There are some extraordinary discussions taking place here.  "We" cannot afford to be like "them"?  I hate to be the one to break the news, but "we" are like "them" - and far, far worse than "them" if we're going by simple body count.  Western imperial nations have been murdering people all around the world for centuries, for the simple and excellent reason that they can.  No other justification is needed, not in this world.  International law is a sham, appealed to by the weak, and ignored by the strong unless it is in their interests to pay lip service to it in particular situations, usually for propaganda purposes.  OBL was a stateless, fugitive criminal who had no value as a captive (in fact, he would have been a considerable liability) and whose elimination was apparently deemed now to be desirable, and perhaps necessary.  So, he's gone.  His liquidation hardly raises unique or complex questions about international relations.   The US and its allies have committed untold atrocities greater than this.   This isn't even a blip.

Last edited by Maximilien de Robespierre (2011-05-03 14:03:09)

Last edited by Maximilien de Robespierre (2011-05-03 14:51:56)

The old-style secret services (analagous to 'Dirty Harry') carried out clandestine activities, for the sake of 'national security, and were accountable to nearly no one. These things happen. It is, though, best not to crow about it (certainly not to celebrate it); which is a separate point.

Several members seem to enjoy this kind of debate over those about matching ties and pocket squares, which is refreshing. I ought to add that I should not really have used the term 'mammy'; better really: 'noisy, unelected activist' - much the same as 'Our Cherry' Blair.