Remember when I wondered what could unite Americans the way that a wedding united Brits? For less than 24 hours the news of the killing of Osama Bin Laden did that. But already the partisan sniping has begun. Believe it or not, instead of continuing in celebratory harmony, we are already playing the claim game. Republicans want to give all credit to Bush policies. Democrats think that the guy who actually gave the order to go in and kill Bin Laden should get the credit, especially after Bush said that he didn’t spend much time thinking about Bin Laden.

It is being reported that Sister Sarah’s presidential aspirations will never be realized because she failed to include Obama and the intelligence community in her tweets. A man in Abbottabad tweeted the incident as it was happening. Twitter is now credited with organizing revolutions and real time reporting of major world events. We used to say the pen is mightier than the sword; maybe we should be saying a tweet is the mightiest of all.

Our world has irretrievably changed because of the technology that was invented right here in the U.S.A. We don’t have to wait until the 5:00 news to find out what is happening in our world. We only need to look at a computer screen, or at our smart phone.

Now think about this: the Navy Seals that spent less than an hour on the ground in Abbottabad did two remarkable things. They killed America’s number one enemy, and reported it to the White House with the coded phrase, “Geronimo, EKIA,” at the moment it happened. Then they went around the compound and retrieved every computer, every jump ring, every smart phone they could find.

At an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, this treasure trove of enemy data is being analyzed. If you are an ally of Bin Laden, be afraid, be very afraid. You are next on the list, and we probably have your photograph. Sister Sarah, you missed the point when you didn’t include the intelligence arm of the U.S. Government in your congratulations. That may be the biggest player in this whole story.

Homework

Raid Snags Bin Laden's Computers

GOP Wake Up Call

People were celebrating at Ground Zero last night. Osama Bin Laden was killed in a complex in Pakistan. I’m unclear whether the Pakistani government participated in the operation that led to his death on their soil. According to some reports in British papers, he has been buried at sea.

I imagine burying him at sea will prevent his grave from becoming a site on the “to do” list of Al Qaeda pilgrims.  Yet, I can’t imagine that this will be the end of terrorism. Already somebody I’ve never heard of, but reportedly a Taliban leader, has announced that the Taliban will avenge Bin Laden’s death.

I’ll admit that confused me a bit. I thought that Bin Laden was the leader of Al Qaeda, not the Taliban. I’ve also read reports that the U.S., in attempts to “win the hearts and minds,” have been negotiating with the Taliban in Afghanistan. So much for that strategy.

President George W. Bush told Bin Laden that he was wanted “Dead or Alive.” That mission has been completed, and it does give closure and a feeling of justice to the survivors of 9/11. Sadly, it probably also means that Americans abroad will be targeted by revenge seekers. The U.S. has already warned travelers of this possibility.

So, Bin Laden is dead, but nothing has really changed. America is still chasing terrorists. And terrorists are still targeting Americans. I can’t bring myself to celebrate the death of this evil man. We haven’t been liberated from the fear of terrorism.

Homework:

Qudos Vows to Avenge Bin Laden's Death

June 2010 Report Re U.S. Negotiating with Taliban

Travel Warning for U.S. Citizens

the Wicked Witch Is Dead