Conspiracy theorists have been saying Osama has been dead for years and the US was waiting for the right moment to use it. Now, I love a good conspiracy theory and I’m not going to say that’s impossible, because I’m sure it is possible. But I’m pretty sure Obama would have waited to closer to Nov 2012 for that for maximum approval rating.
But why was he disposed of so soon, with no pictures, etc? Islamic tradition calls for burial at sea? A religion followed by a LOT of people in a dry desert region? Wacky. But even if he died 5 years ago, 3 years ago or yesterday, I don’t care. He’s dead. Good.
But after reading my twitter feed, you’d think Obama actually landed there himself, shot Osama and was back in time for dinner. People – Obama didn’t catch him. Much like Bush didn’t catch Saddam. Our military and CIA did. Likely with information gathered from some good old-fashioned torture of some good old-fashioned bad guys. Yes, both Presidents gave the OK on those missions. And were kept up to date. But let’s get real here folks. Much like I won’t say Obama is entirely responsible for the current economic crisis (but yes he does have some culpability), he is not responsible for this. I was getting pretty pissed at the ignorant jack-asses on twitter, who probably actually believe, that said “Bush, his administration and the military did nothing for 8 years. Only till Obama came along to get it done.” Umm…really? Wow. And these people vote? Yikes.
And I was happy to hear the guy was dead as he was responsible for 9/11 (unless of course you believe another conspiracy theory which was again trotted out on twitter last night…and RTed by not just one Hollywood celeb…sigh) and he was an evil SOB who I am glad is gone from the face of the Earth. BUT, Al Qaeda and terrorism wasn’t eradicated you know? I mean, do you *really* think Osama was still giving day to day orders and running the Al Qaeda missions? He was a crusty old man on dialysis living large in a suburb mansion with no phone or internet. Pretty sure he was no more than a figurehead at this point. So let’s remember we have a lot more terrorists to kill and not pat anyone on the back for erasing terrorism (yes, saw that on twitter too…seriously..these people shouldn’t be allowed out of their homes unsupervised.)
Saw tons of tweets about how the stock market would go up and oil will go back to $2.00 a gallon. Wha? Sure the stock market might get a little bounce, good time to sell any over-valued stocks in your portfolio. Because it will go right back down on a bad earnings report or bad jobs or housing starts report. Wall Street likes good news and all but is a realistic machine. And oil/gas….well last I checked Osama didn’t run any oil fields. Qaddafi dying would be a bigger deal. Or Chavez. Or the entire Saudi royal family (going out Moldavian-style like on Dynasty!) But not Osama. Not unless Al Qaeda firebombs all the oil fields. But then it goes UP you goobers – not down. We will never see $2.00 a gallon gas again IMO. Not unless Marty comes back from the future with fusion technology very soon. Keeping in mind some of that is due to our dollar being so hammered and devalued (now that we can pin some of on Obama’s administration) that $2.00 today is like $1.00 just twenty years ago.
But again, people don’t think about stuff like that. And politicians know it. They read the headlines and remember what’s out there right now. Obama released his birth certificate (finally) and then was funny at a Washington Correspondents dinner (and this made him cool which means a LOT more to young voters than experience, knowledge or anything else…sad) and then killed Public Enemy Number One. So he is Superman to a lot of people. At least for now. Until more bad jobs reports come out. Or voters run out of their 99 weeks of unemployment. Or some other thing happens to erase whatever good people think he did. The business of politics. And even more so now with social media and instant news flashing in front of your face every 2 seconds. People’s attention spans are shrinking fast. But Obama’s approval numbers were the lowest they have ever been, so I guess it was a good time for him to pull this out…assuming you believe the conspiracy that the government had Osama’s body on ice already. But again, would have been a better play closer to re-election time so that theory seems a tad unlikely.
Besides, Superman is a putz. He just renounced his US citizenship. I’ll take Jack Bauer over that jerk.
11:08 am on May 2nd, 2011
Never overestimate the intelligence of the electorate. I’m no fan of the president, but I will give him and his administration props for continuing the relentless pursuit and the elite military forces for executing a high-risk plan. He will get some big short-term political capital out of this, though I’m not sure how long it will last.
The administration would be foolish is there are less than a million pictures (or HD video) to be released in the future (much like the Kennedy autopsy photos which are quite gruesome).
I believe the burial at sea is customary for those persons who are considered ‘displaced’ that is without a home country. They use weights to ensure that the DP goes under water as they probably did not want to make his burial place into some kind of twisted shrine like Jim Morrison. :)
I do think that OBL was still heavily involved in terrorist operations or at least being able to get resources to those who were/are leading the charge.
There’s been too much time between 9/11 and this killing to have a real impact on the stock market and the economy is still teetering and could fall right back into the crapper with not much effort.
7:11 pm on May 2nd, 2011
I definitely try not to overestimate that! Sadly, I think I am still taken by surprise at the level of ignorance.
I hope Jaws got him :) Then the Circle of Life will have worked out quite well! (humming the song to myself…)
4:50 am on May 3rd, 2011
I thought Prince William was singing that one last week – btw – Superman can eat it – just confirms my belief that DC comics sucks.
8:30 am on May 3rd, 2011
Great post! I was wondering why so many people online were going on and on about how it’s wrong to celebrate his death. What the what? If Bin Laden had been captured within a day/week/month/year of 9/11 when the agony was still so fresh would those people be so critical? I don’t think so. Just because 10 years has gone by doesn’t make his actions any less heinous or evil. Or painful for the people who suffered the consequences.
4:53 pm on May 3rd, 2011
I know – some of the sniveling I have read about how it is wrong to take a human life no matter whose is gross. Wonder how different they would feel if one of their loved ones died in 9/11.
Much better for the government so spend millions upon millions of dollars to try, guard, feed and house him. And really – you can find 12 jurors who are completely unbiased? Uh-huh.
He was a scum sucking murderer who should have remembered you reap what you sow.
Not that I have a strong opinion on it… ;)