I wasn't sure whether to blog about this or not, but as the day has gone on I've been paying attention to the reactions of people around me since the news was reported this morning. I've got a young sister who messaged me to ask if I'd heard the news. So I thought if someone so young is getting swept up in the discussion, then lets talk about it.
After the many tragedies and atrocities attributed to him, namely September 11th in the US and July 7th in the UK it is not surprising that my facebook today has been full of status updates celebrating his demise.
what I'm unsure of though is what real impact this will have on the US and UK fight against terrorism or whether the news will make anyone anywhere safer. He may have been the figurehead of Al-Qaeda but he is merely a link in a chain of a much larger organisation. Surely the main aims and objectives of Al-Qaeda still exist!
David Cameron in a statement has said "the news that Osama Bin Laden is dead will bring great relief to people across the world"
What are your thoughts BDSS'ers? Are you relieved?
There are also a lot of people questioning whether the news is actually true (with the body being buried at sea so quickly, which is said to be in accordance with Islamic practices.
What are your immediate reactions or thoughts?
Having seen a picture on Daily Mail this morning purported to be the bloody face of the man himself I would say I believe he is dead but obviously with the numerous conspiracy theories I could be wrong!
ReplyDeleteI agree though if he is indeed dead Al-Qeada still exists therefore the threat of terrorism is still there with reports saying that his number 2 man will step up to lead so the fight on terror looks to be continuing.
I mean we saw it when Saddam Hussain was captured and executioned, it did not end the war in Iraq so therefore Bin Laden's demise is unlikely to change anything.
As for people celebrating I can only use my own memories of the worry of 7/7 which by Gods grace I was not affected but I can understand why maybe someone who was affected would celebrate his death, much less people affected by September 11th.
This is a interesting post, One which I have strong views about. I personally don’t think Bin Laden ever existed sure the picture we see televised is a actual man but how can we be so sure it's actually "Bin Laden" I think he's just the face for people to vent their anger, frustration and hate at.
ReplyDeleteThe U.S and UK government are very good at manipulating the general public into believing there is terrorism directed at us when in truth you reap what you sow, so in other words if we was really attacked by Bin Laden and his followers it was only because the U.S and UK government attacked his people/land first. Yes two wrongs don’t make a right but I can understand retaliation. It annoys me that people seem to forget That Killing is wrong on every count and just because the US government use and manipulate certain words to cloud over the real reason(s) for murdering innocent people the general public get sucked into believing this is justified.
For example the U.S use such quotes from the bible as : "blessed are the peace makers as they will inherite the earth" now please explain how do the Americans see themselves as peace makers when they are the quickest country to go to war even when it doesn’t involve them directly or indirectly. Even using such words as the general public is an insult to people basically there saying you're just the same as everyone else mainly because you know no different and believe the hype they feed you.
Trust no man only god, god doesn’t preach war so why follow the masses.
I truly believe all the "attacks" where self inflicted to justify going to war for oil what do you guys think?
Some very interesting points raised!
ReplyDeleteNamely should we believe everything fed to us by politicians and governments in power. I think history tells us no way, without a doubt we do need to dig deeper to find out what is really going on and the motivation's behind wars and conflict's.
At the same time with that being said I can not buy into all the conspiracy theories being banded about either.
With War and conflict, do I believe that governments use it as an opportunity to muscle their way in and to take over, while everything is in chaos and disorder absolutely yes.
Do I believe that governments create conflicts, in order to create situation's where they can fly in, take over, piliage and plunder whilst spinning us a tale, absolutely yes.
But I think there are limit's I do not believe that the US government were responsible for 9/11 or the Uk government for 7/7.
At the end of the day the reality is that individual's are fanatical enough to murder and slaughter their own neighbours and brothers and sisters in their own countries, so for me it is very believable that they are willing and capable of carry out the same thing's abroad without a doubt.
The reasons for these acts are complicated and numerous, retribution, religious ideoligies, socio-economic ideologies being example's.
I think we need to tread a fine line between government spin and rhetoric and way out their conspiracy theories!
Also I think you are right he is/was a figurehead/symbol for the organisation, although I wouldn't go so far as to question whether he was a man who existed.
Also killing to me is wrong and in my eye's can never be justified. I feel sadness for any death's caused as a result as war.
There is a quote going around on facebook and twitter at the moment being wrongly attributed to Martin Luther king and Mark twain it say's:
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"
It may not be Martin Luther Kings Quote but I think the sentiments are very true.
@ anon you are so not for real. Please go read Holy War written by Peter.L.Bergen then tell me Bin Laden a figment of the worlds imagination.
ReplyDeleteAsk any one of these families who lost their loved ones if they asked to die for a cause they have nothing to do with, ask many of the families who children where brain washed into dying for Bin Laden and other terror groups cause. Terrorism is directed at us other wise we wouldn't have been blown up at 7/7 or Tavis Stock or 911 list goes on and on.
Yes killing is wrong however you over look that there was a struggle or else navy seal would have walked in and walked out in 10 minutes or less, this was the worlds WORLDS most dangerous man they where dealing with so excuses them if they felt the situation needs some gun fire and for death to happen. I don't feel for Bin Laden because his reign of terror is over. It will not stop terror but his power and money will surely dry up most of these splinter groups who no doubt where funded by Bin Laden or had connection with him. Either through ammunition, cars, travel contacts etc.
Plus most of the middle eastern people are fighting for democracy which has nothing to do with America or Britain they are simply Fed up of not being able to vote in a government who will represent them.
yes killing is wrong so is all the terrorism that we suffer, which you seem to applicably skip over, tell what you say to the children who lost their father, mothers, newly weds, who died in 911, 7/7 bombing and all the other terror attacks. Who do you think they feel having lost limps??
War doesn't choose who to kill, their will be casualties , its part of war. You seem to think only the Us manipulate but they all do, we don't know everything that happens in government when its comes down to war and these type of decision but all countries do that but you centre on the Us WHY??
The Us and or England has never claim to be a peace makes but we have better order than most countries that is why they run to us for help. You seem to skip that out, when the flood happened in Pakistan who cried America come help us, when the Tsunami happened who came their aid most of the money cam from Us and England don't just pick and choose things and then complain when some other don't fall in your favour. right now in Libya Us refused to get involved and pulled out its troops but who is calling for America to do something.
This oil talking is getting so old, its not FREE countries have treaties and negotiate the price of the use of oil, so let not keep debating that as though England and or any country walks in and say give us your oil. There is a reason why oil on the stock mark goes up and down depending on what is going on in the world because it has to be paid for.
I am not blind to the fact the governments use each, but remember a lot of government without democracy do deals to better their country but use the money exchanged for their own personal use, now who's fault is that.
This is a great post Sel, I pondered on commenting on this for a while, but really didn't know where to start! I have many views on this matter which could turn in to a very long drawn out comment, so I will keep it short and sweet! It was very enlightening to see what my girls were saying, but I can definitely see where Anon is coming from too. That's all I'm gonna say about that for now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bi, glad to know not everyone has there head buried in the sand. Was Bin Laden not a man was he not gods creation? Yeah he was known to be wicked and cruel and sent his followers out to die. But isnt that what the army does? The peace makers quote is true and quoted be G.Bush so maybe you need to research that before you tell me about what the U.S are pretending to be. Casualties of war works both ways so 9/11 7/7 are all casualties no different from the innocent people caught up in cross fire withing the battle field. Open you mind young lady and dont be so quick to defend the nation you feel compelled too they will be the first ones to reject you.
ReplyDeleteYes Bin Laden is God's creation and so to where the many people that had their lives cut short not by choices of their own but was senselessly taken away from them by this cruel man. Its is not the same as what the army does, army doesn't purposefully seek innocent people out and kill them, its like comparing the police to Bin Laden. The army is a job to protect and serve they don't kill just because they feel like taking the law into their own hands, further more the army is fighting to STOP terrorism while Bin Laden was increasing it and killing not just his own people but other peoples loved one. There is one very fundamental difference Bin Laden brain washed these people into believing his cause even though in Qur'an does talk about an eye for an eye and changing infidels into being Muslims if not by force Qur'an 8:39, however the army is not forced either you want to join or you don't.
ReplyDeleteIts not for me about defending the national, for me Bin Laden being killed brought some semblance of justice for the cruelty and fear he had bestowed upon many, his violence and splinter groups have caused the world to lose its sense of freedom and trust and made people dislike or look at Muslims differently, made security impossible and difficult to travel all because of a few the worlds has to suffer. So sorry i disagree with you firmly
The CIA don't brain wash people right!
ReplyDeletePlease research their MK-ultra program if you want to find out the extent to which America has embraced mass and individual brain washing techniques..
Al-Qeada like many terrorist and rebel groups around the world were origionaly equiped and sponsored by the american government to oppose the original russian invasion of afghanistan.
And just like in Iraq when it suited them they turned their back on them and left them to their own devices without accepting any responsibility for the consequences of their truely fool hardy actions.
For which we now reap the consequences.