Nate Nagel wrote:

I agree. He's [Osama ben Laden] a big piece of the puzzle but killing him
wouldn't
solve the problem. But you know, nothing would please Bush more.

olddog

If you want to send a message, there's no more powerful message than
swift, accurate justice. Unfortunately that window closed a while
ago.

It has never been the policy of the United States to kill or capture Osama
ben Laden. If either happens, it's a bonus, but actively pursuing either has
never been a strategic - or even tactical - goal of the United States in the
War on Terror.

Since immediately after 9-11, the single strategic goal of the United States
has been to prevent another attack on the country or civilian U.S. interests
abroad. To accomplish this goal, tactical efforts have been directed toward
disrupting terrorist communications, financing, recruiting, training, and
the harboring of terrorists by rogue states as well as strengthening
defenses both at home and abroad.

In the decade of the 90's, there have been one or two attacks on U.S.
interests, either here or overseas, per year. WTC 1, the USS Cole, embassy
bombings, kidnappings of diplomats, etc. Since the aforementioned policy was
adopted, there has not been one single attack - successful or otherwise - in
the United States or against civilian US interests abroad.

To "capture" or "kill" ben Laden as a goal is to harken to the criminal
justice model. Ben Laden is NOT a criminal - he is an unlawful enemy
combatant, same as any other guerrilla, saboteur, spy, or fifth-columnist.
The criminal justice methodology is not the technique to use on him.

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Feith, and others understand this. Obama, Biden,
Pelosi, Carter, and others of the left do not.