Targeting Bin Laden Constitutionally - Letters of Marque and Reprisal

Written By: The Liberty Brothers - Mr. Lee G. Deming and Mr. John C. Deming  |  Posted: Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

            The killing of Osama Bin Laden by a team of Navy SEALS has been reported in this way; OBL's location was surmised from a mistake made by one of his couriers. He had been hiding in Pakistan for some time, maybe years.  Without notifying Pakistani authorities, the US inserted a team of elite Navy commandos into and around a compound where OBL was believed to be hiding.  He was located on the third floor of the main building where he was shot and killed. According to reports, the SEALS spent time to sweep the compound for intelligence and then took the body which was dumped into the ocean.

            Cause - OBL was the inspiration for the attacks on 911.  He also made it clear that he supported those attacks and continuing attacks on America.
            The Bush Administration identified the connection between the 911 attackers and OBL's Al Qaeda.  The Taliban, in control of Afghanistan, protected Al Qaeda and its leader OBL.  So, the Bush administration invaded Afghanistan in order to punish the Taliban and to capture or kill OBL.
            The Sunday following the 911 attacks, my pastor addressed them by saying only, "God will accept justice, not vengeance."  I expected more somehow.  Still, after a short period of reflection what he said was as comforting as anything else could have been.  I will never forget that elegantly brief and powerful segment of sermon.  It was with a sense of guilt that I felt the relief and elation over the news that OBL had been killed.  There was a also an understandable sadness as I remembered those people who had been killed by the 911 attacks.  It felt to me like those people who died had been avenged.  I don't think I was alone in this.  How does the killing of OBL pose a problem for Americans?  That depends entirely on one's definition of justice.  In the words of my pastor, God would accept justice.  So, was the killing of OBL justice?  Does it matter?  We may never know, but we should be told the whole truth, no matter what it is. 

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