Ancillary Observations
First, an inarticulate but heartfelt shout of triumph, patriotism and joy, accompanied by breast-pounding. Then, a few random thoughts:
1. Killing can be good. "Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill," says the Prince in Romeo and Juliet. In other words, there are times when what feels virtuous and gentle is in fact brutal and wrong. One only had to watch TV last night to see the society-wide relief that true justice brings to a people and know that sometimes the only really virtuous action comes out of the barrel of a gun. So peel off those "War is not the answer," and "Co-exist," bumper stickers and try one that says, "Death to evildoers." That'll spruce up your Prius!
2. How'd we find out about the courier? I understand that the courier who was the final link to the bin Laden compound was discovered four years ago during the interrogation of a prisoner. Just curious: did this interrogation involve waterboarding? Man, that stuff works.
3. The US says only Americans were involved in the final operation. Pakistan says Pakistani intelligence was on the scene. CNN says they can't reconcile the discrepancy. Maybe the Pakistani intelligence guys were shooting at the Americans!
4. Was it just me or did FoxNews get its clock cleaned last night? I can't remember the last time I turned CNN on for information when Fox was reporting. But I did last night. Despite Wolf Blitzer's Obama euphoria, they had cameras outside the White House and reporters on the ground. Fox - still the best news station on TV - was caught with Geraldo Rivera talking about, what else, himself and his feelings.
I now return to my previously scheduled shouts of triumph.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
Andrew Klavan - "Was it just me or did FoxNews get its clock cleaned last night? I can't remember the last time I turned CNN on for information when Fox was reporting.."
Sadly, you are correct. Geraldo came across as a total doofus and after about 5 minutes of rambling, I switched over to of all things CBS, then CNN.
May '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
Actually it was an FNC producer who double-sourced and got the news on first through Rivera. The problem was in the timing. When you program non-news opinion in primetime you're stuck with whoever is in the lineup.
The broadcast nets didn't get their acts together until 15 minutes or so after the White House had scheduled their announcement. I think the President waited until the nets could get their anchors and reporters in place before he strolled to the podium.
Jun '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
Geraldo had it in his head that Obama speaking late on Sunday was THE news, and he forgot that Obama was just reporting something--something that's probably already available from other sources in government. That's why Geraldo was a little late on the uptake.
Re: Ancillary Observations
I agree. I gave Geraldo a shot but felt like I was being starved for info and changed the channel
Feb '11
Re: Ancillary Observations
The thing that bothers me here operationally (and I know nothing about such things) is that 50% of the helicopters failed on the way in. That cannot just be passed over on the grounds that it was a success anyway. It's not like there were surprise sandstorms or something. I'd like to think that someone will take much heat for that potential disaster.
Feb '11
Re: Ancillary Observations
And another thing. Jake Tapper writes
One possible complication: While CIA contractor Ray Davis was in the Pakistani prison there were concerns about his safety were this mission to be conducted.
Davis’s March 16 release cleared that possible obstacle to the operation -- a kill mission, with the clear objective to kill bin Laden.
You cannot stop an operation of this kind due to one hostage. That's the logic of the cartoon capitulators.
Jun '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
The big news of Bin Laden's death and Geraldo at the helm at the same time was a disaster for Fox. I switched to CNN reluctantly, too. It's bad scene when Wolf Blitzer is preferred.
Also, perhaps further reports will prove otherwise, (and I hope they don't) I don't see how the U.S. could have ever allowed Pakistan to get in on this action. There's no way they could have been trusted.
Jul '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
Israel P.: And another thing. Jake Tapper writes
One possible complication: While CIA contractor Ray Davis was in the Pakistani prison there were concerns about his safety were this mission to be conducted.
Davis’s March 16 release cleared that possible obstacle to the operation -- a kill mission, with the clear objective to kill bin Laden.
You cannot stop an operation of this kind due to one hostage. That's the logic of the cartoon capitulators. · May 2 at 8:36am
That sounds like speculation on Tapper's part. It seems unlikely.
Apr '11
Re: Ancillary Observations
Great minds move together, Andrew.
I told my kid sis this morning that I guiltily watched CNN after, like you, finding Fox actually managing to make this event boring.
A real shame.
BTW:
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
Nov '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in thedeath of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
This quote is widely attributed online to Martin Luther King, Jr., though I cannot locate the orginal source.
Well, suppose he said it. Was he wrong? Can hate in fact drive out hate? Does love sometimes fail to drive out hate?
If so, is a central teaching of Christianity--love you enemies--misguided? Or did Jesus not really mean we should love Bin Laden?
Edited on May 2, 2011 at 2:19pmNov '10
Re: Ancillary Observations
I have a deep abiding aversion to anything related to Geraldo. He seems like a glory hound. I did not take to watching CNN though. I found twitter to be much more informative and entertaining to follow. As to Aodahn's observation: Remember that God (or Jesus as the incarnation of diety) is a God of justice as well as one of Lovingkindness. Governments are instituted by him to preserve order and when called upon, to execute (no pun intended) justice. I think it is fair to say that what OBL got could be considered justice, which is where Andrew is headed in his first point.
Feb '11
Re: Ancillary Observations
Aodhan, in discussing the role of government the Bible includes the following:
Romans 13:3-4 "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."
And watching Gerlado was painful. I'm sure Fox put out the Anchorman signal but no one can get camera ready as quickly as Ron Burgundy.