I won’t politicize if you won’t, Mr. President.
President Obama does deserve credit as it happened on his watch. He’s made good on his campaign promise (really, it was only a matter of time before justice would catch up to al Qaeda’s #1 figurehead, a culmination of the last 9 years, not just the last 9 months). But it’s irksome that his narcissism can’t help but inject himself into this:
“Last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground,” President Obama told the nation in a speech Sunday night.
“Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body,” he said.
Or maybe as a partisan, I’m far too sensitive and am reading more into it than is warranted. Of course President Obama had to green light the operation; but I seem to always feel like this president has a way of always making it all about him; of taking undue credit for things he had little to do with (yes, he gave the order; but what sitting president wouldn’t have? Actually, Clinton had opportunities and did not take them, so nix that). Even when he says, “it’s never been about me”, he inadvertently seems to make it otherwise.
President Obama deserves credit, whether he wants to claim it (and he does) or not. And I am glad he called his two predecessors to give them the news. The hunt did not begin on his watch but President Obama has seen it to through to its conclusion.
The real winners, of course, are the American people.
Finally setting aside partisan politics at the end of this partisan post, I’d like to say, thank you President Obama and congratulations for a job well done!
Josh Rogins offers a timeline (beginning with Obama’s decision-making for what led directly to this operation).
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
@rich wheeler:
Have you forgotten your basic Algebra, rich?
Look up the Venn Diagram.
(Gosh! For me it has been a LOOOONG time!)
Not all sets of beliefs are completely outside one another.
There is plenty of overlap.
Between Ayn Rand’s ideas in her writings and Christianity there are many, many overlapping areas.
You expecting them to be 100% mutually exclusive only shows your ignorance of one or both of those sets of teachings.
Nan G says. overlapping etc. Glad to see you agree with me.
@rich wheeler:
Actually, Rich, I wrongly voted Perot, so that should answer your question in #165. I did, however, learn why that decision was wrong, which is what hindsight is all about. No one is perfect, and everyone makes decisions that are wrong, although some don’t know it at the time, nor do others even acknowledge that they were wrong.
As for moral certitude, I don’t have it, and neither does anyone on the planet. We can only make the decisions in our lives based on what we have previously learned to be right, or wrong, and our knowledge isn’t always correct. Those who profess a moral certitude are those most likely to go through life making all the wrong decisions, for they lack the ability to examine their decisions objectively, and the ability to question those decisions as having been right, or wrong. In short, am I right all the time? No, I am not, but I learn why I was wrong, and try never to make the same mistake again. Don’t you?
And, as far as Rand goes, you question doesn’t matter in the slightest. But I will answer it anyway. I do believe that Rand was wrong to be an atheist. I also believe that it is wrong to place your life into servitude for a church, though, and although I have my reasons, this isn’t the discussion for it. Let it suffice that I consider myself a Christian, as one part of the definition states; “a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ”. But again, as this isn’t a theological discussion, I’ll leave it at that.
@rich wheeler:
You do not believe that a decision is either right, or it is wrong? It’s not a complex idea.
I think that’s just a built in “present vote” ‘tude that so many have, johngalt. To actually make a stand entails actually assuming responsibility. Even if it’s within your job description to do so.
John G. Thanks.I think Are you saying,there is a right or wrong decision,but in spite of our best efforts we may make the wrong decision,which should help us to make the right decision next time,though we may still inadvertantly make the wrong decision.
“The Princess Bride” comes to mind.
@rich wheeler:
Right.
Example:
Both atheists and Christians are opposed to incest.
IOW:
There are overlaps.
@rich wheeler:
Essentially, that is correct, although I believe that you are confusing the issue.
For every decision, there is the consideration of right, and wrong, morally speaking, as the factor of a decision. No middle ground is possible. Decisions that one makes can be as simple as deciding what to have for dinner, or whether to, and what specific course to take, on getting UBL, and they are always made with a goal in mind. And the more complex the decision to be made, the more little, individual decisions leading to the ultimate decision, there are. But each, small, individual decision is based on one’s moral principles of what is right and what is wrong.
As for the determination as to whether a decision was the right one, or the wrong one, only history can be the final judgment, just as it is our knowledge of previous history that helps in determining whether a specific decision is right, or wrong, at the time. No one is infallible, though, and wrong decisions are made all the time. What should never be in question is the reasons used to make a decision, at the time of the decision. What I mean, is, that outside, arbitrary influence, not based on moral principles of right, or wrong, should never be used as a factor in determining what decision to make. Which is why, as I’ve stated, that I WILL not give credit to Obama, for any part of the decision to get UBL, that is based on his own political expediency, and neither should you. We should content ourselves with the fact that, as is apparent at this time, the decision to do so, was the right decision to make.
Father Of 9/11 Victim: Obama “Putting Too Much Spotlight On Himself”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/05/05/father_of_911_victim_obama_putting_too_much_spotlight_on_himself.html
@ Jongalt
Except where elections are concerned. When you are given the option of voting for the “lessor of evils”, you are not able to vote for good. Refusing to vote simply ends in others deciding which evil you will receive, thus, by not voting you are still allowing evil to win. The world would be so much better if we could choose between the “greater of goods.”
How much credit does Obama get?
@Ditto, I just got around to checking out the knoll that jerseyflash mentions in his comment #120. Using the Google measure for an approximate, it’s about 5100 ft from the UBL compound. I don’t know much about sniper rifles, but the only one I’ve seen (granted, with minimal research) with that accuracy may be the Harris Gunworks M-96, up to about 5000ft. Slightly under that is the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle. Sketchy at best, depending upon wind and weather conditions. Especially for a target that they couldn’t even positively ID because he rarely came out in the open. Not to mention that sniper would have to take out all the other personnel in the compound as well.
Using a sniper would not have easily availed the Seals to abscond the hard drives and documentation around the place. To simply assassinate UBL, and bypass his intel stash would have been absurd. I think the mission planned, presented, and chosen, was the right one. And our amazing spec ops guys continue to wow.
That’s assuming also that the hypothetical sniper’s scope would have been good enough at that range to positively identify UBL. If said sniper uses a silencer the range would be lessened. Given our discussion here, it sounds more to me that all this would rule out the use of a sniper as a realistic plan.
@MataHarley: I’m satisfied with the Outcome. Use of Snipers requires a Clear Field of Fire, patience and a rapid exfill. The Intel Received in the Raid has value. Entry into the Home gave us that. With the exception of the Mechanical issue with the Bird, the Plan worked. Best of All No Casualties.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all that deserve it. “To politicize or not (THE KILL)” I’m going to work this backward’s for a short time. ANSWER to Mata #184 When they ran the film from outside the compound, it show’s that hill range-not that far away. (Only one camera seems to have that shot) It is motion-not still I see tree’s and shubbs on the hill (all coming from a camera of one of the news networks)!!!! Try to understand IF it possible-I would have used a SNIPER. Good shooter can kill from 100 yard or less-UP TO A LITTLE OVER A MILE AND A HALF. A British sniper**2 kill’s-one wounded from OVER a mile and a half. Once again 2 men-not 40 or 50 plus (Loss lips sink everything and anything)Do I have a great dislike for Barry “YES I DO” Do I have a great love for Sarah and Allen West “Just Sarah”
The illustration shows 2 dishs-how old is this ???? There are now 7 dishes on the compound roof’s.
HBO-SHOWTIME ????? (BREAKING NEWS****USA knew he was there as soon as he walked in****) Let’s see who get’s the $25 million. One of the chopters goes down in the compound-they carry approx. 12 combat loaded troop’s. Copter 2 comes back and picks-up Copter 1’s load plus it’s own (Shown on 60 LYING MINUTES) Looks like a UH-60**was something other then UH-60 used ??????
Doesn’t the NEW WAR ROOM look different then the first one that they were in ?????
CONSPIRACY THEORIES-Does that mean that the guy’s on the grassy knoll didn’t do the shot, or should no one ever ask the question “Show me”
WORDSMITH #183 “Only the FACTS” I directed Leon to KILL or CAPTURE bin “The” top priority, but then the more I taught about it*** “KILL HIM”
OT2 #186 what happened to our Ping-Pong game ??????????