Osama: This Military Wife's Perspective

You can't go to a news site, a social media site, turn on the television or look at a newspaper without seeing the words:

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

Last night, Twitter exploded with the news long before President Obama came onto our televisions to share his eloquent words with us about the closing of this chapter.  Facebook followed not long after Twitter.  It was an eye-opening experience, one that laid political prejudices bare, ripped scabs off of old wounds.  A combination of frenetic joy and rejoicing, and a sickening sense of fear and foreboding for what still lies ahead.

*****

A discussion of Bin Laden's death can't be held without a discussion of 9/11.  I was a sophomore in college.  I had slept through my first class and raced to my Biology lecture so that I wouldn't be late for my nine-thirty class.  I ran into a friend outside the door, her face white, eyes large.  "There's been an attack, I don't know what's going on, military bases have gone to THREATCON Delta."  She was prior enlisted and we were both enrolled in Air Force ROTC together.  We went to class and sat through the lecture on pins and needles.

As soon as class was over, I raced to the student Union, the words buzzing around me the whole way.  I didn't go back to my room, even though it was closer.  Somehow, I knew that at that moment, I couldn't be alone.  This was before I had a cell phone.  Email was something I checked maybe once a day.  I felt scared and alone--I needed to surround myself with people, even if they were strangers.  Once in the Union, I made my way to the theater, where they had the screen set to CNN.  As I walked in, they were reshowing it.  A plane, hurtling into the side of the building.  A tower folding in on itself.  Papers flying out of windows... no, people.  After that, all I remember is sinking into the nearest chair, sobbing in the darkness, surrounded by the sound of grief and fear.

*****

Ten years later, the mastermind behind these attacks is dead.  It is strange that I do not find myself jumping up and down with joy.  I have a sense of relief that this small chapter has closed.  This mass murderer met his end, and he will no longer be able to shape minds and lead men.  But there are others.  There are so many others.  It is frightening to think about how many other extremists are still out there, and what their potential reactions to this news will be.

Our troops are still there.  This news does not mean that today they are packing their bags and booking their plane ride home.  I am so proud of what we have managed to accomplish as a nation and as someone who is still connected to the military by numerous threads.  But I cannot help but wonder what this means for our men and women who serve.  I question what our way forward is.  I worry about retaliation.  I worry about what this means for relations with Pakistan.  I fear that rather than shortening our time in this war, it has only tangled us up in it further.

And as proud as I am of our country, I was disgusted by many of the things I saw come across my computer screen last night.  I try to remind myself how emotional last night was for many people.  That with the advent of social media, many people publish words without much forethought or introspection into what they are saying.  What their words mean.  

Ten years ago, news like this brought us together, united us as a nation as we waited to hear what our President would say.  Last night, I felt that the fractures in our country only became more apparent as people made "jokes" about "Osama/Obama all the same!" referred to our "deadbeat President" who was "taking all the credit for Osama's death".  Excitement about the war being over, now that Osama is dead, it has all been worth it.

I wish I could feel that way.  Thousands of people died on 9/11.  Since then over 1,000 US troops have died in Afghanistan, close to 9,000 Afghan civilians, another 1,000 in coalition troops, journalists and contractors.  More than 4,000 US troops killed in Iraq, 864,000 Iraqi civilians, and close to 1,500 coalition troops, journalists and contractors.  At the most conservative counts, not including Iraqi and Afghan soldiers, close to a million people have lost their lives in this endless war. [Numbers as of August 2010, source]

Now Osama Bin Laden is dead.  To me, his death cannot make such a staggering number of deaths worth it.  I feel that had he lived or died, these people gave their lives in service and the gratitude that we give them as a nation, might in some way make it worth it.  But is death ever worth it?  And worth what?  Where do you draw the line in justifying deaths.

This is becoming more political than I intended.  I worry for my husband who is overseas, thank God, not in Afghanistan right now.  I want to hear his voice, just to know that he is still out there somewhere.  I worry for the future of our nation and for our troops.  I give my most fervent support and gratitude to the men and women who are responsible for the demise of one of the world's most reviled men.  As someone on Twitter said, "our Hitler".

"We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done." President Obama, May 1 2011

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message:  No matter how long it takes, justice will be done." Former President George W. Bush, written statement, May 1 2011

Comments

[Pink Herring]

So well said, Angela. I am having trouble processing this whole event.

[A Super Girl]

A very eloquent post. It's naive to think it's over. Oprah tweeted last night "does this mean the war's over?" Really Oprah? Really?! While this is a very symbolic event, it's Osama's underlings that are the real threat. And they aren't going anywhere.

[Stephanie]

My first thoughts were the same 'fear of retaliation'. I am curious and saddened by us rejoicing in the death of someone, anyone. I know this man caused much pain and sorrow for thousands around this world. But he has met his maker. I agree...maybe this helps others with closure. That this mad man can no longer train/lead others to do his work. But there are others out there just like him. Thoughts and prayers to Colby and all who fight beside him. From soon-to-be military wife to military wife, we will worry and pray together.

[K. Syrah]

This might be one of the more eloquent (and informed) things said about this on the blogosphere. Very well done.

I'm tired of the jumping up and down "America Fuck yeah!" sentiment. Last I checked, I'm still deploying, there's still a war, and pulling out now without any planning just because we killed a six foot douchebag on dialysis who hasn't been active in our enemy's organization for several years would still be a colossal mistake.

The foreboding? My husband and I definitely feel that too. I'm also frightened that some of the jingoistic things being said in 'celebration' of OBL's death will incite international reaction against us, especially in places where we have boots on the ground.

[Solange]

Very well written, Angela. I feel the same way: scared about retaliation that we may be more involved now than ever. My brother in law is in Afghanistan right now and was able to Skype message to let us know he's okay but will be off communications for a while. I hope your husband is okay and you hear from him soon.

[Old Warrior]

Unfortunately, the most base human characteristic is a drive to attain power and control over other humans - religion is frequently used as the tool to manipulate the weak minded into joining the team to pursue power. Bin Laden's goal was to take control of Saudia Arabia and he had to eliminate the interference of the West (primarily the USA) that maintained a different dictatorship in control.

There will always be another Bin Laden, Peron, Khomeini, Hitler, Lenin, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Attila, Caesar, etc., who aren't content to just be wealthy and comfortable. There are always charismatic ego maniacs who aren't happy unless they are King or Pharaoh. The rest of us are just pawns to be manipulated.

That's why our Founding Fathers wrote a Constitution designed to prevent us ever having a strong central government or a permanent standing army. Since we have both of those now (Strike Two) freedom and independence hang by a thread. Can Strike Three be far off?

[Angela Noelle]

Oh, Oprah...

[Angela Noelle]

First, I love your screen name so much--clever girl! Second, thank you for your compliment. It seems like people think screaming AMERICA at the top of their lungs equals patriotism. It's fine to love you country wholeheartedly. But I think patriotism means taking an active and thoughtful interest in your country, and being realistic about our future. Otherwise, mob mentality rules. Thank you to you and your husband for your service.

[Angela Noelle]

I'm so glad that you brother-in-law is safe, and I hope you're able to get more news from him soon. Happily, I was able to talk to Colby this morning, and all is well!

[Angela Noelle]

I don't worry about strike three for us as a nation coming from losing our independence, I worry that we'll be so caught up in policing the world that we don't realize our own country is falling apart right in front of us. I worry far more about the massive schism between parties. It seems the last time relations were bad, there was a pretty big war that started right here in my home state.

[Angela Noelle]

To me, it's certainly not something I'm screaming for joy about, though I am certainly glad that a huge symbol of evil and terror has met his end. A very, very complicated moment in time.

[Angela Noelle]

Hugs, Steph.

[Sara]

I was laying in bed when the news came up. We were watching Family Guy at the time and I honestly thought it was a joke-ya know how Family Guy likes to sometimes put in things. I called to my husband, we switched the channel and sure enough it wasn't a joke. We didn't dance around, cheer, high-five, we just watched. When Brian Williams started to talk about 9/11 and everything that happened it just made me cry all over again. We watched the President's speech, which I thought was a very good speech and he's a wonderful speaker (even if I'm not 100% pro Obama I still respect the man!), and then we went to sleep.

Yesterday morning I woke up, pulled the flag out and placed it outside on our pole. While I'm not dancing around that "we won" I am definitely glad to hear the man is no longer walking the earth. For me, putting out our flag, it made me feel good to give our own little show of support for our country and our troops but I wasn't dancing in the street yelling how glorious he was dead--does this make any sense?

But like most people, I too wonder what is to come. I worry something like 9/11 will happen again. But we just don't know. But no matter what I support our troops and what they do for us, whether it's standing at a base gate as security, working in the offices, working on equipment, flying a plane or on the ground. I wish for the wars to be over. I wish they could all come home and I wish we had some peace and quiet for a little while. And I think you are so right in your above comment, with the US policing everywhere else this country is gradually just falling apart piece by piece--and that needs to be addressed.

[Molly]

Beautifully written.
I agree with you that I'm proud of the accomplishment of our armed forces, but have a tough time rejoicing in ANY death. Even the death of a mass murderer.

[Britni]

Very nicely said!