A shot in arms for Obama boosting his electoral prospect
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
The man was like a "mirage". Ever since he assumed the character of endless global debates and discussions surrounding his activities, Osama Bin Laden essentially remained both an enigma and anathema. The September 09, 2001 tragedy that saw the sensational terrorist acts of an unbelievable proportion in the United States, killing several thousand people, made the person really an elusive figure, hardly having any parallel in the contemporary history. He was the mastermind of the terrorist actions against the world's only super power, which went allout to get him - dead or alive. The US attacked Afghanistan, where he lived, and toppled the radical Islamic "Taleban" government in Kabul that supported and aided him. The American and allied forces fanned out in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan and its surroundings, but the most-hunted man remained unreachable -- and so much so that questions were raised whether he was at all alive or not. Because, few would believe that he could keep on hiding, safe from the search of such modern and large forces that spared no efforts to find him for nearly ten years. Finally, he was killed by an American drone strike inside Pakistan, which too said it was also in the hunt for the man, whose followers are also creating a hell of trouble for that country. Osama Bin Laden was dead along with a number of others, who lived in a huge house in a large compound in Abbottabad near Islamabad. Washington said it was very much in the possession of the body of the man, whom it chased for a decade and was hell bent upon taking him to task. This has now happened and without any iota of doubt, the end of the Laden represents the singular most glorious achievement for the United States in many years. It is a big shot in the arms for President Barack Obama, whose administration will be basking in the glory of this feat and can immensely count on the favourable fall-outs from the development when the incumbent president fights for a second term in 2012. "Justice has been done", said Obama as he took pride in the achievement. President Obama in an unscheduled address to the people informed his country and the rest of the world about the dramatic development which has far-reaching consequences particularly for the United States. It is the nation that suffered the main brunt of attacks of September 9, 2001, that was received across the world with a stunning shock. People rubbed their eyes in utter disbelief when they had seen in the television the dismantling of America's pride, the Twin-Tower building that come down being struck by aircraft that were hijacked and used for the onslaught on the landmark site, along with some other targets -- the Pentagon not excluded. Nearly three thousand people perished including many foreigners and a number of Bangladeshis were also among them. The incidents were meticulously planned with a great deal of precision, stunning a country like the US which is at the height of development. The chief executive of the nation at that time, president George W. Bush vowed to crush the mastermind -- the Saudi-born billionaire Osama Bin Laden, who founded the Al Qaeda orgnisation with certain objectives, and considered to be the mastermind of the terrorist outfit. Bush militarily removed the weak "Taleban" government in Afghanistan and the unremitting hunt for Laden and his Afghan associate Mollah Omar continued, but with little success. Many eyebrows were raised at the delay and failure to nab Laden, who remained at large with no slackening of the acts by his organisation. Now, with his death, curtain has been drawn on the life of the most talked-about and hunted man of the present era, although it will be the height of folly to think that his organisation and followers will instantly disappear in the aftermath of his death. But unquestionably, this delivers the strongest blow to the Al Qaeda and similar outfits, which believe in destructive acts for attaining their goals. President Obama described the death of Laden as most "significant" development in the efforts towards crushing the Al Qaeda. He is under no illusion about his death automatically removing what he perceives as global terrorism unleashed by Laden's organisation. He says the "demise" of the person is welcome to all who care for "peace and human dignity". His predecessor George Bush, who presided over the scene when the US launched allout efforts for tracing Obama, called it a "great" achievement for the Americans. British Prime Minister David Cameroon, whose country acted as the main ally for the US in the Afghan attack, although he himself was not in the helm at that time, described Laden's death as "great relief". Elsewhere, largely similar sentiments prevailed while the news of Laden would come as a big shock to those, who thought he had a cause to pursue. The Americans have a plenty of reasons to rejoice and it has been adequately reflected in the jubilations of the people who thronged the White House in Washington and the "Zero Point" in New York where the Twin Tower crumbled following the attack. It is only natural that such an outpouring of joy and delight will follow in the United States. However, this cannot obscure the possibility of the Americans coming under severe security problems as a sequel to Laden's death. Not surprisingly, they have been warned by the US government to remain alert. Laden's stay in Pakistan in apparent comfort will raise many eyebrows about the role of Islamabad. He lived under the very nose of the government and as such many questions will come up, although the US had earlier said that Laden may be hiding in Pakistan. But it was thought that he might be in the rugged mountains bordering Afghanistan, but that he lived in a mansion-like building near the capital is something that few anticipated. President Obama, however, said Pakistan cooperated in reaching out to Laden and that he spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan following the development. However, Pakistan's role is not still clear to many people as the operation was conducted by the Americans after being approved by President Obama. That the US acted inside Pakistan in hot pursuit of Laden is likely to lead to more intense debates in Pakistan where anti-American feelings are already quite high among some sections of the people. The episode, centering CIA contractor Raymond Davis who was set free after killing two Pakistanis, had already queered the pitch of healthy bilateral ties that were affected by a variety of issues. Laden's death may evoke sharp reactions in different quarters in varying degrees including the Islamic world as there is also impression that he was "a crusader against the ill motives of the West". President Obama, conscious of this situation, was quick to say that he was not an "Islamic or Moslem" leader, as his actions led to the killings of people, many of whom are also Muslims and Americans. The death of Laden with several other family members and associates is definitely a splendid accomplishment of American intelligence even though it took nearly long ten years after the hunt began. However, it remains to be seen how the death impacts upon his followers, who are active with their agenda in many parts of the world as it is feared by some quarters that they would seek every opportunity to avenge his death in many ways. In any case, it is a big achievement for Obama, who is often described by the critics as "lame duck" president. While the demise of Laden will largely came as a "relief", it will be foolhardy to entirely ruled out this possibility that the world might witness some galling incidents as reaction to his death. The bottom line is that the man who scared the world and virtually kept the only super power on the tenterhooks, is dead and with this, the "mirage" also comes to an end. - zaglulbss@yahoo.com
The man was like a "mirage". Ever since he assumed the character of endless global debates and discussions surrounding his activities, Osama Bin Laden essentially remained both an enigma and anathema. The September 09, 2001 tragedy that saw the sensational terrorist acts of an unbelievable proportion in the United States, killing several thousand people, made the person really an elusive figure, hardly having any parallel in the contemporary history. He was the mastermind of the terrorist actions against the world's only super power, which went allout to get him - dead or alive. The US attacked Afghanistan, where he lived, and toppled the radical Islamic "Taleban" government in Kabul that supported and aided him. The American and allied forces fanned out in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan and its surroundings, but the most-hunted man remained unreachable -- and so much so that questions were raised whether he was at all alive or not. Because, few would believe that he could keep on hiding, safe from the search of such modern and large forces that spared no efforts to find him for nearly ten years. Finally, he was killed by an American drone strike inside Pakistan, which too said it was also in the hunt for the man, whose followers are also creating a hell of trouble for that country. Osama Bin Laden was dead along with a number of others, who lived in a huge house in a large compound in Abbottabad near Islamabad. Washington said it was very much in the possession of the body of the man, whom it chased for a decade and was hell bent upon taking him to task. This has now happened and without any iota of doubt, the end of the Laden represents the singular most glorious achievement for the United States in many years. It is a big shot in the arms for President Barack Obama, whose administration will be basking in the glory of this feat and can immensely count on the favourable fall-outs from the development when the incumbent president fights for a second term in 2012. "Justice has been done", said Obama as he took pride in the achievement. President Obama in an unscheduled address to the people informed his country and the rest of the world about the dramatic development which has far-reaching consequences particularly for the United States. It is the nation that suffered the main brunt of attacks of September 9, 2001, that was received across the world with a stunning shock. People rubbed their eyes in utter disbelief when they had seen in the television the dismantling of America's pride, the Twin-Tower building that come down being struck by aircraft that were hijacked and used for the onslaught on the landmark site, along with some other targets -- the Pentagon not excluded. Nearly three thousand people perished including many foreigners and a number of Bangladeshis were also among them. The incidents were meticulously planned with a great deal of precision, stunning a country like the US which is at the height of development. The chief executive of the nation at that time, president George W. Bush vowed to crush the mastermind -- the Saudi-born billionaire Osama Bin Laden, who founded the Al Qaeda orgnisation with certain objectives, and considered to be the mastermind of the terrorist outfit. Bush militarily removed the weak "Taleban" government in Afghanistan and the unremitting hunt for Laden and his Afghan associate Mollah Omar continued, but with little success. Many eyebrows were raised at the delay and failure to nab Laden, who remained at large with no slackening of the acts by his organisation. Now, with his death, curtain has been drawn on the life of the most talked-about and hunted man of the present era, although it will be the height of folly to think that his organisation and followers will instantly disappear in the aftermath of his death. But unquestionably, this delivers the strongest blow to the Al Qaeda and similar outfits, which believe in destructive acts for attaining their goals. President Obama described the death of Laden as most "significant" development in the efforts towards crushing the Al Qaeda. He is under no illusion about his death automatically removing what he perceives as global terrorism unleashed by Laden's organisation. He says the "demise" of the person is welcome to all who care for "peace and human dignity". His predecessor George Bush, who presided over the scene when the US launched allout efforts for tracing Obama, called it a "great" achievement for the Americans. British Prime Minister David Cameroon, whose country acted as the main ally for the US in the Afghan attack, although he himself was not in the helm at that time, described Laden's death as "great relief". Elsewhere, largely similar sentiments prevailed while the news of Laden would come as a big shock to those, who thought he had a cause to pursue. The Americans have a plenty of reasons to rejoice and it has been adequately reflected in the jubilations of the people who thronged the White House in Washington and the "Zero Point" in New York where the Twin Tower crumbled following the attack. It is only natural that such an outpouring of joy and delight will follow in the United States. However, this cannot obscure the possibility of the Americans coming under severe security problems as a sequel to Laden's death. Not surprisingly, they have been warned by the US government to remain alert. Laden's stay in Pakistan in apparent comfort will raise many eyebrows about the role of Islamabad. He lived under the very nose of the government and as such many questions will come up, although the US had earlier said that Laden may be hiding in Pakistan. But it was thought that he might be in the rugged mountains bordering Afghanistan, but that he lived in a mansion-like building near the capital is something that few anticipated. President Obama, however, said Pakistan cooperated in reaching out to Laden and that he spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan following the development. However, Pakistan's role is not still clear to many people as the operation was conducted by the Americans after being approved by President Obama. That the US acted inside Pakistan in hot pursuit of Laden is likely to lead to more intense debates in Pakistan where anti-American feelings are already quite high among some sections of the people. The episode, centering CIA contractor Raymond Davis who was set free after killing two Pakistanis, had already queered the pitch of healthy bilateral ties that were affected by a variety of issues. Laden's death may evoke sharp reactions in different quarters in varying degrees including the Islamic world as there is also impression that he was "a crusader against the ill motives of the West". President Obama, conscious of this situation, was quick to say that he was not an "Islamic or Moslem" leader, as his actions led to the killings of people, many of whom are also Muslims and Americans. The death of Laden with several other family members and associates is definitely a splendid accomplishment of American intelligence even though it took nearly long ten years after the hunt began. However, it remains to be seen how the death impacts upon his followers, who are active with their agenda in many parts of the world as it is feared by some quarters that they would seek every opportunity to avenge his death in many ways. In any case, it is a big achievement for Obama, who is often described by the critics as "lame duck" president. While the demise of Laden will largely came as a "relief", it will be foolhardy to entirely ruled out this possibility that the world might witness some galling incidents as reaction to his death. The bottom line is that the man who scared the world and virtually kept the only super power on the tenterhooks, is dead and with this, the "mirage" also comes to an end. - zaglulbss@yahoo.com