OSAMA BIN LADEN is DEAD!!! YEahhhhh!!!!

[Mandalore]

Perhaps you fail to see.
Osama Bin-Ladin was a genius, no doubt about it. He drew the US into an unwinnable war which at the same time bolstered his movement.
The way things are falling into line would be a trademark of his, he was a master of long term planning and has shown excellence in creating wars of attrition in Islamic countries such as Iraq. Nearly the entire Islamic world has experienced domestic unrest this past year with out right civil war in Libya.
To be honest, it would have been best to capture him alive and try him at The Hague, with the summary execution of course.

[Matt-Chicago]

And the thread goes way off topic....

I think you overestimate Bin Laden's success Mandalore.

The Arab Spring is the biggest blow to Al-Qaeda since its founding. Framing it as part of a plan by Bin Laden is mistaken. Sure he did want the US to outright attack Muslim countries - that helps for recruitment and he wanted a holy war between Islam and the west, but what the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, and all over the middle east have shown is that change can be achieved through peaceful means, without extremism, without terrorism.

As tragic as the events unfolding in places like Bahrain, Syria, and Libya are - this is a time of great hope for the region and the world.

Bin Laden has lost not because of his genius but because of his misguided/immoral/extremist/WRONG means of fighting western domination of the region. He lost because extremism and terrorism lose.

While there may be more attacks in the future, even a big one, I think the frequency of attacks, number of recruits, and overall influence of extremism will continue to fall. Maybe I am too optimistic, but unless a Republican is elected things should be okay until global warming turns the planet post apocalyptic, if Pakistan keeps stable and Israel doesn't attack Iran.

[[m'kay]]

Better late then never.
Lets hope that terrorist attacks will be less frequent from now on (and casualties). It's a large blow to the Terrorist organization(s). Either they'll keep it low or be more violent out of desperation.

Lets hope for the better.

Cheers

Yanoda

Terrorists aren't frequent fewer attacks just because Osama bin Laden died. bin Laden was really only a hyped up figure-head of the US Government...and no, I don't condone his actions, but people do tend to over-exaggerate, and put things out of proportion.

And I hope you realize that "Terrorist organization(s)" lose leaders every month due to counter-attacks from the US, NATO, and the like, but they are replaced before the day's end...The leaders are seemingly disposable, which is how they survive...if they put too much into one single person, the organization would collapse after the leader gets blown up.

I doubt they're going to "keep it low", but I agree with the second part of that sentence, they are going to be more violent now.

Usually i'd agree with you, but Osama actually was a fairly celebrated figure in Al-Qaeda. For one, he made the thing, and he's actually still well liked by a small percentage of the Middle East due to his fighting the Russian occupation back in the 80s. It definitely isn't a mortal blow, but it is a crushing one to the morale of Al-Qaeda. There were also a lot of soldiers that actually swore oaths to Osama, and not the overall goal of Al-Qaeda.

[MATTHEW'S_DAD]

And the thread goes way off topic....

I think you overestimate Bin Laden's success Mandalore.

The Arab Spring is the biggest blow to Al-Qaeda since its founding. Framing it as part of a plan by Bin Laden is mistaken. Sure he did want the US to outright attack Muslim countries - that helps for recruitment and he wanted a holy war between Islam and the west, but what the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, and all over the middle east have shown is that change can be achieved through peaceful means, without extremism, without terrorism.

As tragic as the events unfolding in places like Bahrain, Syria, and Libya are - this is a time of great hope for the region and the world.

Bin Laden has lost not because of his genius but because of his misguided/immoral/extremist/WRONG means of fighting western domination of the region. He lost because extremism and terrorism lose.

While there may be more attacks in the future, even a big one, I think the frequency of attacks, number of recruits, and overall influence of extremism will continue to fall. Maybe I am too optimistic, but unless a Republican is elected things should be okay until global warming turns the planet post apocalyptic, if Pakistan keeps stable and Israel doesn't attack Iran.

You had me 'til the end!!

[WD-40]

Perhaps you fail to see.
Osama Bin-Ladin was a genius, no doubt about it. He drew the US into an unwinnable war which at the same time bolstered his movement.
The way things are falling into line would be a trademark of his, he was a master of long term planning and has shown excellence in creating wars of attrition in Islamic countries such as Iraq. Nearly the entire Islamic world has experienced domestic unrest this past year with out right civil war in Libya.
To be honest, it would have been best to capture him alive and try him at The Hague, with the summary execution of course.

I'll chime in one last time...
Osama Bin Laden was a 'Psychopath' hell-bent on murdering Muslims and Westerners alike. He wanted us out of Saudi Arabia (his hometown) and thought the U.S. was desecrating his homeland by even setting foot on it.

Is the war un-winnable? Perhaps, but this isn't your usual defined war with definite objectives aimed at us or our allies defeating one or more countries. We are fighting radicals from countries around the world. It's 'fightable', but unless they determine Westerners are no longer a threat to them, the 'war' will press on...so many new radical recruits yet to be harvested by these nut jobs.

Regarding 'capturing' Bin Laden...Imagine if we did. Seriously, think about it...How many Westerners do you think would have been captured, beheaded/shot during the non-negotiable demand calling for Bin Laden's release? Hundreds if not thousands would have been executed/murdered from the rage caused during the long, drawn-out Bin Laden 'Hague' trial. One shot to the head..it's done. No ransom demands, no long drawn-out political/judicial process, and millions of dollars and many lives saved...by just using a $1.29 rifle round. I'd say that's fair.

[Matt-Chicago]

I was just seeing if you were paying attention MD - well done

[Son]

I agree with the Ham, Bacon...and as an added measure, stuff him Pork Rinds. Then, put him on a giant Shot Disc Launcher, then when the Captain yells "PULL!", launch his ass airborne, then have the ship's Phalanx Gatling Gun open up on him using the 2000 rounds/Minute Depleted Uranium rounds. Then let the fish have their buffet.

Why should the fish suffer?

I still remember where I was when all this started....working in US government facility that builds military parts.

[Admiral_Aeka]

I agree with the Ham, Bacon...and as an added measure, stuff him Pork Rinds. Then, put him on a giant Shot Disc Launcher, then when the Captain yells "PULL!", launch his ass airborne, then have the ship's Phalanx Gatling Gun open up on him using the 2000 rounds/Minute Depleted Uranium rounds. Then let the fish have their buffet.

I think we can safely say he got his 72 sturgeons...

[Duel of Fates]

I agree with the Ham, Bacon...and as an added measure, stuff him Pork Rinds. Then, put him on a giant Shot Disc Launcher, then when the Captain yells "PULL!", launch his ass airborne, then have the ship's Phalanx Gatling Gun open up on him using the 2000 rounds/Minute Depleted Uranium rounds. Then let the fish have their buffet.

I think we can safely say he got his 72 sturgeons...

Well played Sir.

[Mandalore]

Where he was a psychopath or not hell bent on murdering people is irrelevant. He was a great tactical mind. As for me over-estimating his abilities, first off he was a pretty prominent figure in the 1980s fighting off the Soviets and he bided his time until one enemy was destroyed and another could be brought to bear. He played the United States like a fiddle from the 80s onward. His goal was to draw the United States into a hostile Islamic area, and could he have picked a better battleground? Afghanistan was only ever conquered by the Mongols and that was some serious depopulating.
As for things not hitting the fan Matt, it's always a throw up. Honestly a lot of things are hinging on the re-united Palestinian Arabs. While Syria and Iran have been the major allies of Hamas, to say that Osama hasn't been a "celebrity figure" so to speak for hard lining Muslims would be folly. I'm sure you're well aware of how America's foreign policy is really playing into their hands, as it has been for many years, with them supporting repressive regimes throughout the Islamic world and the well known American butt sex love for Israel.