Monday, May 02, 2011

Justice

American special forces raided Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan and Navy SEALs fired the shot that killed him:

U.S. helicopters ferrying elite counter-terrorism troops into the compound identified by the CIA as bin Laden's hideout — and back out again in less than 40 minutes. Bin Laden was shot in the head, officials said, after he and his bodyguards resisted the assault.

We dumped his body at sea.

Our State Department issued apologies to Satan for his new unwelcome guest.

One of our helicopters went down in the assault but I've heard no reports of friendly casualties.

Congratulations to our military for pulling this off. Remember that while this is good news, it is not victory. I'll settle for justice, for now, and be happy for our success.

UPDATE: Four helicopters were used in this CIA operation with a SEAL team on loan. No US casualties, although one helicopter was lost due to a mechanical malfunction.

I assume that other operations are going on now based on captured storage devices that I also assume we pulled from the mansion.

I'm sorry that bin Laden wasn't literally living in a cave somewhere.

I am very frustrated that he lived in luxury in the heart of Pakistan. I want to know who was shielding him while he lived there. This is the beginning of justice related to Osama bin Laden.

And good for the president for ordering the assault. I'm glad the order was to kill him, too. We didn't need a circus of a trial. Dead and dumped in the sea is best all the way around.

UPDATE: I'm also relieved that the loss of one of four helicopters didn't doom the raid, as helicopter losses doomed the Desert One hostage rescue mission three decades ago inside Iran. I wonder if another helicopter was sent in to replace the one lost to extract the troops and agents, or whether we got by with the remaining three.

The timing of the mission, so soon after the Taliban proclaimed their so-called spring offensive in Afghanistan, sends a nice message to the enemy.

Celebrate. And continue the mission. This is still a long war.

UPDATE: Perhaps fittingly, the raid was liveblogged on Twitter.

UPDATE: Oh, and I'm especially pleased that Osama died knowing that Americans found him and killed him.

UPDATE: As far as I'm concerned, May 1, 2011 is the day President Obama earned that Nobel Peace Prize.

UPDATE: One man's facial hair vigil comes to an end. He never forgot. He did not falter. And he never shaved. Until after yesterday's CIA/SEAL raid.

UPDATE: In an amazing coincidence, Casey on Chuck tonight was carrying a bin Laden target for target shooting.