It’s good to get off the topic of Canada’s elections. It’s particularly good when the topic is the death Osama Bin Laden or OBL as he has been won’t to be called. I am generally not in favour of the death penalty but the death of OBL solves many problems that a capture would have brought. If the US is fighting a war on terrorism it is indeed fitting that OBL should have been treated as an enemy combatant whose death in a firefight is one of the more fortunate outcomes of one battle.
Now what? Issues with OBL did not start with 9/11. There were a number of lethal events that he took credit for that preceded 9/11. The events of 9/11 turned out to be the most egregious in an inexorable war of ideologies that still has not been resolved. To many Muslims, America is still the “great Satan” and Jews are synonymous with pigs. This is the kind of hate that is still being taught at Madrasas in much of the Middle East. The death of OBL will not change that. Any change will take generations to unlearn that kind of catechism.
Also, the death of OBL will not lessen the incidence of bombings and murder by radical Muslims. Al Qaida has “gone viral” in the sense that it is no longer a “top down” organization headed by OBL. Many cells are now fully embedded in host countries such as Britain, Germany, the US, Spain and Canada. These are domestic radicalized Muslims that will continue their evil work whether OBL lives or dies.
Many have asked moderate Muslims to denounce their more radical brethren. At one time I have been impressed by the argument that they should not have to be responsible for their radical co-religionists. No longer. It is time for moderate Muslims to cast out their more radical co-religionists. This is more than a lunatic fringe that one tolerates. These are deadly, misguided lunatics that are bent on killing innocent people on the premise that all of Western society is evil. At one time I was impressed by the argument that all Al Qaida wanted was for America to get out of their region so that the golden crescent of Islam could be re-established in the Middle East. No longer. Bombing underground trains in Spain and Britain and nightclubs in Bali does little to further the aims of the golden crescent.
One positive (for now) note is that in the recent unrest in Africa, Egypt and the Middle East there has been little heard from radical Islam. While it is too early to tell, there is some evidence that Egypt will be reformed into a secular state. The Islamic Brotherhood will certainly have a say but Egyptians will not be governed by Sharia law. The same is true for Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain. Those who have fought so hard for some say in their government will be vigilant that the conditions in Iran will not be repeated.
I am generally a law and order advocate. Extreme curtails of personal freedoms have a way of getting out of hand. However, law and order restraints are meant to deal with day-to-day crime where property and person may be in danger. That is why war gives rise to such extreme remedies. Soldiers are allowed to kill others without trial. Cities are bombed and civilians die so that enemy leaders will sue for peace. I truly believe that the West’s engagement with radical Islam is such a war. Only one battle has been won. Winning the war is still a long way off.
Bernie.
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