Bin Laden

[Brkeatr]

Watching the History Cannel right now and they are showing a documentary on Osama Bin Laden and the hunt for him since 9/11.

Man, this guy is a real piece of work and I can't figure out why we can't catch him. I mean, we seem to be able to get everyone else that we go after but not him.

What's going on?

Do you think we will ever get this guy?

What's your opinion of his ability to keep eluding everyone?

[Paul]

I can't help but see he the historical parallel's between capturing him and capturing Viet Cong or the British trying to capturing American Revolutionaries.   It is his turf, he knows the area.  He has the grass roots support (or the fear of reprisals) on his side as well.  In addition American is and has been woefully ignorant of other cultures.  Hard to fight an enemy you don't understand.

[SlyHigh]

I sometimes wonder if it would really matter if we get him or not.  I figure he'd be replaced by someone equally as bad.

If our president gets assassinated, our country will not collapse.  He would be replaced by the vice president who likely shares the same views and ideology as the president.

Those terror organizations are like the internet.  You can unplug server after server, but the internet is still there.

In my opinion the best way to combat terror is to not give them a reason to hate in the first place.  There are plenty of countries with the same ideals and freedoms as the US that Bin Laden could care less about.  I think he actually said once that it's not freedome he hates; Sweden is just as free and he doesn't attack them.  Another issue is the Middle East cultural mindset of terrorism.  Culture is very hard to change.

[Tyler]

You can find out one of the reasons why bin laden hates us by reading about Charlie Wilson.  But the real reason is that he is a tyrant and tyrants like to go after targets that will give them the most exposure possible, hence the US and Britain.

[tomgallagher]

Amen brudda.

[SlyHigh]

I'm sure we'll never really understand all the reasons behind his actions.  He and his followers have a totally different mindset on world affairs than we do.  I couldn't understand why someone would attack us just for the sake of doing it (for attention or whatever).  Maybe that's what he does.  There are probably greater things he's trying to accomplish, and I bet we (the American public) don't know the half of what really goes on or the reasons behind it.

I wouldn't mind sitting down with the guy for a chat (or maybe a phone call would be safer!).  Not to condem him or anything, just to talk and try to understand his thoughts behind his actions.  Of course I'd love to see him and his organization eliminated for good, whatever way possible.

[hammerdrill376]

I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I would imagine there is alot more to this than the general public will ever know. Personally I think he has already been dead for a while but then thats just my opinion. I am far more worried about the potential of a president coming into office that will be soft on terrorists and take the "can't we all just get along" line of thinking.

[Jim80]

I completly agree, I think Bin laden has long been dead

[Brkeatr]

Well, it sure is interesting to hear all your opinions... 

[Razor X]

In my opinion the best way to combat terror is to not give them a reason to hate in the first place. 

Fanatics don't need a reason to hate.

There are plenty of countries with the same ideals and freedoms as the US that Bin Laden could care less about.  I think he actually said once that it's not freedome he hates; Sweden is just as free and he doesn't attack them. 

Sweden is not a world power and there are no points to be scored by attacking them.  Whether or not Sweden is as free as the USA is debatable.

Another reason the US is hated in the Middle East is because we (rightfully) support Israel.

I wouldn't mind sitting down with the guy for a chat (or maybe a phone call would be safer!).  Not to condem him or anything, just to talk and try to understand his thoughts behind his actions.

The reasons and thoughts behind his actions are a matter of supreme indifference to me.  There's no justification for the mass murder of innocent civilians.  I don't care why people do evil things; I only care about stopping them and making an example of them to deter others from attempting to copy them.

[SlyHigh]

I am far more worried about the potential of a president coming into office that will be soft on terrorists and take the "can't we all just get along" line of thinking.

I just want terrorism to stop.  I don't care if it's by peaceful negotiation or all-out military action.  Whatever works.  It seems that military action gets the most media attention, and a lot of people by default see that as the most effective solution.  No president wants to see terroristic acts on our country.  Sometimes I think the public sees an absense of military action being "soft," when in reality there may be actions taken that could be just as or more effective that we just never hear about.

Fanatics don't need a reason to hate.

Unless they are just plain crazy (which I don't think bin laden or saddam are/were crazy), they always have a reason.  It's just that their reasons SEEM crazy to us.  What if I wore my pink shirt while visiting another country and get attacked for it.  I think they must be crazy for attacking me for no reason (I mean, it's just a shirt, right?).  But what if it's a serious violation of their religion and culture?  The best solution would be for me to just not wear my pink shirt.

[xnewyawka]

In my opinion the best way to combat terror is to not give them a reason to hate in the first place. 

Fanatics don't need a reason to hate.

There are plenty of countries with the same ideals and freedoms as the US that Bin Laden could care less about.  I think he actually said once that it's not freedome he hates; Sweden is just as free and he doesn't attack them. 

Sweden is not a world power and there are no points to be scored by attacking them.  Whether or not Sweden is as free as the USA is debatable.

Another reason the US is hated in the Middle East is because we (rightfully) support Israel.

I wouldn't mind sitting down with the guy for a chat (or maybe a phone call would be safer!).  Not to condem him or anything, just to talk and try to understand his thoughts behind his actions.

The reasons and thoughts behind his actions are a matter of supreme indifference to me.  There's no justification for the mass murder of innocent civilians.  I don't care why people do evil things; I only care about stopping them and making an example of them to deter others from attempting to copy them.

Right on Raz!  good points.  If I had a chance to see this guy face to face, believe me, it wouldn't be for a "chat"!   

[tomgallagher]

I don't believe it will ever change. It started back in ancient Egypt and has come all the way to Hitler and Pol Pot and Idi Amin and Joe Stalin and on and on.

[time2shine]

I don't believe it will ever change. It started back in ancient Egypt and has come all the way to Hitler and Pol Pot and Idi Amin and Joe Stalin and on and on.

i agree, there will always be nutjobs.

[Razor X]

Unless they are just plain crazy (which I don't think bin laden or saddam are/were crazy), they always have a reason.  It's just that their reasons SEEM crazy to us.  What if I wore my pink shirt while visiting another country and get attacked for it.  I think they must be crazy for attacking me for no reason (I mean, it's just a shirt, right?).  But what if it's a serious violation of their religion and culture?  The best solution would be for me to just not wear my pink shirt.

A better solution would be to avoid visiting places where it's acceptable to attack people for wearing certain colors.