Osama bin Laden probably died in late 2001 in the early bombing of Afghanistan. His images over the years have varied. He’s gotten younger, worn jewelry, a changed his dominant hand. Who it is that has been manipulating his image we cannot know. I presume it is the Americans, as his face was a valuable commodity. In propaganda terms, he was the focal point for our hatred, a way to manipulate us into supporting our own terrorism.
When Obama was elected, I thought perhaps they would “kill” Osama, indicating that there really had been regime change here. When they did not kill him, when Obama signaled to the world that there had been no change by leaving Gates at at the Pentagon, I knew that we were in for four more years.
What does his “death” mean? is it significant? We can only speculate. Perhaps his usefulness as ebbing. Maybe they are going to pull out of Afghanistan, either acknowledging defeat or moving on to new and better wars. They cannot leave Afghanistan without “killing” him.
So maybe this is a time for cautious optimism. Perhaps it is a good time to hope for some change. Not very damned likely, but indeed change is in the wind, so I only hope it is a positive sign.
Piece of Mindful 
Commented also over at 4@20 Bbirds.
“In an exclusive interview with Fox News only hours ago, best selling author Richard Miniter claims the C.I.A. trail that lead to the killing of Bin Laden began with the capture of terrorist Khalid Shekh Mohammed, and that his 183 waterboarding sessions in 2005 did the trick. According to Miniter, author of the best seller “Losing Bin Laden” which details the failures of Bill Clinton, KSM gave up the nick-name of one of UBL’s personal curriors and that the currior’s name was then confirmed by other detainees. That same currior may have been killed along with Bin Laden by the Navy Seals.”
Waterboarding for the win.
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One thing for sure … When I finally have clear title to the Brooklyn bridge, I’m selling it to you.
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Swede, you make me proud to be an American. When the Nazis or Soviets used torture it was barbarism. When we use it, is a noble thing.
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Eye for an eye, Ed.
Think about all those tortured souls that had to make a choice of burning to death or jumping to death.
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Swede, why do you hate the Constitution?
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Don’t really.
Hate idiots who think it applies to terrorists from other countries.
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Why today? Because tornados messed up the sync with the 2012 2nd-term roll-out? Or is something else happening we shouldn’t see? No body, no evidence, no witnesses, but a blockbuster movie for sure.
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Thanks for the history lesson, Swede. I forgot that we tortured British soldiers.
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