Following Osama to the Bottom

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/02-5

Osama bin Laden's death is a moment to reflect on the damage he caused us to inflict on American justice in the 'war on terror'

Osama bin Laden's death removes the single focal point that has dominated American foreign affairs – and much of American politics at home – for a decade. And certainly, the United States and the world can breathe a sigh of relief that a dreaded enemy no longer needs to be countered. But the removal of bin Laden also opens up some space for thinking – not just for perpetual reaction, which has been the singular characteristic of the American version of the "war on terror".

It is time now, and going forward, to think about the impact bin Laden had on us and on our world, especially when it came to thinking about justice.

:snip:

What we need to remember, though, is that the effect of bin Laden's reign of terror on the notion of justice was to pervert it. Under the rubric of fighting terror, the United States rolled back its hallowed notions of civil liberties, its embrace of modernity, and even its reliance on its own courts. We delved into medieval-style torture, we reneged on our courts as a viable option for trying terrorists, and we blindly took aim at a religion, rather than its disaffected hijackers.

More at the link --

[MineralMan]

1. My error. I read "Obama," not "Osama."

I beg your pardon.

[Octafish]

2. Where does the article 'trash President Obama'?

All it asks is the United States return being a land of law.

[DCKit]

3. Wish I could write like that.

However, it seems making the point in an intelligent, literate manner doesn't stop the unreccing crew.

[crickets]

4. I hope there's a rising crescendo of columns like this one.

I hope the discussion about our loss of civil liberties builds until it is impossible to ignore. I hope we can get our Constitution back.