Osama bin Laden – 1957 - 2011

What follows is a little out of place. I learned about bin Laden's death earlier today and wanted to work out my thoughts about it, but since these blogs are written and announced in advance, by the time it would ordinarily have been used it would have been old news. So from time to time, from this time forward, I shall insert additional essays as appropriate, outside the planned schedule.

Osama bin Laden – 1957 - 2011

Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.ⁱ

Like most of humanity, I am relieved by the death of Osama bin Laden. “Gladdened” is a strong word – perhaps too strong – but the world is surely a safer place with him no longer the leader of his terrorist organization.

According to the Bible, we are all created in the image of G-d,ⁱⁱ both the good and the evil among us, and we all, therefore, have value independent of our own natures and actions. We do not, according to the views of many, have the right to take a life – even that of one who has taken the lives of others. Thus the death penalty, however it is framed, is immoral.

But the same tradition that introduced the Bible and the value of every life also sanctions the killing of a pursuer – one who would kill you or another. “If someone is coming to kill you, rise up first and kill this person."ⁱⁱⁱ And, according to the Bible itself, "Do not stand by the blood of your neighbor."^iv Turning the other cheek is certainly not part of this tradition. It is far too costly; it is simply an invitation to further attack.

Bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of many – not only by his own hand and by his order, but because many died in the attempt to capture or kill him. His “inspiration” led to the deaths of many others. And, sadly, the current unrest in the Middle East and elsewhere, unrest in which al Qaeda is involved, and revenge attacks on the United States and other nations, will likely lead to the killing of others.

Mass killers do so for a variety of reasons. Some kill for the thrill or enjoyment of the act itself. Because of the limitations imposed by the need for personal involvement, the numbers of their victims tends to be small. That in no way mitigates their horrendous crimes or their guilt. In fact, it makes the mass killings of fanatics and dictators all the worse. But, as Joseph Stalin said, “A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” And people focus on what is closer to home. Under usual conditions – unless you're directly involved – the smaller numbers have greater meaning than the larger ones. So there is little concern for a Holocaust, or a genocide among Armenians, or the murders and maimings of millions in Africa. We tend to overlook the big crimes and focus on the small.

There are others who kill in quest of power. While they may disguise their acts as manifestations of patriotism,^v their goal is the consolidation of their own power. They don't care who dies in the process as long as it is not themselves.^vi All that is needed to maintain such a position is a strong army whose leaders also seek personal gains.

A third group of murderers are those who actually believe that what they are doing is for the “greater good.” They are religious utilitarians who turn the principles of Bentham and Mill into a warrant to to kill. They are fanatics. In a way they are the most dangerous of all because, believing in what they are doing, and anticipating some eternal reward for their actions, they do not fear death. Their crimes frighten us because of their unpredictability and, for us, their irrationality. We are all at risk, even if we consider ourselves separate from the situation. And fanatics inspire other fanatics; they educate them to the beauty of their devotion and to the evil of all who do not believe as they do. An attack on one of them is an attack on all in which they believe. In this case it is an attack on Islam.^vii So there is the likelihood that Muslim followers will seek revenge. But, it is to be hoped, without a figurehead so prominent, the organization will wither.

Nonetheless we all have suffered from bin Laden's crimes, and we all run the risk of suffering from future outrages. His acts directly involved us all. When he attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the numerous other targets he chose, he was attacking us. And we could not overlook his threats of future actions. We were all being pursued. His life was a threat, and it was a source of pain for all of us, especially for those who lost members of their families^viii because of his beliefs and actions. So the killing of the pursuer may be viewed as justified.

Perhaps the bell does toll for all of us. But the deaths of many men and women would diminish us more, and we can hope that the bell will ring fewer times in the future because of this one event.

 

i      John Donne.

ii     Genesis (Bereishit) 1:27.

iii    Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 62b.

iv    Leviticus (Vayikra) 16:16.

v     “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Samuel Johnson.

vi    I heard on the radio yesterday, after the announcement of the deaths of Muʿammar al-Qaḏḏāfī's son and grandchildren in a NATO bombing raid, that no individuals were targeted. Perhaps that is because the dictator, himself, survived. In view of the ruthlessness of oppressors like him, and the certain knowledge that many will die because of their actions, it is not clear why we don't make a point of eliminating such tyrants; why we don't consider it a priority. That certainly was the case with bin Laden. Perhaps our leaders are reluctant to do such targeting out of fear that by doing so they make themselves targets. Political courtesy and self-preservation seem to take precedence over the lives of the citizens of other countries.

vii    Though it won't help much, the immediate burial of bin Laden was wise. It is Muslim tradition to inter within twenty-four hours, so the rapid burial lessened the possibility of a perception that a slight to Islam was occurring – one justifying retaliation. It was also wise to do so at sea to deny his followers the tomb of a martyr to use as the focus of their anger.

viii    Although it won't bring anyone back to life, for many of them it will provide “closure.” It is too glib to equate closure with revenge, but both can provide a degree of satisfaction to someone who has been wronged.