When The Wicked Perish

“”I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure. ”
– Mark Twain

As expected, Osama bin Laden hasn’t exactly gone quietly. The reaction to his death can been measured all across the spectrum from vows of bloody revenge to apathy and cynicism to hysterical celebration. The debate has certainly been interesting. Was the actions of the US Navy Seals a swift execution of justice? Was it extrajudicial killing? Premeditated murder even? Is the United States no better than the terrorists they are eliminating? So many questions, no single or correct answer. Some are able to meaningfully argue a position one way or the other, and others are so out of the ball park wrong that their assertions are laughable. I’ll put my position up, right or wrong, for the entire world to see, and you can pass your judgement accordingly.

Osama bin Laden was without doubt a bloodthirsty, murdering scumbag who needed to face justice for his crimes against humanity. Since 1988 when he founded al-Qaeda, bin Laden’s rap sheet has far exceeded the length of his arms. Of course, we all know about the attack on the Twin Towers back in 2001 in which over 3000 innocent people died. Perhaps you might like to know about his other activities. A bomb intended for US servicemen in Yemen in 1992 killed two Austrian tourists. The next year he authorized the first World Trade Centre attack that killed six and injured thousands. In 1998, the simultaneous bombings of US embassies across Africa killed 223 and injured over 4000. Two years later, the USS Cole was attacked while refuelling in port in Yemen. Seventeen US sailors died and 39 were injured. If that wasn’t enough, he was also directly funding the mujahideen in Chechnya, who conducted a dozen terror attacks against Russian citizens between 1995 and 2009. The total body count is upwards of 1200 people, including the 150 children at school in Beslan. It is said that he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. This has certainly played out in the case of bin Laden. Regrettably for all those families who lost relatives and friends to his blood crazed agenda, US forces could only kill him once.

But what about forgiveness I read one commentator write. Forgiveness is noble and necessary, but it does not exonerate him from his deeds. Justice must still be served. The notion that forgiveness equates to acquittal is unjust. There must be restitution. When a sinner comes to Jesus and repents, what happens? Jesus forgives the sinner and forgets the sin thereafter, but justice still has to be served. The wages of sin is death, and by the grace of God, He asked Jesus to willingly die on the cross for the sin of the world. It is here that justice is served. Jesus takes the penalty of death on behalf of the sinner. For those who don’t sort it out with God, the penalty is on you. Osama bin Laden was certainly not repentant of his crimes, as evidenced by his remaining in hiding, his continual participation in terrorism, and regular video and audio releases threatening the nations of the world.

Another commentator writes how the United States murdered bin Laden and that he should have been taken alive and put on trial. I am certain the US government would much rather have been able to parade bin Laden before the cameras and show him off to the world in exactly the way they did with Saddam Hussein. But the world is not an ideal place and criminals have a habit of resisting arrest. Osama bin Laden died in the firefight that took place inside his hideaway mansion. Seemingly, bin Laden himself may not have been armed at the time if his teenage daughter is to be believed, but others in the house were. It is not outside the realms of possibility that he was shot by one of his henchmen to prevent his capture.

Was it murder? I say no. The Legal Dictionary applies this definition to the word “murder”:

the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing another under circumstances defined by statute (as with premeditation); especially: such a crime committed purposely, knowingly, and recklessly with extreme indifference to human life or during the course of a serious felony (as robbery or rape).

The US government had declared war on al-Qaeda in 2001, so the operation that saw bin Laden’s demise was a military one, subject to the rules of warfare, not domestic statute. Being the commander of an enemy force, Osama bin Laden was an enemy combatant and a legitimate military target. As such his elimination during the course of a military operation was neither unlawful nor unjustified. He remained a threat to western interests and ordinary citizens all over the world. His death was not reckless with regard to human life. Indeed, preventing this man killing and injuring thousands more innocent people has shown the dignity and value for human life that is part and parcel of a civilised society.

The announcement by US President Barack Obama that Osama bin Laden was dead saw a spontaneous gathering of a crowd at the gates of the White House to celebrate that the world was now a better place. Critics responded by saying that people should not be celebrating anybody’s death in such a fashion, and that these made them look no different to the Arabs who celebrate a successful terror strike. Apparently, we should be saddened by his untimely passing and acknowledge the occasion more solemnly. Really? Have a look at the demise of any tyrant at any time in history and note what happens among those who were subject to their iron fist. Europe celebrated the end of Hitler. Afghanistan took to the streets in jubilation when Mullah Omar and his mates took off with their tails between their legs. Yugoslavia partied when Slobodan Milosevic fled the country. And we’ve seen it several times in recent months in North Africa with the regime changes in Tunisia and Egypt. Ordinary people need not fear Osama bin Laden any longer as he can no longer harm us. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy!

Of course, terror alerts have gone up a notch or three since Osama bit the dust. There is no doubting that others will be willing to step into the void. Those who do will do so with the knowledge that we have long memories and that we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of you. If it takes ten years, then so be it, as long as we get you one way or the other in the end.