What Has America Really Accomplished by Killing Bin Laden?

A funny thing happened on the night of May 1st, 2011.

I had only been at home in New Orleans for only about 24 hours when I heard the news on CNN that Osama Bin Laden had been captured and killed by U.S. special forces in Pakistan.

The funny "thing" that happened wasn't the fact that he had been caught after nearly a decade of Bush doctrine and flat-out disinterest in capturing the FBI's most wanted man- rather, it was the feeling I had gotten after President Obama delivered his home-run 'victory' speech.

Before, during, and after the speech, I recall CNN cutting to the gates of the White House and at the former site of the World Trade Center in NYC where people began to form large crowds. Pandemonium ensued as if V-J Day had been reincarnated. The people were jumping up and down waving American flags and climbing light posts and just acting like the world was free from all of the tyranny, hunger, and violence that has stricken this fair planet's inhabitants for so long.

Then a reporter interviewed a random, middle-aged white man and asked him what he felt about the Al Qaeda leader's death.

"THANK JESUS HE'S DEAD," the man exclaimed, sweating profusely and appearing as if he could no longer contain this upwelling of emotion from within. "THANK GOD for this great moment and GOD BLESS AMERICA."

It was as if I had seen this before. It was déjà vu in it's purest, most French sense of the term. Where had I seen this type of massive collective gathering of people celebrating another violent and gory chapter in human history with the added justification of such actions under religious terms?

In the interest of presenting my case as effectively as possible, I am going to post two videos. I am going to ask the reader to at inspect these videos at a general level and tell themselves what differences they see.

Now, I absolutely and unequivocally believe that the attacks on the U.S. were wrong and that bin Laden should have been bought to justice. But just how different are we from these people? Instead of PRAISE GOD, that man may as well have been dressed in traditional Middle Eastern garb exclaiming to Allah. I certainly do not believe it is right to glorify killing of any kind here in America. It just keeps us on the level of these extremists and makes the rest of the world look at us as if we aren't any better.

Furthermore, I do not believe the hands of America have been clean when it comes to relations with the Middle Eastern world. Yes, there is a reason why we have an Al Qaeda on this planet.

Just like the Palestinians are fighting back against Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank- there is a reason, and it isn't because the Islamic faith is fundamentally evil or solely exists to exterminate all Christians from the face of the Earth.

It is only because the West, throughout modern and ancient history, has felt that its needed to stick and keep its hands in the affairs (resources) of the Middle East and Africa for various reasons that probably need not be debated here.

I could only surmise that through his life, Bin Laden wanted this to end. As a matter of fact, I believe the strongest evidence to support this assertion is this quote spoken from the horse's mouth:

America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine, and before all the army of infidels depart the land of Mohammad, peace be upon him.

So you mean to tell me all we had to do was stop Israel from oppressing and treating the Palestinians like the U.S. treated Native Americans and keep our oil-digging armies out of Muslim countries? The U.S. should have never gotten caught up with Israel and AIPAC to begin with...

I wonder how Americans would feel if brown people all across the world thought we weren't fit to control our resources and live on our land and decided to systematically remove or abuse us into molding ourselves to fit their needs.

Cause and effect is such an elementary concept. I don't understand why Americans choose to ignore it. Causality is the single most fundamental driver of world history.

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YOU LIE! Examining Why Republicans HATE Healthcare Reform

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), possibly preparing to call healthcare reform a "pile of shit"

Washington is all about power. Democrats are the party in power and the GOP will do anything and everything to mitigate it. Obviously, even if it means hurting millions of their constituents (or looking like an absolute buffoon on national TV, see Joe Wilson), they will oppose a measure just to undermine Obama and the Democratic party. Healthcare reform is Obama's baby right now and they NEED it to fail to regain power in Congress and, eventually, in the White House.

Love of Money, Fear of Regulation. The healthcare industry is one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington right now, next to big oil and tobacco. The GOP has their constituents believing that they're against health reform to preserve patient freedom when in fact the party is primarily trying to preserve the linings in their pockets. If the industry dies, a part of the GOP does as well. Fortunately for them, the bill at present is largely only trying to beef up regulation. In their eyes, of course, that isn't any better, because government regulation crashes the easy money trains that always run at the extreme expense of the people. Spending government money, our hard earned tax dollars, on helping the people and shielding them from being exploited by the top 1% should never be a problem, right? Guess not.
It's just so sad that the people don't see that the GOP could give two shits about government spending unless it means making serious moola for some corporation (see war in Iraq, Prescription Drug Program).

Wake up Conservative America. The GOP is fooling you. While they have you thinking that Obama is a Communist African Muslim only out to bankrupt the country as a means to gain absolute power, they're getting paid off by lobbyists scheming about new ways to put more money in their pockets at your expense.

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Michael Steele Is A Tool

Take a good look at this. After seeing Michael Steele being interviewed on CNN, I decided to submit a quick query of his name on Youtube. I was stunned, because the first video I came upon was no joke. The title of the clip speaks for itself.

Fast forward to about 0:35 if you don't want to hear all of the fluff.



It's no secret that Steele has been trying to lure minorities and infuse youth into the GOP party, but apparently he's particularly trying to snag blacks with fried chicken and a side of potato salad. Also note the 2-gun hand movement he makes, as if throwing up gang signs would invite some Crips and Bloods into the issue.

Fortunately for us, Steele just isn't politically relevant. The GOP nominated him as head of the party because he is black, simply stated. And it's just so sad that he doesn't realize that.

What the GOP as a whole needs to realize is that until they stop talking down to minorities and the disadvantaged in America like Steele just did, they may as well just keep walking.

You know what's really funny? The GOP tries to blame the Democrats for their negative connotation when it comes to blacks and other minorities, yet ask yourself this question.

How come it took the Democratic party's nomination of a black senator for the GOP to step up to the plate and show gestures of embrace towards minorities (such as the nomination of Steele as Chairman)?

That alone, putting aside all of the racial discrimination the party has been associated with in the 20th century, tells me it's really hard for the GOP to accept minorities. Hell, they have a hard time accepting Steele...

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Pictures Don't Lie...Right?

Well, I got an email from Media Matters this morning about the controversial and seemingly very sleazy photo of President Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy. Simply stated, a picture is worth a thousand words:


As quickly as this photo surfaced online, the Conservative attack machine was on in full effect. According to MM, some jokester from Free Republic decided to post the photo in a thread asking for hilarious captions.

Instead of producing witty captions, many of FR's posters failed time and time again. However, in spirit of the photo, many decided to show their own asses.

One thought it would be fitting to use Steve McNair's death as a stepping stone:

“I know Steve McNair always said to stay away from the white women, but it don’t hurt to look.”

Another commented on the funny expression on Rahm Emmanuel's face, even though Emmanuel was nowhere to be found in the picture (or at G8 for that matter) and looks nothing like Sarkozy.

Instead of giving these fools further face time, let's get to the real meat of the story. ABC News had a segment about the photo and aired a video of the moment, seemingly clearing up any controversy about the photo.



Turns out, instead of checking out 16-year old Brazilian booty, the President was caught in the act of looking out for another young lady to offer a hand down the steps.

Looks like pictures DO lie and that further inspection is always necessary when hearing about stories like this.

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Oh, You're Too Kind!

Shortly after Sarah Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska on Friday, Sean Parnell, her successor, had some kind words to say about his former higher-up on CNN:

"She's accomplished more in these two and a half years than most governors accomplish in one or two terms," he said.

Okay, I can get with that. As hard as that statement is to believe, I gotcha. But then it gets so mindbendingly hilarious that I just could not contain myself:

"Our governor has been a great governor. She is going to be Alaska's and is Alaska's greatest gift to our country."

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

If I had to choose, I'd take Carlos Boozer's 7000+ career NBA points and 4000+ rebounds over Palin's ability to see Russia from land in Alaska. Any day.

She's a gift alright. You know, that extra ugly multi-colored sweater or thick pair of tube socks you always managed to get as a kid on Christmas morning.

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Cap & Trade? OH NOES!

Well, looks like there's another huge debate in the world of politics and it goes by the name of cap and trade.

On June 26, the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate bill by a margin of 219-212. The bill, introduced by Henry Waxman (D- Calif) and Edward Markey (D- Mass), is a plan outlining a massive switch to cleaner sources of energy within the next 40 years.

OH NOES!!

Just in case you've been caught up in all the coverage of Michael Jackson's death (and aren't one of those lunatics that believe it's all a conspiracy), here's a quick run-down of the Waxman-Markey plan.

For starters, the concept of cap and trade, simply said, puts a 'cap' on how much pollution a company can produce. This cap is dynamic; by 2050 it will be extremely low. Because of this, companies will be forced to continually find more efficient and cleaner ways to produce energy, making way for innovation and new ideas. The 'trade' part of it is the allowance that companies get when they cannot reduce their emmissions quickly enough. They can just simply buy more room under the 'cap' from companies that have it.

Doesn't seem too bad, right?

Well, the main argument from opponents is that it will drive energy prices for the average consumer through the roof. Now, how much, we don't know, but some Conservate know-it-all pundits and propagandists estimate they would go up by as much as 45%.

If you work in the energy industry, you just might lose your job.

But don't worry, it's all Obama's fault. We shouldn't be blaming Shell, Exxon, Entergy, or any of the other energy giants for continuing to pollute local communities and causing little boys' and girls' cancer rates to skyrocket all in the name of a dollar. After all, those guys provide us with clean, cheap, and efficient gas and electricity right? Don't worry about them deciding to outsource and pollute some foreign country in order to escape new regulations. Those aren't the bad guys...

We might as well just be paying them to kill us.

So what if the Cap and Trade Bill is going to raise (or 'drive,' it's all a matter of using more shocking words when it comes to the Right) energy prices. This bill needed to be introduced, it needed to be passed in the House, and it should be handily passed in the Senate. How is this country, as George W. Bush so eloquently stated, going to get over it's 'addiction to oil'? How (rather, when) are we going to stop allowing these energy companies excessively pollute our air with one hand and take our money in equal excess with the other?

But they just don't see it that way. It's all just another regulation (the second coming of the Third Reich) to the Repubs and Conservatives. They claim to care so much about how the bill is going to affect the common man, when all it is is about lining more big-wig pockets.

Now, while I don't like the idea of job losses and higher energy prices, I just feel it's something that's necessary. Things have to get worse in order to get better. Hurricane Katrina taught me that; it's just something that's in me.

The country is about to change, for better. We could become the benchmark for other countries in the development of new technology. I know that I'll handily pay my cap and trade tax on my bill as long as I know it's working towards a better tomorrow.

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An Extended Look Into Iranian Elections

After watching "Letters to the President," a documentary HBO so graciously decided to air that gives an inside look at the Iranian people's relationship with their government, I just have one thing to say.

This whole thing is a mess.

While I have said that Pres. Ahmadinejad is nothing but a U.S. agitator that hasn't adequately taken care of the domestic affairs of his people, the truth of the matter is that the United States hasn't been any better.

In the documentary, the President traveled to a rural province (the link is not to the particular portion I am about to reference) to speak to the embattled and poor people there. In the scene, an old man expressed his needs and the problems in the area. In response, Ahmadinejad goes on the offensive against America.

But there was one part of his rant that really got me.

He basically stated that the Middle East has become a puppet to the 'superpowers' and referenced Iraq as an example. He talked about nuclear energy. And most importantly, he talked about Iran becoming the rallying force behind the Islamic world against these powers.

When will the US stop swinging its nightstick and agitating the Islamic powers? Sure, Ahmadinejad has at times professed his lunacy to the rest of the world, but put your feet in this guy's (and those of the people he appeals to) shoes.

Ever since we backed the installation of an Israeli state in the 1940's and 50's we've been the target of hatred in the Muslim world.

Backing Iraq from 1980-88 against Iran and then invading it twice afterward certainly didn't help our case.

Let's face it- Ahmadinejad is the hero that stands up to the West and Israel to these people. If Iran acquires nuclear weapons, a lot of the smaller Muslim nations would have a big brother to call on.

If Israel decides to go on the offensive against Palestine or Syria, all they'd have to do is call on Mr. Ahmadinejad and he'd wipe 'em off the map.

Let's get the fuck out of the Middle East as soon as possible. We have no business protecting Israel, occupying Iraq or Afghanistan, nor do we have the authority to deny the Iranians access to nuclear research and weaponry. The United States has been a figure in world history for a little over 200 years. The fight between Islam and Judaism has been going on for thousands.

I say let them fight. Fight until they're no more.

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