by killing innocent men woman and of choice those poor chilren who never had a chance at living life other then being a child, bin laden got what usurally comes around to people who believe that by murdering innocent humans is just part at getting back at people that have not got your own political views of the world as they have, we all thought that this man was living in a cave and not using his wealth for comfort lordy lordy were we wrong the same game results await his fellow murderers their day will arrive just when they believe there untouchable and feeling secure, right has over taken wrong' but mankind has the right to be free all mankind and not just because of the country u are born in I say with love in my heart God bless AMERICA BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS CARING NATION of Peoples no country with tyrants 4 leaders would ever have a slight chance at being free so my morning cup of jarva i raise to salute the country that leads the free WORLD and just a footnote on donald (duck) trump heres this high feeling losers never ending rant against President Obama and his birth certicate all awhile the Pres was setting up bin laden and his search 4 justice ' i hate what the duck man stands 4 which is nothing of any substance what so ever no 1 likes this braggart snake imagine bragging about stealing off a tyrant not to mention others that he does not bother to mention but hes not leadership material never has been and never will be, all he is in real life is a duck remember if your hair looks like a ducks and u waddle like a duck and u talk like a duck it means donald (duck) trump is a duck but not nearly as smart as a duck . may our Great country of Canada always be the very best of friends with America the free. and God bless the President and his family
America used to be a caring nation. If you think it is STILL a caring nation, then I suggest you read the comments sections on CNN.
Al-Queda is alive and very active. Let's not get in over our heads with these speculations or bogus headlines. I think we've beat this horse to death. Bin Laden is dead and gone and some people may have some closure. Good. Now lets remain vigilant in protecting our homefront and get back to the major problems at hand. The state of our nation. Let's come together and slove that.
I agree that Osama would have had a second in command ready to go. Osama's health was already in question, so it's very likely that he was preparing for his fate.
You are the one in the way of anything decent in this country. Perhapa you would like to cotinue your bashing of the other half of this country until there is a civil war? What is it that you want? You want to be a liberal sheep. Go for it, but don't think for a second that you have any respect from resonble people.
If you think killing leaders isn't an effective means to halting or severly hampering a movement, think about the blow of the assasination of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. There were leaders afterward but none as effective or that had the following.
Martin Luther King Jr? Are you kidding? You think killing him lessoned what he was after? WRONG! Kennedy was a politician. There is a huge difference between a politician and a religious leader.
I have just one response to al qaeda .....bite me!!!!!!!!
burn in hell bin laden.
The just might tough guy. Keep up the trash talk, but our troops do not appreaciate it.
There is convincing evidence that Obama's birth certificate that was released the other day is a forgery. WHERE IS THE COVERAGE OF THIS? In layman's terms, the birth certificate PDF file released by the White House has been shown to contain multiple layers when extracted (the bottom layer being a blank birth certificate with forged information layers on top). The timing of bin Laden's killing was almost certainly planned as a distraction by the Obama administration. timed to act as a distraction.
Search for Obama birth certificate layers in Google for tons of coverage from smaller sites who aren't being manipulated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_born_citizen_of_the_United_States
Grayson:
I love it. The left kills terrorists. The right sprouts endless conspiracy theories. HAHA!
Hey, I have nothing against Obama or his political views. Heck, I voted for him. I find the complete lack of news coverage on this issue and timing of bin Laden's death very disturbing though. And if indeed he is not a natural born citizen, the law is the law and he needs to go...
You with the dumb comment! "the left kills terrorists"? What? Do you think our Military Men are liberals? Liberals = Cowards! These men are brave! How dare you say the left kills terrorists? That is an insult to our Men & Women who are the real Heroes. Think before you want to post a comment just for the sake of showing your liberal mindless thoughts. God Bless America!
openyoureyes:
I have family members in the military and one currently in Afghanistan and their Commander in Chief is Barack Obama. Get it?
Doug has a point with some on the left and some on the right. It won't make any difference though, if we keep spending 1.65 trillion every year we don't have anyway. Now we have a ghost, that may be worse trouble – but the debt ceiling is reached in two weeks. Time to get back to work and stop spedning little childrens money.
openyoureyes,
For your information, I:
1) consider myself liberal;
2) reenlisted in the Navy last week for four years; and
3) volunteered for an Individual Augmentee deployment to Afghanistan weeks before this happened. I have pestered my command's IA coordinator repeatedly as to when my training starts, and I'm excited to go.
Time for you to open your eyes – many and most liberals have more courage in their toenail clippings than you will ever have in your entire body.
Doug – Bravo Zulu – I hope your family members in the military come home safely.
u complete idiot (moron duck follower) get a life is that all u have on your mind u narrow minded weakling everything that is going on and your still talking about the Presidents bith certificate what does it take to produce the goods that hes a legal citizen of AMERICA THE GREAT GO BED DOWN DONALD DUCK TRUMP U FOOL OF FOOLS ignorance is not an excuse 4 being stupid u dummy get a life better still get the ducks life and oh ya theres a better chance his hair is fleece then the pres not being legal u u u im dumbfounded and without an ending i believe i have described you perfectly ohhhhhhhhhhh ya u know how low u and the duck man are no but tell me ok your sooooooo low u and the duck that the both of u can play a game of handball against a curb now thats low
Kristal, Look how that "idiot (moron duck follower) " has turned you into an emotional "idiot". Kind of weak, don't you think?
ANd if there are a lot of generals wating to take his place, just remember what has happened in Mexico since the killing of certain heads of gangs. The infighting has been absolutely brutal.
FYI – I am not the same John as this John, LOL!
when i see the photo's of his dead body, then and only then will i believe that he is really dead !
jethro:
We have all the proof we need that your brain is dead.
Doug Kirsch believes everything Nixon, Reagan, GB, Clinton and GWB said. He trusts everything Obama says too. Gitmo was really closed, the media must be lying! We are not really in Iraq, Afganistan, boming libya. Our economy is flurishing and all are employed and at peace with one antoher.
John:
HAHA!
Reading the comments makes clear that all those pitiful Americans apparently are very proud. I am afraid it is the kind of pride that precedes inevitably their fall. And remember: Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious! (Oscar Wilde).
As an American with a father who served 30 years in the military, we both agree.
I guess since Al Queda was cheering when the Twin Towers fell, as were other people in other countries, maybe their pride has contributed to their demise?
Mr. Zakaria is very correct in his analysis and shows he has a good understanding and knowledge of the Middle East, their politics and their people. However, he did not address ¨what created Al Qaida and Osama bin Laden¨ and how could we avoid such organizations from mushrooming in the future. Bin Laden was no longer in control of all the affiliates and franchises of Al Qaida. Many of those falsly claimed to be Al Qaida related becasue of reputation. However, most of them are gangs organized locally in their own countries. They feed on ignorance; ignorance translated into hate not only towards thier corrupt leaders but also towards the West that kept these leaders in place for generations. Then comes a very important factor: the humilation that Arabs have been suffering for decades on the hands of Israel and the United States. I believe the ideology behind all of the terror organizations that were born in the Middle East during the last 6 decades such as the PLO, Hezbollah, Al Qaida and others began with the problem of Israel and the unconditional and blind support of the US to this zionist regime that during the last 60 years did worst things then the apartheid regime ever did in South Africa. Unless the Palestinian issue is resolved and the Palestinian people regain their dignity and a viable homeland, we will have many more Al Qaidas emerging in the future. The fact that Osama Bin Laden is dead has no longer a meaning now because of the new revolution going on now in the Arab world where the poeple are cleansing themselves from all these dictators that ruled them without mercy and robbed the wealth of their countries. Israel and the world will be facing now a new situation; an Arab population that will no longer tolerate humilation and tyrany.
totally agree, however I added in my comment earlier that proper education should be spread in the Middle east in order to ensure that new generations won't fall in the same trap of extremism that is nourished on ignorance. Unfortunately, we, Muslims, forgot that the first word in the Quran was "READ", which i believe that was a message from God to highlight the importance of education.
Mr. Obama certainly delivered. Now if it is proved that Pakistani authorities knew about OBL, USA should sieze the nukes and declare Pakistan as terrorist state. Pakistan has been the epicenter of terrorism backed/sponsored by government agencies to extract more money from USA. They just kill a few and reimburse their paycheck for the year...Time for the world to wake up to pakistani infidelity..
Seize the nukes? Bhahahahaha! Please go in their and try that, but also – tell them you are a Libyan.
Zakaria is still an idiot !!!!! Nothing will ever change that.
Make no mistake, Bush knew he had NO chance to find bin Laden so he 'decided' to change strategies and declare war on Iraq, take out a sitting easy target (Sadam), make Halliburtion stock quadruple and declare 'mission accomplished' all the while wasting $1 trillion and thousands of Americans lives. He deserves NOTHING!
US is just a sucker. Pakistan is just milking the information giving us a little at a time and collecting a lot of money from us. The would never give us Bin Laden but give us others for the milk money.
They knew where he was all the time. We paid them 18 Billion dollars and got some peon terrorist.
Please post this on other internet sites
your the sucker who are you to call the Great American people suckers ' the end game has gotten the end result (bin laden does not get to wake up ever again) money is paper feelings are real now some of those feelings have set familys of murdered love 1'sssssssssss free get a life paul the duck man can use your vote lol loser
US is just a sucker. Pakistan is just milking the information giving us a little at a time and collecting a lot of money from us. They would never give us Bin Laden but give us others for the milk money.
They knew where he was all the time. We paid them 18 Billion dollars and got some peon terrorist.
Please post this on other internet sites
I agree with Fareed that the world is a safer place, however, there could be some backlash in the next few weeks. So far, no one has spoken. No message has been aired.
The control of Obama's money may play a role in whether the terror organization persists for some time.
I assume this is just another Osama/Obama fruedian slip.
First of all, the pictures need to be shown. No one is going to blindly trust DNA evidence that the CIA took. They similarly won't trust american eyewitness accounts. Show the photos. Why is it that muslim sensitivities always need to be our priority when they dont respect any of ours? Isn't enough that they gave this scumbag a muslim funeral at sea, washed his body etc...??? Show the pictures. Americans WANT TO SEE THEM !
Second, nothing has been said about what happened to the 23 children who were there, the 9 wives, and the other islamists that were there too. What happened to them? Where are they? I find it really curious that nothing has been said about them. Don't mistake what I am saying, I do believe he is dead..I just think proper evidence needs to be shown and an account of all who were found there needs to be fully detailed, including where they are now.
All in all, rendition, torture and gitmo worked perfectly and were DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the success of this mission.
The picture I want to see is OBL when he realizes he's not in Paradise and there are no virgins...bummer!
Saying that we tortured many prisoners for 10 years to get a single lead does not give confidence in our military/intelligence. He was hiding in plain sight all along. 'Don't see how you justify torture here.
no religion that has ever originated on Earth has ever written that its ok to murder humans(none) there misguided loyalists of so called tyrant dictatorships with religion to fall back on, poor religion absorbs the blunt end of the sword so people can inhance their own distorted views on the way they view the world and the way they invision it should be run, loyalists strapping bombs on themselves 2 become martyers are going 2 hell end of sentence and certainly the end of there low life exsistance following a loser tyrant.
I suggest that you begin your study into the Edict of Rome and study the history of the Roman Catholic Church. They not only murdered Jews for 1800 years. The murdered believers in Jesus as well as Arabs and non-believers and they were all given the autority to do so in the name of their religion. Time to hit the books young one.
Interesting front page picture of those demonstrators. Apart from the wristwatches, those guys look like they could be from 2011, 1911, 1811, or earlier. Alexander the Great probably met people dressed like that when his army marched through the area. Does change really happen in that part of the world?
Good thing the Brits didn't take Fareed's article to heart and let down their guard. This is just the beginning: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/05/03/uk.terror.arrests/index.html?hpt=T2
One thing is certain and that is that what was done was just! Surely, we took a chance in getting rid of Usama Bin Laden but our choices were quite limited as to bringing him to justice! Had we not killed him, there is no way of knowing just how much more powerful he was becoming. As far as the remnants retaliating? Hopefully, we have enough data on those that will lead us right to them before anything happens! Let us thank God for the courage of those who raided that mansion and did what was only just!
Are you kidding me? Comparing anything to Osama bin Laden, accept for the government hatters who hid in the woods waiting to attack the world. We as human beings could accomplish so much more if we all worked together and get past our differences. The world needs to work together and rid humanity of hate in order to get past yesterday's sorrow you must learn to forgive. You can not change the horrible things that have happened, but you can learn from it and move on. I have mixed emotions of the death of Osama, he too has a family? What about them? Do they not count? Who will be their for them, to explain that their father was a terrorist? Forgive, learn, grown and move on..
I do not think killing a man is a great accomplishment.
Neither is taking out the trash ... but somebody's got to do it.
now having the hard disk and pen drives of osama which U.S. Intelligence Probing.. Its a matter of time before all the Possible Pakistani Support System will be known.
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers."
You mean, like Jesus and Christianity? You think Al Qaueda doesn't have "great power backers"? Really?
Another Hitler down with america holding the bill....glad he's gone but too bad the actual problem turned out to be our own american politicians owned by rich global initiative business lobbyists that ordered their/our representatives to keep everything flowing business as usual and ignore the fact that Saudi Arabia were the ones who declared world war 3 by holding the world hostage with an out of control oil commodity
Bad editorial... How does he know the "heart and spirit" is cut from the group? Did he interview the remaining members? He oddly doesn't seem to understand the ideology of martyrdom in Islam. "The end of Al Qaeda"? Ridiculous.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one"
the Koran teaches Muslims to conquer the entire world to be ruled by a Caliphate ... Bin Laden's death doesn't change this. The "heart and soul" of the Islamist movement was not Bin Laden ... it is the false teachings found in the Koran.
Why does it matter if Americans believe Obama took out Osama or not? Mistrust in the government has been around for the past century. There are plenty of lies to quote from both parties. Plenty of bad ones. So why this fight over evidence? It only matters to the sheep on either side of the isle. Sheep blindly follow, so what have you gained by trying to argue the point?
The real enemy is ignorance and powerfully held irrational thought and belief. It takes the form of bin laden this time, but it's everywhere. Until we can get on the same page with simple principles to live our lives, and as long as one of those principles is critical thought is a good thing, we will find ourselves in similar situations, again.
They say ruling the peace is the challenge, and I think we're getting better at it, as a world, as a species. But we still have a long way to go. I hope to see and read further discussions about how best to get there, what the future looks like, and then what the future SHOULD look like and how we're going to get there.
Fareed,
I was wondering if you could share some of the lessons from history that you indicate are supporting of your argument. I don't doubt that they exist, but making the claim without citing a single example makes it hard for anyone to analyze whether or not those historical situations are appropriately paralleled with this particular instance.
Thanks
Well the war is far from over, we still have alot to go but thank God we caught osama!
I'm as thrilled as anyone that bin Laden is dead, but I have to make this note: you can't have it both ways. You and dozens of Administration figures can't spend years saying "oh, it doesn't matter if we ever catch him because [fill in current reason]" and then when he's finally killed describe it as this world-shaking event. His death may or may not lead to greater stability and ultimate peace. It's really too soon to know. This nation and the world should commit to at least the same level of relentless pursuit of al-Qaeda and other groups for the next half-decade or longer - while simultaneously investing in democratic dreams of millions throughout Africa, Asia and Central/South America. Don't abandoned the global fight against terrorism like we abandoned Afghanistan in 2003.
I'll Belive He,s Dead when I see His Cold Dead Face!!!!!!
Morty
Him being dead is a wonderful thing. Yet still, if you dont blame religion, you're out of your mind. If he, or the people he brainwashed didn't think they were doing "God's" work, none of this would have ever happened. Assuming religion never existed: "Good people would be good.. and bad people would still be bad. But in order to get a good person to do a insanley bad thing(like murder an abortion doctor, fly planes into buildings, make women not allowed to learn) you need religion" It is the factor that makes all problems exist. Even if you are a muslim or christian or Jewish, and you are a peacful person, you claim to know there is a God with no proof."FAITH" it is the essence, and the beggining of stupidity and control. We are brought in as kids, that dont know any better, and told by 75 yr old virgin preists and rhabbis on how to have s#x, what to eat, and where to kill. every religion tell you to loook no where else. What could be worse for humanity? They literally tell us to not think and to not learn. Religion has ruined our lives as humans. The good it brings is miniscule compared to the shear terror it has bestoed to us. millions of women arent allowd to read due to religion. What could be worse? Go back 3000 years and take it away. Let women learn and read, that more than doubles our chance at learning about what we KNOW exissts.. and we'd prob have alot more disease cured. It doesnt matter if its extreme or not. People actually think they are talking to "God" or vice versa. We dont need it. We never will. Everything we need, all the rationality and reason, is in our brains. All our passion, and love, and humanity, is in our mind, and our hearts. Lets stop giving something the smartest people we have in the world dont belive the credit for sunlight, for love, for fear, for hope. Lets give ourselves the credit. There inlies the true meaning of our lives. And maybe one day, if we have faith in OURSELVES, we will undertsnd that by thanking our mothers for life, and not a made up ghost in the sky, we will all love eachother a bit more. Maybe if we dont govern our lives by rules given to us by old men who said that ghost in teh sky told them, we will ake our OWN desiscions, and relaize our greatest gift is that to choose our own life. Not guided and influeanced by a "God" who made everything, except a dollar bill. Maybe if we realize the idea of heaven is no more stupid then not being allowed to eat meat on a friday, we will stop being so quick to send our troops there. And if we can one day all NOT belive in the fear of hell, or not going to this heaven, we will then be truly united, and then truly brothers and sisters. And then make the life we have on this earth, the only one we know, a peacful one.
Good luck with your heathen life but personnaly I think I'll take a different path.
Thats fine. if only you could keep it to yourself. Unlike your creed, the enlightened dont need to project our beliefs or lack there of to feel confident. We dont need to go to a building and sing chants and pray to books or mutilate our sons and daughters genitalia to confirm what we belive. If its so real. Just belive it and shut your mouth. But no. you cant. all religion says either all must be that religion, or if they arent, they are sick, and lost. It enlists you to force it upon others. Like flying planes into buildings. You're a smart person im sure. You know that it is strictly geogrphical. if you were born in israel you'd be jewish. period. in Texas? catholic. Why dont you get to choose? If all males were allowed to wait til they were 12 to choose, we'd all be hindu. Becasue blue monkeys are way cooler then a dying man on a cross that you owe a favor to the second your born(or else you burn in "hell"). If we all got to choose as adults. we'd all laugh at the stories. and how incredibly forced, male made, and plagarised they all are. And if you were born in ancient greece. You would even know these morons.... Unlike the religious... i dont need or want to change you. You need us to change by your beleif, therefor action is taken... Get it off my money. tax churches. teach it as philosophy, and as history. pray all you want. Jyst keep it yourselves. and save the world
History loves a winner. Remember the Crusades? It's not religion that's the problem, it's ignorance and intolerance. Worship a plate of spaghetti for all I care. Just keep it to yourself.
Religion is the vehicle. it is the poison. Yet yuo are corect the practice of it is the problem. But as a human that cares for others, i belive it destroys us in our core, i belive even the "good" parts are actually bad. yes your right. I think we both are.
First, this event was the culmination of efforts began by GW Bush and Obama deserves only minimal credit. Second, this terrorist organization is not hierarchical and many other leaders exist on a horizontal plane. Bin Laden was a recognizable figurehead but recently his actual utility to the cause was relatively inconsequential. Terrorists are patient tyrants and murders and I seriously doubt that this is anywhere near to being over. High vigilance will be necessary for many years.
Bin Laden was not active in Al Qaeda due to health reasons. He probably died from renal failure and the US government was thrown a bone by the Pakistan government, "here come get his corpse and claim you killed him and everyone will feel better about 9/11". obama was just as surprised about his death as we were.
I'll Belive He Is Dead( When I see His Cold Dead Face!!)
Al Qaeda was just a sorry bunch of losers that prey on ignorant, uneducated third worlders that have no future and nothing to lose (mostly by their own making) and anybody in industrialized countries that follows them on their own in Bin Laden's name are just bigger losers looking for attention from mommy and daddy (see what I did mommy, aren't you proud of me?).
I still don't hear any "thank alla, he's gone" comments from any muslim what so ever. Apparently they miss him already. This is just the beginning of the END of islam, like any dangerous cult people get bored and leave.
This analysis misses one very important thing – Al Qeada is not the organization itself, it is the umbrella which was developed to help put the various terror groups in touch with each other and help coordinate their actions. Many have taken on the moniker but many have not. This was designed from the beginning to facilitate these disparate groups, help them share intel and resources, and allow them to coordinate. Yes, it is a blow, loosing the "face of the brand" is always a set back, but the organization is far from having been destroyed.
Hey, Osama, give Adolf and Mao our best...
On another note, its hilarious that hamas slammed obama for killing their "brother, a muslim warrior"...the very same hamas that the EU, the UN, the quartet, and obama have been trying to sell to us as a potential "partner in peace" in the new palestinian unity govt. What a farce....would the US have made peace with osama? not a chance.
Israel is NOT to blame for al qaida...israel is historically legitimate and clearly has been documented as home of the JEWS for thousands of years. You can find these facts in roman era archives in the vatican, you can find it in archeology, you can find it in the bible....israel as a jewish homeland is a fact then and now...in fact, in 1947, the UN offered both peoples a partition of the land...50/50....the jews accepted, the arabs rejected. Israel declared a state and the UN approved. It is legitimate now and forever. Yes the holocaust was a catalyst, but that was to REESTABLISH jews in the land where they always were from. If the arabs have chosen violence and terorrism to try and ever since to try to wipe out israel its not israels fault, its the muslims fault.
Remember, the PLO was formed as a terrorist LIBERATION group in 1964, 3 FULL years PRIOR to there being any so called occupied territories. So what were they trying to LIBERATE in 1964? Thee fact is, those areas were taken in a defensive war when both jordan and egypt tries to once more wipe out israel. Israel has made peace before and traded land to do it and will do so again...heck, they even offered these occupied areas back in 1968 and were rebuffed at khartoum....look it up..the famous 3 no's. Was there an "intifada" before 1967 by the so called palesitinians against jordan or egypt? No. Aside, so all of you naive racists understand, the name palestine was given by the romans to the land of the jews....palestine in history always referred to JEWISH land, even up to the beginning of the 20th century...do your research.
bottom line? Israel is not the reason muslims are angry...muslims have been killing each other and others over a thousand of years.. israel is just the latest excuse.
With all due respect, Israel is NOT legitimate. It is on land STOLEN from the Arab people after World War II, never paid for, never bought, just seized. That is not legitimate in the slightest, and it's time the world was honest about that.
Christopher:
Most of the land that most countries exist on was "seized" at some time or another
christopher buddy,
Israel most certainly is legitimate and predates the holocaust by thousands of years...Why dont you try going back to research vatican archives from the roman era...or, you might even do some research on archeological findings that PROVE the jews lived in this land, or simply consult the bible...of course there are other written sources..thousands of them...
morons like you are soooo easy to debate...you offer no facts, you only offer hate and anti semitism. you are the dirt under my shoe buddy.
Are you just plain stupid Fareed?
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization"
One word .. CHRIST!
Right back 'atcha Dave....One Word ...HITLER!
Ok..one more ...ESCOBAR!
Its people like you that bring down the average IQ in the Country
Another puff piece by Fareed Zakaria the apologist, the appeaser. The only thing worse than Bin Laden are people like Zakaria spreading their lies and disinformation. Or maybe the other thing worse are the people who read his blather and believe him.
They say that since OBL is dead that the al-Qaeda is soon to follow. That the extremists swore an oath to OBL and not his followers should lose hope and give up the ship.
I seem to recall the story of another Middle Eastern Man who was formerly in construction who's life was ended by political enemies. His followers are still active all over the world more than 2000 years later.
I doubt it. The fact is that Al-Qaida has had important people die in it before. Not the 'leader', but some very important people.... they have just moved on and kept on attacking.
My thoughts exactly.
On another note, its hilarious that hamas slammed obama for killing their "brother, a muslim warrior"...the very same hamas that the EU, the UN, the quartet, and obama have been trying to sell to us as a potential "partner in peace" in the new palestinian unity govt. What a farce....would the US have made peace with osama? not a chance.
Israel is NOT to blame for al qaida...israel is historically legitimate and clearly has been documented as home of the JEWS for thousands of years. You can find these facts in roman era archives in the vatican, you can find it in archeology, you can find it in the bible....israel as a jewish homeland is a fact then and now...in fact, in 1947, the UN offered both peoples a partition of the land...50/50....the jews accepted, the arabs rejected. Israel declared a state and the UN approved. It is legitimate now and forever. Yes the holocaust was a catalyst, but that was to REESTABLISH jews in the land where they always were from. If the arabs have chosen violence and terorrism to try and ever since to try to wipe out israel its not israels fault, its the muslims fault.
Remember, the PLO was formed as a terrorist LIBERATION group in 1964, 3 FULL years PRIOR to there being any so called occupied territories. So what were they trying to LIBERATE in 1964? Thee fact is, those areas were taken in a defensive war when both jordan and egypt tries to once more wipe out israel. Israel has made peace before and traded land to do it and will do so again...heck, they even offered these occupied areas back in 1968 and were rebuffed at khartoum....look it up..the famous 3 no's. Was there an "intifada" before 1967 by the so called palesitinians against jordan or egypt? No. Aside, so all of you naive racists understand, the name palestine was given by the romans to the land of the jews....palestine in history always referred to JEWISH land, even up to the beginning of the 20th century...do your research.
bottom line? Israel is not the reason muslims are angry...muslims have been killing each other and others over a thousand of years.. israel is just the latest excuse.
Didn't Francis Fukayama make a claim like this in the early 90's? There is no end of history. AQ may be hurt, and it may even be dead, but the next challenge to regional (or global) hegemony is always just a day away.
well, here's the problem. Sometimes in death someone's message becomes even more powerful. Look at the death of JFK. After his assassination LBJ passed the civil rights act and fulfilled much of Kennedy's promises. JFK ceased to be former president and became a symbol for Camelot in America.
As usual, Zakaria's analysis is right on point, and I think he has a very good chance of being right on this. (Perhaps 75% chance, if we can actually calculate such things statistically). But I think he overlooks the fact that many movements survive the death of a founder because new charismatic figures emerge that place their own stamp on the movement. One can see this with Jesus and St Paul, Mohammad and Ali, the Founding Fathers and Andrew Jackson, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (odd how I keep finding religious analogies–nothing intention in that), Lenin and Stalin, and so on. So the death of OBL doesn't mean that Al-Qaeda can't find a new leader, just that his death means that they need to find a new leader or the movement will die. Good riddance if it does!
Guess not. More on the way. Keep your eyes peeled. http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/05/03/uk.terror.arrests/index.html
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."-Nietzsche
RIP Osama bin Laden and my heart goes out to his family. Not every western (especially Austrlaians) believe everything Governments tell us. This is wrong and no one should rejoice in the death of another human being. God bless you and all your friends and family.
Emma, God will have nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden, trust me. While I may not be "rejoicing" in his death, I am certainly relieved that this murderer of thousands of innocent lives is off this earth and feeding the ocean life as we type.
And, fwiw, you might want to be careful supporting or defending pure evil. I won't conduct a witch hunt for your identity or location, but some vengeful or angry victim of OBL or Al Qaeda might.
Chris... Are you serious? Where is the proof that this man was evil. In these times people need love and understanding not revenge and hatred.
"Where is the proof that this man was evil?" Are YOU serious? Having you been in a cave for the last 15 years?? (Bad joke...)
You a big fan of Hitler, too?
My goodness, Emma. Seriously, have you not been reading or watching any news reports?? Take a look at his congratulating and celebrating the killing of thousands of innocent lives (that HE ordered!!) on September 11, 2001. Is this your idea of a peaceful, good, loving person?
Look, I actually agree with your comment "people need love and understanding not revenge and hatred", but justice MUST be served to mass murderers.
Yes, I read the news but not just the American news, I read the news from USA to Middle East to Asia to South America.
I don't believe everything I read. I also write some news.
This is bad, at the same time as writing this, I can see a headline "Hate multiplies Hate" in my alexa bar.
We need people in power that are not revengeful, we need people that are going to be logical.
Also by the way, one of my good friends is German, does that mean he is Hilter?
"one of my good friends is German, does that mean he is Hilter?"
Um... what?
Okay, I guess I'm not surprised that you're at a bar.
Sorry, but I don't debate drunk whack jobs.
Good luck with locating your sanity.
Out.
I am curious as to the USA visitors to Germany,
I enjoy how you talk about your drug and alcohol problems so easily.
If you must know, George Bush and Osama were friends
Disagree Fareed, as long as Al Zawahiri is out there Al Qaeda is still dangerous to the U.S. on an existential level.
"We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But four hundred years later an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed firsthand the power of ideas. I've seen people kill in the name of them; and die defending them. But you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it or hold it. Ideas do not bleed, it cannot feel pain, and it does not love."
- V (Vendetta)
I thought this would adequately illustrate why the war on terror is far from over.
Right, because of a movie..... Your comment is just as lame the "idea" of the movie. And I liked the movie for entertainment purposes. The idea that OBL was perpetuating is that the US needs to be stopped because of the support given to the dictatorial leaders in the Arab world. This is no longer the case due to the Arab Spring Fareed spoke of. This is due to the policies of the Obama administration. 1) we backed out of Iraq; which was a threat to the Arabs; 2) we have quit supporting the leaders in N. Africa and Saudi Arabia as we did under the previous administrations going way way back; this has allowed for internal uprisising's in the ME; 3) Barack Obama is a Jedi Knight who uses the "force" not FORCE to defeat his enemies.... If you do use a movie to illustrate your points, at least use one that doesn't use conspiracy theories,oppresion and trains as it's center and instead use one with deeper universal truths to it like peace, hope and the use of light sabers....
I'm out.
fu John I have been shot at enough how bout you??? a coward is what he is. anyone who commands the death and destruction of innocent women and children from his armchair is a coward in my book!!!!! go join him then in the meantime fu_k you
Like yassin in his wheelchair ordering people to blow up innocent men women and children? or like the muder of a 3 month ld baby in its bed? or like the murder of olympic athletes? what is it with you pals? you want land that you stole in the first place and then lost in a legitimate war...you were even offered 50 % of it out of the goodness of the jews hearts...and you refused! so screw you buddy...your people are a disgrace to all of humanity.
Thank you Navy Seals.
Thank you CIA.
Job well done.
Please remember that Zakaria is a stooge for the NWO, Globalists, and The Builderburgs...He has been to the Bohemian Grove and does not promote an unbiased view of the new or politics. Drink it up sheeple.
Pakistan used our money to pay Bin Laden's $1 million housing mortgage. Stop sending money to Pak, use it for unemployment here in US.
Only Time Will Tell All
Hi Fareed,
What the world should be doing, besides bracing for future terror attacks, is thinking hard on the question of how Al Qaeda came to exist in the first place, and how it beacame so powerful. How was it that otherwise intelligent, but disenfranchised, angry young men and women could comit their lives to dealing death and destruction in the name of Al Qaeda and bin Laden?? Was this similar in some ways to the rise of the Nazi's in WW2 and their recruitment of soldiers to do terrible deeds in its name? How can the world help prevent future Al Qaedas from emerging?
looks like the left and right agree on the killing of a man even though it violates the Constitution and at least 4 international treaties, to hell with the rule of law! We got us dead terrorist camel-f@#$er.
It can be easy to kill people but almost impossible to kill an ideology. For example, Hitler has been gone for nearly 80 years and we still can find followers of his ideology. In my view, we will always have to save guard ourselves against this kind of threat.
When a Muslim writes a column proclaiming the death of the most dangerous terrorist group on the planet based soley on the death of it's spiritual leader, alarm bells blare in my head. While OBL may have been the public face of Al-Qaeda's terror network, he was not the heart of it. He was living without a telephone line, no cable. He relied on a courier that may have ceased transmitting his messages long ago. Gone were the frequent audio and video tapes, which said courier could easily have transported through the last 5 years. OBL had largely gone silent. Ayman Al-Zawahiri on the otherhand, has very much been active, with new tapes showing up every few months. This is a man far more educated than OBL as well. Al-Qaeda dead? Why is Fareed Zakaria trying so hard to feed us that line? OBL was martyred. His followers have been told that he went down fighting...they will not see that as an assassination at all. A martyr is often far more powerful than a living man. The war is far from over.
Not sure I agree that Al Qaida will fold. In spite of bin Laden's death you have not lost his personality. The organization has been around long enough that there are sufficient well trained subordinates to pick up the flag. The flag in this case will be the martyrdom of bin Laden at the hands of the hated American infidels who seek to dominate and colonize the Arab world. Al Qaida will be back stronger than ever. Many of Al Qaida's members have never met bin Laden, so his myth/mystique is all that's necessary to keep the movement alive.
honestly i dont see why muslims would care anything about osama, all he has done is make their lives miserable, especially in america... there needs to be more websites increasing muslim awareness of evolution. there is enough evidence that i think that may disuade them from committing these heinous acts against civilian targets.
Regardless of all ideology, Osama bin Laden financed al Quaeda with his massive bank account. I think we can presume that financial support is gone now, or at least seriously curtailed. Maybe 5 percent of the organization was in it for ideology, the rest because it was their job. No more pay checks, no more fighters.
What strange. Why do the people in charge of manufacturing fake photos, videos, etc. take so much time? Why did USA government not show everything, exactly the same like when Che Guevara was killed in Bolivia?
The problem here is that USA government is such a liar that to believe in them is to be incredibly ingenious.
Man on the Moon: a lie (no technology by then to achieve it, that is why Russia could not continue with that particular battle)
Destruction of Towers: a lie (as it happened, a plane cannot destroy a tower like those)
Osama: a lie (my theory is that Osama was already dead who knows since when; he suffered of a renal failure, dialysis, that means that being under a unsuitable treatment the person for sure dies. Then, the CIA brains created the fiasco, after a super agent came with the news that he was dead, to help Osama politically speaking to have chance for a second period)
What is next?
It's an embarrassment as both an American and fellow human being that we triumph over the death of anyone...
Got this email from a former client, who sometimes drops me a line to discuss politics and significant events.
"I'm very uneasy about the whole Osama bin Laden murder. I guess the lesson I take from it is that Americans like being on the giving end of a beatdown a lot more than on the receiving end. Celebrating in the streets is fine and dandy when the US gets its way, but if anybody else takes a poke at the US and dances in their streets, that's quite a different story. As a whole, the US is a big old bully. If sometime down the road there is retaliation for this, which is a real possibility, will these grave dancers maybe feel a bit blindsided due to their overzealous arrogance?
It's kind of funny how if a football player makes a big play and does a happy dance, the general public is up in arms in their fake display of promoting what a terrible sportsman the player was for daring to be happy. Yet, they carry on with their pro-US, pro-military, pro-arrogance orgasm.
The US gave itself a black eye today, and they don't even realize it. When the time is right, I might one day leave the US and renounce all ties to it. I am very uncomfortable knowing that many people consider me to be an american.
Furthermore, the religious loud of the US preaches never to judge anybody, all the while conjecturing what objects the devil is shoving up bin Laden's butt in hell.
Very very ugly situation."
That email is painfully arbituary. the first few paragraphs about dancing in the street: Um. yea. We killed him. it took ten years,. and we were happy. When a counry is happy. they celebrate. We actually dance in teh streets the least. I dont see how celebrating the death of a man who's killed millions is wrong? um.. did i miss something? no one wanted him alive. he was a international terror.
How horrible rain on a parade we have needed for quite some time.
Leave america? cause we clebrated the death of a killer? what a moron. Please do. Its the only free country. hate it all you want,. That statemnt is said with no knmowledge. ignorance. ist laughable
and did you actually compare football celebrations to what has occurred? LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow how painfully this was to read
dont liek violence. but get in the real world. grow up. We have enemies.period. it is a GLORIOUS DAY ... the day he died. you can love your enemies all you want. i want mine dead and buried. and then eat a pork sammy on his grave
God Blessed us with this. America has finally killed this demon seed and I hope he burns in HELL. Kudos to President Obama for doing something Bush couldn't do.
Justice has done and pending as far as India goes
May 2, 2011 turned out to be very important in the history of US and of war against terror as the perpetrator of 9/11 terrorist attack, Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces deep inside the Pakistan, in a very meticulously planned attack. This has long lasting consequences at least as a symbolic victory against terror as most wanted criminal against humanity brought to Justice. The question which is important in Indian perspective is whether it will help India in any way on its war on terror? This event has confirmed what India has been saying all along that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorist but other than that it does not change much for India. Amongst the countries facing terror, India has been most vocal about the dual faced policies of Pakistan's establishment. This is not without any reason as India has historically found it very difficult to deal with Pakistan and had to face many times differences between their words and deeds. Pakistan, on one hand, promised to act against the terrorists operating on its soil but on the other hand, it never fulfilled its promises. In fact, the perpetrators of 26/11 attack are still roaming freely in Pakistan and generating more hatred against India. Pakistan's demands about proofs that 26/11 attack was designed and generated on its soil is just a sham as they are not willing to take this matter seriously. Pakistan prefers to live in a state of denial and it is important to note that it also never accepted that Osama was hiding in Pakistan. It will be interesting to see now how international community reacts to this situation as Osama has been found to be living so close to the Islamabad in Abbotabad which also houses Pakistan's military academy. It is inconceivable to think that Pakistan's establishment or intelligence has no idea of his whereabouts all along. It will be very important to see now how open US will be about the Pakistan's state's involvement in keeping terrorists safe in their country. Will US declare Pakistan as a terrorist state?
It will be very naive to assume that US does not know about the dual face of Pakistan when it comes to terror. Infact, this operation itself showed how less they trust Pakistan on war of terror. This whole operation was conducted by US itself and we can safely assume that they must have shared very little or no intelligence as far as this operation goes. They, though still can not abandon Pakistan completely and will keep engaging them in Af-Pak region as an ally as Pakistan is definitely more beneficial for them as an ally in the region than enemy. This is necessary evil which US will have to continue with as the war on terror has not got over yet. Osama was just a face of Al Qaida and it has been reported that he was non-functional for quite some time. Therefore, terror structure is still there and most probably will continue to operate. From India's perspective, they will have to keep pressurising Pakistan to hand over them the perpetrators of 26/11 . India has no other option but to push its case by asking other countries to also pressurise Pakistan for hand over the perpetrators of 26/11 to India. The other terrorist outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad or Lashkar-e-toiba are more important for India as these are the organisation which are carrying out attacks in India and works against India. India can not emulate US as far as its most wanted terrorist goes as it will result into another war with Pakistan. Therefore, killing of Osama, on one hand is a very important symbolic victory of war against terror especially for US but on the other hand for India it is still a long way to go before we talk about delivering justice to terror victims on our land.
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http://pundit-shoutitloud.blogspot.com/
Peace in the world is all we need.
Pakistan should pay back the billions we given them. (U.S.A.) And their nukes should be dis-mantled.
Osama is dead. Great. But I don't think it changes anything. It took 10 years to find a rampant terrorist, but Osama would have thought this day would come sooner or later. Look at his picture... he got old. How much more can he run? Osama could declare a victory over west just on the basis of bringing down the WTC. Rather than him looking for a new destruction enterprise, it would make a lot of sense for him to turn more people into Osama than him alone taking the lead. I don't think killing Osama is a done deal on bringing down Al-Qaeda yet, and we have a long way to go.
You cannot compare people trying to do good in the world with people spreading hate, HITLER was exactly like Osama, his message survived his death and is still followed by some idiots today. BUT how strong is it? sure some morons will still believe in the words of osama but how strong will they be? without the evil person around to push the words and lead the charge, hate cannot be sustained. It is hard to twist the words and teachings of religon to spread hate, and still have it make sense, when people are inspired by hate and that inspiration dies, so does the hate. but when a person spreads love, and they die, it is easy for the next person to step up and take over, because the words are there in the teachings of that religon.
Fareed makes an excellent point. This is a huge blow to Al Qaeda. Will this terrorist group go underground forever?
I think not but the events he has outlined have impaired them greatly and to say that it has not is giving them more credit than they deserve. These band of monsters are weak and the world has grown tired of there actions and ideology. We will pick them off one by one even if it takes another 10 years they will fall and fall hard. And as for Osama, I know his last 10 years were as painful as his actual death. If the remaining leaders of Al Qaeda want to live their lives as tormented as Osama did, so be it.
RE: 9/11 hijackers being "brave": People can be brave and wrong at the same time, OBVIOUSLY. Look up the definition in the dictionary. Yes, they were brave, but they were also wrong. Just because someone does something horrid doesn't mean they don't have the courage of their convictions. When you lose your objectivity in discussions like this, you lose the overall argument. Stay as objective as possible.
Hey John maybe the fact that he hid behind a women might convince you that he was a coward maybe you do as well and that is where your bar is set ill say it again he was a coward pure and simple
THANK YOU GEORGE BUSH. THANK YOU DICK CHENEY. Without your work in establishing the necessary intelligence-gathering and interrogation techniques and protocals, this never would have been possible.
People living in the US do not fully understand Pakistan. 1. Its no where as sophisticated and organized as your cities are. 2. Gov. does not have resources, infrastructure etc. 3. Army is not at all prepared to fight a war of any kind.
Just as they did not detect US choppers coming in towards their capital, they were unable to detect Osama entering Pakistan in the first place.
Not having a phone line, internet, electricity is very common in Pakistan - nothing to be suspicious about.
I live in Pakistan and can say with full confidence that the Government and Army did not know about OBL's whereabouts at all.
Another point is that the US gov. is stating that they lead to OBL through intense interrogations. All those who were interrogated were being held by Pakistan or the US? Now if US has all the high value targets and US are the ones who are interrogating them, why in the world should we expect from Pakistanis to come up with any leads/answers?
Pakistan is simply incapable of fulfilling US demands now and in future. Thats a reality that will probably not change in the foreseeable future.
This was a million dollar house. Million dollar houses in Pakistan don't have electricity, internet, phone, etc? You live in a military dictatorship how can you have "full confidence" about what those dictators know or don't know? If Pakistan is incapable of helping the USA, as you say, no need to give your government 3 billion dollars this year
Osama was a leader. He created followers using "inspirational words". We don't know where or who those followers are. We just know them by Al Qada. Thinking about it they can be an American, Canadian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, etc. We cannot just say it's in the middle east. This man had many years to gather a group from ANY where around the world.
He reminds me of Adolf Hitler. A man who arose from no where, but obtained alot through words. Caused misery, destroyed millions, & caused a war. After his death even to this day we still see groups of his followers. They don't rise up, but they do threaten. They can go ahead with their rallies, but because of the US Constitution they have the Freedom of Speech.
What I am getting to is Osamas followers will still exist like Adolfs, but I don't believe for them to uprise to the extreme. They will make sure we know they are around, but without their TRUE leader they don't have it in them.
Can we move on please. "The Seal Team” did a fine job...Congress get back to work!
Bitter much?
I just read the article above by Mr. Fareed Zakaria, concerning the late Mr. Bin Laden, may his role in this lifetime be eternally forgotten, and I sincerely hope the author is right about this. There was another movement with no money back in the 1st century A.D.; it was just an idea and an ideology called "The Way" symbolized by an extremely charismatic figure: Jesus of Nazareth, and it conquered the entire Roman Empire. Even though most emperors persecuted it relentlessly, "the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church". Then when the "New World" was invaded it overan the entire Western Hemisphere causing all its millenial civilizations to collapse. You see, when an ideology is purported to have the Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval of God Almighty Himself by whatever name, it tends to go on in the face of all odds. How long will it be before another charismatic leader arises to take his place in the eyes and hearts of his followers?
Heaven help us.
From the picture caption:
"attending a meeting with a Kalashnikov on his lap in an undisclosed place". Was that OBL's problem? When I put a Kalashnikov anywhere near my lap I try to make sure I know where it ends up...
The U. S. A happy becasuse he is died
brianna:
We are not happy. We are ECSTATIC!
God Bless America! Even terrorists won't feel safe in Pakistan anymore.
Terrorism began before UBL came on the scene.
UBL just stepped into the $hit that had stagnated in Afghanistan and wallowed in its stink to carry out his mad agendas.
There are many idiots in the crazy world of UBL who think like him and would like to harm us.
So for Zakaria to come to his "profound" sycophantic conclusion is premature and typical of him.
I never pay serious attention to him except that I know that he can turn on a dime.
Fareed,
I concur with your article. As I looked at the video of the compound, OBL existed like a common savage, an imprisoned fugitive for the past 10 years. Al Qaeda is over....the world is better equipped today to deal with the hoodlums! Every last one will be rooted out, as we are more vigilant and determined remove them. Let freedom ring!
i am glade hes diead
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization. It is very difficult to keep such an organization together, particularly in the absence of great power backers."
The author gives no examples to support this opinion. Yet off the top of my head I can think of several that contradict the author: Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X, Mohandas Gandhi.
Drumroll please, here comes the big one.
Jesus.
What more symbolic figure is there at the head of an ideological organization? Like al-Qeada, early Christianity didn't have a large army, or lots of money, just a powerful idea and a charismatic leader. By the author's logic, that all should have ended on a cross a couple thousand years ago.
I hope the author is right, I'm merely pointing out the author expresses a weak opinion and offers no support, while overlooking many important historical examples to the contrary.
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"Love is Life, Hatred is Death." "They alone live, who live for others."
“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.”
"All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.
"We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. "
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WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE DEAD OSAMA BIN LADEN?
America to alqueada..--now were even...
How funny that someone named "Abduhl" has the same ideas as those idiotic "tea baggers". He speaks of Barack Obama's actions as "obamanations" (what a cute play on words, Abduhl., and he talks about Obama's vacation time. Abduhl, I think you are confusing the time away from the White House spent on a ranch with the other President, you know, George W. Bush???
It's idiots such as yourself that give the US a bad name. Perhaps your turbin is on too tight?? (You did encourage us to play the race card afterall.)
Stop being a jerk and get your act together. You know the old saying "if you can't say anything nice, shut the f-- up!
Fareed, I think you are the best thing to happen to CNN. You are a bright, articulate man that makes the news legitimate. It's hard to find true journalism these days and journalists that you can trust, but you are definitely one of them!
Here are Abduhl's comments:
Abduhl
You must be kidding. obama is the first leader to figure out that you need to cut the head off the snake? George Bush said that immediately after 9-11. Are you talking about the obamanation that went on an apology tour – giving good political head to every loser dictator in the world after he got elected? The same obamanation that's bought and paid for by the US unions? The damn fool who spends more time on a basketball court and on vacation than in his office? Now when you reply don't forget to play the race card.
MFG....Fareed is a PAID propogandist to write lies and propoganda for this site. every single op-ed of his is nothing more than lies and propoganda that he is PAID to write for this site with the intentions being to show AMERICA as the beacon of truth freedom and democracy. and if you dont believe me see for yourself what the people in Benghazi Libya think of america now that they have killed their leader OBL.............
The newspaper Brnieq, which supports the rebels and is based in their stronghold of Benghazi, Monday reported bin Laden’s death at the hands of the US as a “martyrdom.” the Brnieq newspaper is now being funded by ,you guessed it the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! the server for this sites news paper is based in HOUSTON TEXAS! and we are defending them?
as you can now see with your own eyes,the people and rebels in eastern Libya are Al-Qaeda.
Its a great victory for America and its citizens. Finally they replied back to the all Questions which were asked on 9/11. I feel pity for India
. Terrorist like Dawood Ibrahim , Masood Azar are roaming freely in pakistan. Living a luxarious life after killing thousands of innocent people. I salute the american leadership for this achievement and would like to see the same qualities in Indian leaders.
"In the past few months, we have seen democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia. We are seeing these forces changing almost every government in the Arab world. Al Qaeda is not in the picture."
The author is getting carried away by the excitement of the past few days. I've seen no indication that the new governments will be non-Islamic.
Uh.....I have an issue. Rajesh Gopalan stated the following:
"Excuse me for the comparison,but if words of Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King and Gandhi are still remembered and used in a positive way, isnt there a chance that Osama's words and ideologies will be used by his followers?"
******Did any of these historical figures use violence to send a message or support their vision? You can't compare these people in the same context....why not throw Hitler in here. You contradict yourself...You used the phrase "positive way" Osama did nothing in a positive way...unless you yourself are an extremist...then you would think that.
DiB – I think that's the point he was making. If you are a follower of OBL, then his death could serve to inspire. You mentioned Hitler. There are a lot of idiots who idolize him as well, but fortunately most of them don't have the means or personalities to recruit, train, organize, and lead. While Americans, and most muslims don't agree with OBL and feel he was a parasite, that's not to say he didn't have a strong following by loyalists wiling to continue the fight now that he's gone.
I'm glad other great ideologies like Civil Rights and Suffrage didn't die with their leaders or America would be no better off than some other nations with which we are currently battling.
America to al queada. Your leader is gone...so there..were even.:....
Bush packed up Osama's family and sent them to safety right after 9/11 happened. People think Bush played such hardball and his torture tactics led to this capture/death, sure......
I'm quite sure that there was a backup plan. I'm sure Bin Laden knew that at some point his number would be up. On another note, the extensive coverage all over the world and the notoriety he has achieved is probably what he wanted. Many now will view him as a martyr. This is simply a new chapter in the book. We, in the process of trying to apprehend or kill this individual have lost many young soldiers and innocent civilians in the process (far more than what was lost on 9/11) and have spent a massive load of cash. When one villain falls, another is sure to rise in his place. It's a vicious cycle.
The entire world owes the brave men of the SEALS a great big "Thank you" for THE JOB WELL DONE. Now when it comes to Fareed Zakarias opinion, it is to be seen if Al Gaeda is done or not. Therre might be some fringe groups who might want to take things further yet. But now that world sees Americans means business when it comes to terrorists, it may slow down some others to think twice before they act .
One thing is for sure, once you shoot the brain the hole body is dead. Most of the suicide bombers did it for money and if Osama is not there no fund operations Al Qaeda is over. Once you chop the head of a snake the hole body gets violently crazy but it does pretty quickly.
You would have to be a complete idiot to believe that when a leader is killed, his cause and followers die with him. When Christ was put to death, the Romans all agreed he was even more dangerous then when he was alive to them. We still have the Israel and Palestinian terrorism going back milleniums. We have always had terrorism and crime and killings and to think any country can relax their national security because one man is dead is ludicrous. With today's technology and weapons the dangers should be of even more concern.
India & Afghan to Pakistan – Liar Liar pants on fire.
Great article.
Hey, Osama - here's the rest of your skull...
Some more to read:
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/201152121358887979.html
Fareed–according to the latest CNN poll 92% of CNN readers disagree with your conclusions and 8% are ignorant trolls.
Osama simply practiced Jihad and Jihad is the basis of what he stressed. So why will Jihad vanish when he is no more? Remember Jihad is embedded in the Quran. They are inseparable. Quran wants the whole world to be Muslim. Jihad will live for a long time, in fact, till Islam remains.
Time to buy stock in sleep aids. I'll sleep just fine, but it's clear there's a large segment of society that's convinced the boogyman is still out there and they won't be convinced otherwise until there is photographic proof. Of course, it could be photoshopped they'd never know, but until the see a picture, I'm not sure how they can ever sleep at night. Odds are they didn't vote for the President so I'm not exactly sure why they have a sense of entitlement, but to each their own.
Osama Bin Laden was THE face of terrorism, the face of Al-Qaeda for more than a decade. His death, and the media hype surrounding his death, combined with the covert operation that put an end to his life in such a made-for-the-big screen way is a huge strike against terrorism. Bin Laden was a mastermind. He couldn't be found and he couldn't be killed. But Bin Laden is dead and no more and his body was dumped in the ocean and is now shark and fish food. Not such a great way for the hero of terrorism to be taken out. No such a great thing that this "hero" has been reduced to nothing more than fish food.
About your central point: the story is told of a Funeral Parlor on Wantagh Avenue in Levitown/Wantagh, New York. On the wall of one of its rooms furnished for a funeral audience is said to have been a brass-polished motto: REMAINS TO BE SEEN
May 1st needs to be a Us national holiday now.
My thoughts on the implications of Obama's death: http://dailyvoiceofreason.blogspot.com/2011/05/implications-of-bin-ladens-death.html
A bit contradicting this piece, but not entirely.
Didn't both Christianity and Islam emerge largely *after* the deaths of their charismatic leaders? Just saying'... Foes of terrorism be ever vigilant.
While I think that the death of Osama is indeed good news, I have one question about how it all went down. I'm in the US Air Force and when they said that 4 helicopters penetrated Pakistani airspace 120 miles one way, sat that for 40 minutes and then flew back prior to informing the Pakistan government. How is that possible? How are 4 helicopters able to penetrate that far, stay there for 40 minutes and return? Surely someone in the Pakistan government was aware of this, they had to of been. I find it really hard to believe that Pakistan was incapable of responding to this unknown airspace penetration within that amount of time. If I was in charge of Pakistan, I would've ordered those unknown intruders blown out of the sky and yet they were able to safely return to Afghanistan. I'm wondering if anyone else thought of that, or have seen it explained somewhere?
I for one am glad he is dead. I think that AQ is hurting bad from this loss. Dead and done with? Nah. I remember walking into class on september 11th, 2001, and seeing the towers burning on the tv. I remember the stunned shock and anguish I felt when I watched them fall. I now hope that those same feelings are felt by all those who engage in terrorism, but with one more feeling added in; fear. You attack us? We WILL come for you and we WILL get you. Remember that.
I was just runing a check on "ARAB SPRING" a favorite term of Mr.Zakaria to soften the image of the revolutions sweeping the ME and notably Egypt,a nd see that there are about 39 references.
Mr. Zakaria also ASTOUNDUIINGLY been suggesting that the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty was between their regimes COVERTLY urging Arabs to raise against Israel.
I have discussed in detail in my post above: Date /time stamp: May 3, 2011 at 10:18 am
Here's the proof. Most Egyptians want the treaty abrogated. I hope they return Sinai Penisnula to Egypt also.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlJazeeraEnglish?blend=23&ob=5#p/u/0/nvUA0HfQ3YY
Amit-Atlanta-USA
I know Fareed, Fox, CNN, NBC CBS, and all the other studios are miles up near Times Square but one interesting thing these media stations have not reported is the fact that the WTC site here in downtown has been a hole for 10 years. Everyone finally got their act together last year and since then its 24-7 construction. I work in the World Financial Center and have looked down at this tragic hole surrounded by debris and idle earth moving equipment for the better part of my working life. In just months towers have sprung up; the train station is in and the memorial pits and trees are coming into place. I went into work on Sunday and saw them putting the glass windows on the memorial and thought – finally the scar has wounded and some closure; the site now looks orderly and parts of it complete; It might even open by this 9-11. THen I went home and that night Osama bin Laden was dead. Interesting parrallel on two projects that went nowhere after 9-11 but were completed once everyone got their heads together.
Him being dead is a wonderful thing. Yet still, if you dont blame religion, you're out of your mind. If he, or the people he brainwashed didn't think they were doing "God's" work, none of this would have ever happened. Assuming religion never existed: "Good people would be good.. and bad people would still be bad. But in order to get a good person to do a insanley bad thing(like murder an abortion doctor, fly planes into buildings, make women not allowed to learn) you need religion" It is the factor that makes all problems exist. Even if you are a muslim or christian or Jewish, and you are a peacful person, you claim to know there is a God with no proof."FAITH" it is the essence, and the beggining of stupidity and control. We are brought in as kids, that dont know any better, and told by 75 yr old virgin preists and rhabbis on how to have s#x, what to eat, and where to kill. every religion tell you to loook no where else. What could be worse for humanity? They literally tell us to not think and to not learn. Religion has ruined our lives as humans. The good it brings is miniscule compared to the shear terror it has bestoed to us. millions of women arent allowd to read due to religion. What could be worse? Go back 3000 years and take it away. Let women learn and read, that more than doubles our chance at learning about what we KNOW exissts.. and we'd prob have alot more disease cured. It doesnt matter if its extreme or not. People actually think they are talking to "God" or vice versa. We dont need it. We never will. Everything we need, all the rationality and reason, is in our brains. All our passion, and love, and humanity, is in our mind, and our hearts. Lets stop giving something the smartest people we have in the world dont belive the credit for sunlight, for love, for fear, for hope. Lets give ourselves the credit. There inlies the true meaning of our lives. And maybe one day, if we have faith in OURSELVES, we will undertsnd that by thanking our mothers for life, and not a made up ghost in the sky, we will all love eachother a bit more. Maybe if we dont govern our lives by rules given to us by old men who said that ghost in teh sky told them, we will ake our OWN desiscions, and relaize our greatest gift is that to choose our own life. Not guided and influeanced by a "God" who made everything, except a dollar bill. Maybe if we realize the idea of heaven is no more stupid then not being allowed to eat meat on a friday, we will stop being so quick to send our troops there. And if we can one day all NOT belive in the fear of hell, or not going to this heaven, we will then be truly united, and then truly brothers and sisters. And then make the life we have on this earth, the only one we know, a peacful one
For all the Dumb Geniuses.Number 1 India is creating terrorists by killing innocent MUSLIM kashmiris in occupied kashmir territory and letting MUSLIMS get killed in the hands of redical hindus within free india and by promoting redical hindus.Number 2 Israel is creating terrorists by killing MUSLIMS in Palastine.Westren media creating terrorists by spreding baseless information full of hate against ISLAM & MUSLIMS.And last but not the least America THE BULLY POLICE MAN OF THE WORLD allways interfaring with other personal matters..SO india should get the fuck out of kashmir and Israel should get the Fuck out of Palestine and America should use his own brain but not jewish lobby,s brain then World will be so PEACEFULL.
So does this mean fareed is going to top blaming bush for all the ills of the world ?
http://img543.imageshack.us/i/realosama.png/
Here's the pic you've all been waiting for!
5/1/11 The War is Over
Presidents Obama and President Bush should have a fireside chat with the American people. From the Oval Office
our current president would thank his predecessor for having the foresight and gumption to make sure Bin Laden
was not able to manage a world wide organized terrorist movement. Al queda has been dispersed to many parts
of the world and their leader is dead. President Bush should thank President Obama for continuing the fight,
thank the American people for making the financial and personal sacrifice needed to continue an unpleasant task,
and thank American soldiers and law enforcement officials for making us safer. Both men should warn that as it was before 9/11,
terrorist groups of all types from many cultures will attack cultures that differ. But the war is over! We can now direct
our maximum attention to making sure terrorist do not get a nuclear bomb, a difficult but less demanding task.
Both men should agree that we are not now , and must protect against creating, the Orwellian world of 1984.
Great idea... I hope someone is listening.
Fareed, what worries me is the very likely emergence of a new organization that will rebuild on the ruins of Alqaida, especially in the light of the Arab Spring and the loosening of the grip on Islamic extremists in the Middle East due to the newly found democratic process. This is especially frightening considering that the successor may be younger, more educated, intelligent, and is able to utilize new technology such as Facebook and Twitter. We may be celebrating the demise of Alqaida but as they say – "the devil you know....."
I have my own thoughts on the getting rid of a very evil man that cause the death of 3000 Americans and countless others Im glad its over and Im glad hes dead. If others feel the same way its not a surprise and to those who feel otherwise oh well too bad. He was not a good person and anyone else like this fanatic tyrant I hope they either change there way of thinking or end up dead like osama bin laden. God bless America the President and the six Navy Seals that ended that madmans life.
Wow, I think I am only going to read Fareed's article from now on, they are intelligent and very factual and the comments, jeeze, the comments are so much more intelligent than any other comments posted on the CNN website (at least the comments I read)!!! What a pleasure to read something that is actually informative!
Hey, a factoid that has been virtually unmentioned....until now. Here goes.....
This whole Osama killed by Obama thing may have an upside for the scientific community at large. Seeing as they "buried" OBL @ sea, we should now be able to see if giant squids like to eat old, dead, camel
jockeys......bon appetite....
Hitler died on April 30. Nazi Germany surrendered on May 7 ("officially" on May 8). Nazi Germany outlived its founder/leader by just one week. That's how important Hitler was to the movement. If we give OBL so much credit for AQ creation and success, then we must assume that it cannot long outlive him as a unified movement. But let's face it, OBL is quite "little league" compared to Hitler.
I don't think there is a direct comparison. Hitlers forces were uniformed, fought with tanks and artillery and there was a front line throughout the conflict. His army was effectively eliminated before he died, not after. Here, there is no front line and the combatants are well hidden throughout the world. They key is going to be how much intelligence was gained from the raid and how many other operatives can be taken out of commission in the coming months. You can already see that too many people have been taught to blame the West and Israel for everything. This is not likely to sway vast numbers of them from that view.
Fahrid, I will believe it when I see his ballock's on Obama's desk in a jar. And of course the picture of his head blown half off
Osama bin Laden may be dead but God's religion of Islam has come to America. NONE IS GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
So unholy were his actions in the name of Allah, that no coffin wanted to grant him refuge. In the dark depths of cold watery grave lies this unlucky body – a lesson to all those who preach jihad or revenge in name of Allah.
Beautiful.
Fareed,
As always, your analysis is well-thought-out and well-written. I agree with you on all points, but would add another dimension that you may not have considered (well, at least you didn't write about it). I have also read many of the replies here which, as usual, range from thoughtful replies to the ranting of well-propogandized idiots who won't believe anything that has anything positive to say about Obama. The freedom of speech, unfortunately, is required to suffer fools.
The point I would like to make here is that I have spent a good amount of time in North Africa, in the very countries in which the Arab Spring is now taking place. It is truly wonderful that people are beginning to take their countries back. However the one component that has not been addressed, and from which will spring new al Quaedas is the disenfranchised young boys and men in the slums and the poor countryside of those countries. One only has to walk in those areas as an American to see the hatred and anger in their eyes. All they know is that good Muslims are being killed, and their country being controlled by American bullies (that is what they are told). I was told time and time again that I was hated, and until the locals got to know me, they would have little to do with me. Once we got to know each other, they found that I was actually a good man, and we became friends. But still, I could not befriend everyone, and the slow smoulder of hatred continues.
Al Quaeda may be crippled, but the reasons, the root causes of why it came to life and continues to exist are still there. It may eventually become irrelevant as an organization, but other organizations like it will spring up to take its place.
Sadly, many in North Africa and the Mideast see our presence there, whether we are a part of NATO forces or not, as a continuation of the Crusades. They see us as trying to snuff out Islam and enslave Muslims. Until that perception can be changed, and the hatred in the hearts and minds of the young people in those areas changed to understand us better, as we should try to understand them, the conflicts that have gone on in one form or another for over a thousand years will continue.
You are spot on! these memes: these ideas that become viral, can be quashed. But if they they are amplified by multiple periods of unrest, the" Crusader" meme eclipses all other local greivances.
When you cut the head of a snake, it wiggles for a while and then it dies!
i only hope some element of truth existed in your writeup
I really hope that's right, and not that somebody else can just step forward into this leadership vacuum. It could be argued that someone else had essentially been filling that leadership role while bin Laden hid in his caves with his dialysis machine. But I do hope this article is correct. I do trust its author.
really?? is Alqaeda really over?? hope so...
http://www.seemeagain.com
The thrust of this seems right, but the suggestion that al Qaeda was ever an existential threat to the West is clearly mistaken. It was always the backwash of history, overwhelmed from the start by forces that have been at work for centuries. The United States overreacted, inevitably. The murder of over 3,000 people was a terrible and traumatic event. But this is a country of over 300 million people with vast material, economic, military, and intellectual resources, widely distributed, with a redundant, vibrant, strong political and legal culture. Nuclear holocaust is an existential threat. Al Qeada is the sting of a mosquito on the flank of an elephant.
Fareed, I ask you to explain the difference between CNN's skewed reporting on gas prices in recent years. In 2008, CNN pressed their claim that gas prices approaching the $4 mark in the U.S. were largely due to "Bush/Cheney taking care of their friends in big oil". Now in 2011, we're presented with the same range of gas prices, while CNN takes the stand of "Obama is doing everything is his power to help". I'll keep an eye out for your objective response.
Good thing Zawahiri is the brains of AQ. I heard OBL is a bit scatter brained.
I guess the riots in the streets throughout the muslim world should answer the question better than Fareed's weak attempt to get us to let our guards down....
I posted the following in the discussions (link below) and thought it was relevant here also. I also have many other posts there. Plz. Let me know if I am wrong!
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/02/some-pakistani-officials-must-have-known-osama-bin-ladens-whereabouts/#comment-22281
Amit-Atlanta-USA
Mr. FAREED ZAKARIA (this feedback is for you)
How can Muslims join the mainstream and be TRULY called moderates. They can if they:
a) DE-LINK worldwide Muslim issues to their discontentment at home (that is sensibly apply the concept of Muslim Ummah).
b) LET other Muslims freely convert to other religions of their own free will & NOT threaten them with killing etc., just as Muslims convert others into Islam
c) DISOWN the hateful teachings of the Koran or even remove them altogether, and NOT deny their existence, or show other verses preaching compassion, knowing fully well the Koran Makes those NULL & VOID as applied to Non-Muslims!
d) Let law enforcement monitor their Mosques just as they do with Churches, Temples, Synagogues etc.
e) VOLUNTARILY give up anyone conspiring against the homeland
f) DISOWN accused/convicted Muslims, especially where National Security is involved.
g) NOT demand special treatment that are not given to other religious groups (prayer breaks 5 times a day, separate prayer halls, Halal meat etc.).
h) ADAPT to their homelands and RESPECT those countries dominant ETHOS – Christian in case of the west, Hindu – in case of India, JUST AS THEY ENFORCE in their own Muslim countries. That respect include but NOT limited to celebrating national festivals like CHRISTMAS in schools/offices, Praying in the name of GOD, tolerating greetings with religious overtones e.g. MERRY CHRISTMAS instead of HAPPY HOLIDAYS...etc.etc.
i) NOT enforce their dress codes when it impinges on national security (Burka)
j) Accept COMMON security checks for all Americans (at a/ps etc.) and NOT bring in religion there.
Unless Muslims agree to enforce all these measures (at a min.) they will CONTINUE TO GET THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE!
Will our "so-called" moderate Mr. FAREED ZAKARIA put in efforts to achieve that.......I AM NOT SURE HE's WILLING TO DO THAT!
As a responsible, well respected, highly educated, articulate, Muslim Mr. Zakaria has the OBLIGATION to his community, and to ALL MAGNANIMOUS TOLERANT AMERICANS to do just that!
Do NOT start off with your usual tirade....there are bad elements in every religion, there are bad things in every holy text etc. As NON-MUSLIMS WE ALL KNOW THAT.........BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT WE DON'T LIVE BY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please DON’T try again to HOODWINK Americans (as you always do!) with small, seemingly meaningless steps….AMERICANS WILL NO LONGER BUY THAT!
DON’T say like most Muslims that they are law abiding and they don’t need to PROVE their patriotism, peaceful nature to anybody…….that’s a NO-STARTER, b’coz nobody can deny the fact that the ENTIRE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS UNDER A CLOUD……NOT merely b’coz of the ACTIONS OF A FEW, but even more importantly the DEFEANING SILENCE OF THE VAST MAJORITY (or their never ending ploy to divert discussions!).
As a Hindu and a PROUD AMERICAN I am willing to do just that to safeguard my country and my people! Can you?
PROVE ME WRONG Mr. ZAKARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
Mr. Zakaria:
Rather than continuing to preach TOLERANCE, and understanding to ALREADY MAGNANIMOUS Americans will you ask your followers in MUSLIM COUNTRIES to:
a) Let their miniscule harrased minorities to live in dignity & honor
b) Allow them to build Churches, Temples just the way YOU incessantly fight to build even at the hallowed GZ site!
c) Tell them that FREEDOM, DIGNITY, TOLERANCE, SECURITY are a TWO-WAY STREET.
If minorities (who have lived in Muslim countries for centuries) can't have that, it's ABSURD for Muslims who migrated to America recently on their own free will to demand those?
Americans want YOUR ANSWERS Mr.Zakaria!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
This reminds me so much of all the times that Gen Westmoreland said of the N. Vietnamese, "We've got them on the run", based on his thinking that they didn't have enough forces to constitute a serious threat. I think the coming months and years will show that this article, including this view of the Arab spring, is far too optimistic. It's all just wishful thinking in my view.
You are right!
I just posted the following responses on CNN.
Fateh-Hamas sign deal, Egyptians COVERTLY being urged by our Islamic Sympathizer Fareed Zakaria to abandon peace deal-praises Hamas and Brotherhood as moderates, Egypt opens Gaza crossing to start smuggling arms/rockets, Militants blow up gas pipeline from Sinai into Israel, Palestinians prepare to declare independence unilaterally....... do we GULLIBLE AMERICANS SEE ANY PATTERN HERE?????
Hamas on OBL's death (FAREED ZAKARIA calls them moderates!): "We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood .. we condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We ask God to offer him mercy with the true believers and the martyrs
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/04/mideast.unity.pact/index.html
Amit-Atlanta-USA
Mr. Zakaria:
Rather than continuing to preach TOLERANCE, and understanding to ALREADY MAGNANIMOUS Americans will you ask your followers in MUSLIM COUNTRIES to:
a) Let their miniscule harassed minorities to live in dignity & honor
b) Allow them to build Churches, Temples just the way YOU incessantly fight to build even at the hallowed GZ site!
c) Tell them that FREEDOM, DIGNITY, TOLERANCE, SECURITY is NOT a ONE WAY STREET.
If minorities (who have lived in Muslim countries for centuries) can't have that, it's ABSURD for Muslims who migrated to America recently of their own free will to demand those!
Once again, PLZ. DON'T try to HOODWINK & PREACH Americans that we are a great nation, we have religious freedoms etc.(suggesting that that sets us apart from the Muslim countries!) etc. When I and you as recent immigrants from India to this great nation know that, so does Americans Mr.Zakaria. They DON'T NEED TO LEARN THAT FROM YOU & ME!
Americans want YOUR ANSWERS Mr.Zakaria!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
who ever wrote this is the end to alqaeda just beacuse the have got rid of osama binladen needs to wake up and have a reality check removing one person doesnt bring down an organisation or a idea if anything people who wroshipped him will be stronger and in his honour and memory and those of us. who dont follow him best wake up too and be very vigilant . as this could help there cause rather than calm it down. people also forget he has a very big family he may have caused a lot of suffering but his brothers and sisters may not all be like him in there thoughts some may have been totaly against his ideas and who knows some of them may want revenge for his death .this is question we need to know and as for the burial he had family same as we all do same as those family who lost there lives in 9 /11 at end of the day we all have a place on earth and we should all try to get on what ever religon or ideas we have . i personally think america and my own country the uk should stop poking its noses into everyone elses affairs and this in the long term could cause a war in the middle east which none of us want and yes iam ex forces.
Over the past few days I have been wondering if reports of DISPOSAL OF OSAMA BIN LADEN’s body into the cold depths of the ocean was indeed true!
If that is indeed true we already know why such a thing was done, NOT to provide a shrine for Muslims to pray and re-energize their Jihadist quest.
But, if that was NOT true (which I strongly believe is the case) here are my reasons:
So, while I am no CONSPIRACY THEORIST it really surprising that the govt. did not preserve Osama Bin Laden’s body for further investigation to unravel the entire OBL mystery. At a time when we are able to unravel the mysteries of Egyptian Kings/Queens (King Tut in particular – who died 1000's of years ago) by examining their mummified bodies, I find it hard to believe that OBL's dead body would be of no use to us.
For example, as a layman I can say that there are several questions that could have been answered by closely examining his body, incl.:
a) The oft repeated need for dialysis which would require examining his kidneys – how often he needed it, the eqpt. Required, where it was available in the vicinity, who were rheumatologists in the area/Pakistani military hospitals etc.
b) A rumor that he had suffered a stroke – how that could have physically constrained him, what kind of help was required in his mobility etc.
c) Any evidence of recent surgical procedures and decipher where that could have been performed depending on the complexity.
d) Look for fractures with metal strips attached (Check them for any identification markings) given that OBL was always traversing the mountains.
e) Analyze traces of medicines in his body to see what medications he was on, and may be decipher the source of those medicines.
All these and much much more are within the realms of forensic medicine today. For example in Nuclear forensics the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can identify the source of Uranium isotopes found in human bodies, dirty bombs or clandestine reactors in Iran, N.Korea etc.
Likewise, after the Pakistanis tested their Nuclear device in 1998, the radioactive air contained only plutonium & NOT Uranium. Given that Pakistan had no Plutonium reprocessing plants, Indian scientists promptly deciphered that it was a ready made bomb gifted to the Pakistanis by their Chinese friends…..a fact that was publicly acknowledged years later even by the US!
Having said that IT WILL BE NO BRAINER if the CIA has indeed kept the body while pretending to have disposed it off. So, even if we indeed see a video/pic. of the body being dumped into the ocean there is less likelihood that it indeed was OBL’s body. There is always the very real possibility that after services by the Muslim Chaplain on OBL’s body, another identically wrapped body was dumped while quietly moving the real OBL body away. Ask the magicians in Vegas and they will tell you how it can be done even with a million onlookers around!
Once again, I am No CONSPIRACY THEORIST, But if I were Obama, or Leon Panetta, or Robert Gates, or Robert Muller I would never ever throw my prize catch after spending trillions of $ and sacrificing 1,000’s of American lives.
I invite sensible comments on whether I am right or wrong.
Someday we may get to know the truth........Thank God we have Wikileaks!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
Amit, Nice analysis and reasoning. But I think ultimately you may be wrong in your wishful thinking.
On points (a) to (e), your basic argument is to know more so that you can establish link and crack the puzzle.
Well, you don't need his rotten body to know who was providing him the medication, dialysis or type of equipment, what was the exposure etc.
A decent detective police work/good journalism can give you much more. There are many things that can be researched aftermath, if you have will and commitment. Don't you remember Mumbai police's crackdown on under-world gang? Every don ran away from there.
If you can't expect decent police/intelligent work after his death from Pakistani's, what is use of knowing these things at first place via keeping his body and letting the world start talking about him for long time, allowing conspiracy theorist to nurture the story, allow them to create more confusion, make him some kind of hero/martyr.
He was evil and he needed immediate punishment rather than spending many more billions protecting him for rest of his life like the case of KSM (another evil still kept alive for so long...and now we are struggling on how to punish him. This might have allowed AQ to recruit many by citing torture on him).
Finally if it comes from Pres. Obama, I personally accepts it. Thats enough for me. I think there will be only very very small fraction of people even among the Jehadis, who will not believe him.
My suggestion to them. Well, if you don't believe he is dead, try finding him. [Good Luck with that....] I am sure you will fail and feel retarded afterward. I have another post on interview carried by Amar Bakshi of CIA personal (read if you are interested).
is al queda gonna end!... lmfao... are you flippin retarded.. its only gonna get worse.. there already burnin the flag...next comes attacks on americans overseas then the go back to war for another "legitiment" reason lmfao... anyone who lets there media brainwash you is an idiot and deserves everything thats happening for being so stupid.. so when al queda comes and shoots you.. dont be like omg terrorists... be like thanks america!... any east coast country can see our media.. try getting on a arib news site... ill take a line from katt williams "dont worry ill wait!!!" we cant cause then we know whats going on.. why dont u think ever arib guy on tv is laughing at you guys.. cause the clown died 10 years ago.. and ur stupid country is using it now for propoganda to take people away from real problems... watch obamas speech about it... "uhh...uhh...uhh...theres...uhhh....no....uhhhh...uhhhh" just like an athlete put on the spot after the game... ho do u think they played tonight " uhhh they played good uhhh and we gotta do better uhhh" obamas a clown wears ur make up ?... he dont even know what to say lol.
If Afghanistan takes the life of my son, some one is dead meat.
It seems a plausible analysis. The success of Arab spring coupled with the killing of the charismatic leader of Al –Qaida, OBL, at this time will most probably break the backbone of extremism in the coming years. It is just like hit the trunk branches will itself wither away. Nevertheless, Al Qaida’s long term demise may only be ensured if the issues like Palestine, success of Arab spring and attitudinal changes in US-West-Israel occur. Otherwise, it will be there like dormant units such as Brotherhood. Zakaria has rightly pointed out that in the absence of Osama al Qaida’s franchise will face paucity of money to continue.
Yet again, I have said many many times in these columns & elsewhere that one of our top most priorities must be hunting down Bin Laden. I can give several links to my posts saying just that over several years consistently.
While everyone incl. Mr.Zakaria are laying the death knell of AQ now that OBL is gone, if my memory serves right (I can dig up what he exactly said) Mr.Zakarai has mostly said that he was no longer relevant given that he had no hand in every day operational planning, given the mushrooming growth of AQ affiliates all over the world. While that may have been true, I have always maintained that nobody can deny that he was the inspiration behind all the growth, and the only way to stop that was cutting the head off.
In fact such an argument was being made by the entire media (both liberal & conservative). Now that he's gone, everyone says it was the greatest achievement of our counter-terror policy.
We surely either need better brains, or people need to understand the agenda behind such statements incl. perpetuating this war on terror to make America outspend & ultimately bring us down on our knees, or once again in the garb of building bridges between the Muslim world & the west, open the doors for large scale Muslim migration and hasten the Islamization of America and Europe.
Amit-Atlanta-USA
I JUST WANT PEACE IN THE WORLD AND NO LONGER FOLLOW INNOCENT PEOPLE DYING.
CIA.....PLZ. BRING BACK POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS-Let's reduce our deficit, stop spilling precious American blood. Let's not worry, if we are caught RED HANDED we will DENY LIKE THE PAKISTANIS DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And.........(TRY TO!) reduce antagonism against us in the Muslim world.
ARE OUR LEADERS PLAIN STUPID or NAÏVE. – EU,US & Chinese leaders urges even greater support to Pakistan now. TRULY the greatest benefactor & the SMARTEST GUYS in this terror war today are PAKISTANIS. They get paid either way- Saudis and Islamists world over to hide Bin laden, and US, Europe to find him. All this b’coz of their Nuclear blackmail. No wonder Iran, N.Korea are well on their way to arm themselves with WMDs, not to be invaded like Iraq, Afghanistan. There’s no way this will end unless we DISMEMBER PAK & SEIZE THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Wait for the next 9/11, 26/11, 7/7 and yet another BIN LADEN once again sponsored by Pakistan!
Sadly, I think you are correct on all these points and I agree that Pakistan must be taken OUT of the nuclear race.
I agree with Zakaria on some points, but not necessarily for the reasons he's giving us. Copy and paste this link into your browser to see my response. NOT SPAM! It's an article I wrote as a World News Feature Writer at Xomba.com, a writing community. http://www.xomba.com/west_not_finished
The War on Terror is over. We won. Now to ensure that victory we have to focus on helping the people dying for democracy in the Middle East. It's time to thank the soldiers for a job well done and bring them home.
@Somebody – I would like to agree with you, but I can't. Sadly, it only took 19 freaks to take down the WTC, not an entire army. Even if Al-Quaeda is almost dead, it is NOT completely dead. It will only take another 10-20 Muslim morons to do the same thing again one day. The pathetic thing is they have no life and therefore have no timeline. They will wait for years and their entire lifetime to come back and do the next big terror event. In 1993 WTC bombing, Americans laughed and said, "You can't beat us. You can't knock down those buildings!!!" See where that attitude got us. I worked near WTC in 1993 and on 9/11. I always knew they would be back. Al-Queada must be killed 100% and the terror war must continue. I am most afraid that with OBL gone, USA and most countries will back off on homeland security and military operations. Obama will follow the call of the liberals and give more "Freedoms" back ............until Al-Queada hits again.
Zakaria, WHERE in the WORLD do you get such delusional fantasies as "an existential threat to the Western world is damaged beyond repair." Do you not understand that it is the Koran that is the blueprint for Islamic Terror and that even in Egypt, at least 1/3 the population (despite those waving placards) identifies as Islamist? A poll this past year showed that 80% of Egyptians support: the Execution of homosexuals and adulterers and the execution of ANYONE who converts from Islam to another religion. I am almost embarrassed writing this line because I, personally, look at Islam as a Totalitarian and Fascist ideology and not a true religion. But to continue, your dreams of the death of Jihad will not come to fruition. The pull of Islam is far, far too strong and tightly controlled under Islamic regimes. Even Indonesia sentenced a man to death for converting to Christianity, along with his entire family; ditto for a man in Egypt last year. My prediction is quite different. Obama has SLEPT through Iran's drive for a nuclear arsenal, a very dangerous move. He has chosen NOT to confront Iran. And before long, Zakaria, you and I will face the FIRST Islamic radiological weapons being set off somewhere in the West. At this point, Jihadists MUST keep UPPING the level of destruction. This is there "sport," if you will...this is what is exciting to them. Bernard Lewis, the Princeton scholar of Islam described the Koran in one lecture as "in part, it is a War Tract." Indeed. It is in fact a heinous document of hatred and of incitement to the murder of Jews and that rabble of world infidels/non-believers who challenge their intended subjugation by violent Muslims. Thus has it always been with Islam. Zakaria...surprise....you MAY in fact be witnessing the rise of a new era in Islamic terror rather than its demise. As I say....The Koran is the BLUEPRINT of Islamic Terror and it is not about to be revised by any Muslim editors around the globe......
"The new testament" is the bludprint of christian incitement against jews for the past 1500 years.
WOW WOW WOW
Just when I thought Zakaria could suck Obamas sack any harder, he comes up with this sperm-spouting article
Hey Zakaria, how much do you have to pay the CNN maid to clean your keyboard after you write another pro-obama BS article ?
Farid- You can't tell me that you are so upset on death of OBL. You can say all you want but after watching your shows and talking to guys who know you- you are no different than those who justify Pakistan attack on Bombay. basically you are another mulla in suit.
Fareed, you say that:
"In the past few months, we have seen democratic, peaceful, non-Islamic revolutions transform Egypt and Tunisia. We are seeing these forces changing almost every government in the Arab world. Al Qaeda is not in the picture."
I can only hope that these revolutions remain peaceful; however, the regimes that will replace Mubarak, Qadaffi, and others may not have democracy, peace, or secularization in mind. I would not be surprised if al-Qaeda's influence permeates their attitudes. Instead of just one figure like Osama bin Laden on which to focus, we may have a bunch of little wanna-be Osama bin Laden's on which to focus. Our intelligence community's work is never over.
Al-queda is not over but it is do abe. It need 100,000 each trops from CHINA, RUSSIA, and INDIA. and financial cooperation form Japan. S. KOrea, Brasil and Rich MIddle Eastern countries. 1000, 10 year old kids each from Pakistan, Yamen and Afghanistan will come to USA for traning in running their country and education. If every country in the world put some advertisements in their local papers to invite people for jobs and fredome in their country USA will get most of the applicants. WHY? Tune in for results in 35 – 50 years. In the age of CNN, INTERNET, ALJAZEERA, WIKILEAKS, FACEBOOK, TWITER, CELL PHONES and other social medias it is very hard to hide bad doings.
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, BidsJump.com
There is a similar event in Jewish history.
'Yael' (A Jewish woman) cut of 'Sisera's' head and the wicked army ran in terror.
AL-Qaeda was actually CIA trained... imagine if the US was smart enough to not train them in the first place...
AQ lives on. It isn't like UBL was the sole organizer of that group. Yeah there are other important members in that group like Omar the one eyed man who is perhaps more mysterious than UBL.
Hope this is true. The radicals are a different breed & one must be always be cautiously optimistic when it comes to analyzing them.
This movement started couple of decades ago in Egypt has now has spread through out the World.
It is not universally true that "History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization". Christianity grew after - many would hold because of - Jesus' death. Islam grew and flourished after Mohammed's death. So clearly, even a horrible organization like al Quaeda can still thrive with bin Laden gone. We would be arrogant to assume otherwise
"History teaches us that the loss of the charismatic leader – of the symbol – is extraordinarily damaging for the organization". You have to be a bit careful with this. Usually when a groups leader dies, the organization continues but at a diminished capacity.
The "big but" is that Al Qaeda is deeply rooted in religion and not political or social. Religious leaders hold sway long after they die. The Muslims, Mormons, Lutherans, and Catholics (counting St. Peter as the OG) flourished after the original leaders died. Look at Scientology. Even Christianity as a whole is stronger now than when OG-JC kicked those fellows out of the temple.
The worse part is that those who inherit the group change the philosophy according to their own whims and feelings almost always perverting the intentions of the leaders. Founding leaders of religions become symbols and symbols have an annoying way of staying alive.
If it wasn't for the fact that President Obama in a Black man with a foreign sounding name noone would be pouring over the death of Osama Bin laden in so much detail. Their would be celebrations and people cracking open Champaign to celebrate the Arab Spring and the Death of the Evil doer.
Instead we have conspiracy theorists and Right Wingers congratulating Republicans for using torture in capturing Bin Laden, a clear reference to the way the police dealth with trouble makers in the Deep South during the civil rights era. Well the death of Bin Laden does not justify police brutality in finding him. Two wars prove this.
lart mikid
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What those soldiers did is right and they should be commended. The President, on the other hand, may have ulterior motives for doing this at this time. Whatever the reason, it is a good thing that had to be done and I, for one, thank them.