Justice and the Death of Osama bin Laden

Why was it important for Osama bin Laden to be killed? And why is it important for Americans and people around the world to know it? I addressed these critical questions in a special edition Straight Thinking podcast less than 24 hours following President Obama’s announcement of the death of bin Laden at the hands of the American military.

You can listen to the podcast here and I’ve include the podcast outline below.

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Why is the death of Osama bin Laden so important for America (and other freedom-loving peoples)?

President Obama said in his address last night in informing America of terrorist bin Laden’s death that this is a “a good day for America.”

1. The extraordinary event of 9/11:

• 9/11 was the equivalent of Pearl Harbor and the JFK assassination all rolled into one.
• 9/11 was a calculated and systematic attack upon the American way of life.
  • Consider the selected targets and the institutions that they represent:
    • Pentagon (American military)
    • Twin Towers (Wall Street: American financial center)
    • Capitol Building (American representative democracy)
    • Bin Laden has stated that the funding of 9/11 cost him $500,000 but America has paid more that a trillion dollars in homeland security response.

2. On 9/11 almost 3,000 American citizens were murdered utilizing the apex of terror tactics:

• More Americans were incinerated in 30 minutes on the morning of 9/11 than were killed at the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor.
• Bin Laden and his henchmen specifically targeted innocent civilians (noncombatants) on 9/11.

3. The terror attack on 9/11 represented the antithesis of Just War theory (moral principles of war):

• No legitimate authority (government, state, etc.)
• No moral deliberation (last resort)
• No just cause
• No just intent

4. Osama bin Laden (OBL) represented the face of international terrorism and was an inspiration to al-Qaida (an evil ideology that mixes and manipulates religion and radical politics).

• OBL defied American justice for almost 10 years (largest manhunt in history).
• OBL encouraged radical Islamicists
• OBL and al-Qaida murdered thousands of Muslims around the world.

5. The critical moral category of justice (a person receiving what he/she deserves):

• While only the Almighty renders perfect justice, OBL was finally held personally accountable for his actions and suffered retributive justice directly at the hands of the American military.
• The Special Forces unit known as the Navy SEALS is a mighty and amazing force to behold when terrorists have attacked America!