This morning I was woken by a telephone call from my mother,
"It´s time to wake up, Bock", she said insistently and without catching her breathe she continued,
"Did you hear the news yet? Osama bin Laden is dead, he was killed tonight by the Americans. Finally!"
"Finally" was my first thought also when I heard this news and my thoughts drifted back to that terrible day in September 2001 when Osama´s name and al-Qaeda became known to the whole world. I also thought of the close to 3 000 people who died as a result of that spectacularly heinous attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
During the day I have thought about my immediate reaction to the news again and again. The event has been the main subject of conversation at work.
Osama was of course only a symbol, his death is also symbolic. Terrorism unfortunately did not die with Osama.
I believe that wars should be avoided at almost any cost, except when our fundamental human rights and liberties are at risk. The terrorists however do hold a gun to the heads of all democracies therefore I do believe that the
"war on terror" is legitimate, although I do not always agree with the methods.
In wars the leaders and generals of the enemy are legitimate tactical targets as their passing can reduce or destroy the enemy's ability to sustain combat operations. Even if I personally would have preferred if Osama had been brought to justice, I can understand and sympathize with the necessity of killing him.
Still I have an inner conflict about this, as a person who does not believe the death penalty has any redeeming excuses in a democracy or civilized society. I know I am rationalizing, but I still stick to my initial reaction to the news.
"Finally!"
My thoughts go to the families of the victims at World Trade Center.
