Did Bin Laden Have To Die?

A lot has been said about the demise of Osama Bin Laden as it relates to both the repercussions by terrorists groups and the so called shameful displays of celebration by Americans in cities after the news. The discussion centers on whether after the announcement by the President, the celebratory demonstrations were crass and in poor taste. Were this demonstrations a valid exhultation of relief brought by long held tensions and fears of a man who undoubtedly caused our nation and it's citizens harm? Or of a more basic need for blood retribution to compensate for the loss of loved ones? Several familiy friends and relatives of lost ones during the attack have affirmed the necessity for the demise of Bin Laden but have not expressed any true sense of justice at his death. There seeems to be more of a sense of relief as this could be construed as a possible closed chapter in their lives. The reality is that closure might never be truly achieved. The memorial is not yet built, NY has been embroiled in long and arduous arguments about the design, completion and make up of the site for the last ten years and the process is slow.

The need for the American public to physically and visually exhale at the end of a long search for a man so vilified by the news can not be diminished. It can not be compared to the end of WW I or WW II but the sentiment remains the same. Sometimes we need as a society to openly exhale and come together to look into each others eyes and say it's ok. As short lived as this demonstrations were and as short lived as the sense of safety might remain, the catharsis can not be denied. A lot of treasure and lives have been and are still been spent on the wars for a us not to cling to whatever big or small sense of accomplishment there is.It is certain that Al Queda will attempt to avenge Bin Laden's death and they most certainly might already have plans in motion to do so. One truth is undeniable: a nation that lives in fear can not grow. A people that live in trepidation can not freely exist. We must be vigilant but certitude must remain when it comes to our freedom, our values and our unwavering commitment to look at the face of terrorism straight on and challenge it to see their own fears.A lot has been said as well as why The US government chose to kill Bin Laden instead of bringing him to justice within our court system. This comes to light as people try to find justification in the taking of his life, even though he master minded the deaths of so many innocent people, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, around the world. The moral issue at play is whether the means justify the end and whether the taking of one life for the good of the collective and for the safety of the majority can be justified. The reality is that perhaps the answers to both this questions were known and answered before the operation even took place.

It would have been extremely hard to conduct a trial in the US. We can not even come to an agreement on whether to allow our justice system the chance to prove itself or to even continue to adjudicate via a military court system the current Guantanamo detainees. Some believe one is not strong enough to achieve a conviction while others believe the military system to be flawed and in violation of some of the due process statues the US Constitution entitles all defendants.

Another point to examine is whether such a trial could have been conducted while dealing with security threats, the pandemonium of a venue selection for such a high profile case or whether the international community would have allow it to happen in Guantanamo. Would the risk to our nation, cities and people be worth balancing against a protracted trial with the hope of a favorable end result? Is justice only served through a democratic judicial system that allows individuals the right to be heard and defended or was the public admission of guilt in front of the world good enough to justify a bullet to the head. Unfortunately all this discussions as they relate to Bin Laden are obsolete in the immediate. The terrorist is dead and a life was taken. The decision resting on the shoulders of generations to come is whether a justifiable use of force and action can be seen as a creator of a true balance and morally/ethically acceptable when it comes face to face with our own ideological tenets of equal representation under the law.

As a Navy veteran and a warm blooded American, I find myself this at odds with my staunch liberal ideals and my firm belief in civil rights. As many Americans have expressed and languished over this moral and ethical dilemma, it is not a simple answer or choice. We do have to remember that what makes us great is truly our ability not to do as we are done but to hold steadfast to our beliefs as a Nation. In the end Bin Laden was given the same amount of consideration he gave to the over three thousand people that died in September 11th or in other attacks around the world. In that perspective, justice was truly served.