[kevinweitzel75]

Guess this can go in the "political" thread. Now that Bin Laden is dead, what comes next? Do we bring our troops home? Do we stay and "rebuild" what has been destoryed? Even though he's dead, there will always be someone to take his place. Just thinking and wondering what everyone here has to say.

[Rob del Desierto]

We're going to be drawn into the post bin Laden power struggle with various factions in al Qaeda. Everyone is going to want to prove that they are "worthy" to lead the new struggle against us.

[big_load]

Everyone is going to want to prove that they are "worthy" to lead the new struggle against us.

Yep. I wonder if Pakistan's cooperation will taper off quickly. This will upset many people there and the remaining targets aren't as prominent, so their cost/benefit analysis for working with us probably just moved in the wrong direction.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Pakistan wants us out of the region. This was their contribution to troop withdrawals in 2 months. Then they can proceed with their agenda unfettered. I want to hear more details. Before we cheer too loudly, what really happened here? Beyond the obvious and the propaganda from the media. Think critically and be skeptical citizens!!! I'm a simple man, not any conspiracist, but I've got a bad feeling that there is more than meets the eye.

[nonot]

US-Pakistan relations have been put under more and more strain. It is difficult for them to reconcile the need to cooperate with the US to avoid a full invasion, with gaining popularity amongst many of their citizens and other countries in the region for cooperating with the US. I'd agree with Al, this was some type of brokered deal to get the US out of Pakistan, with the major US goal accomplished the US government can do a withdrawal and the Pakistan government can claim victory for finally getting the American's out. I think 2 months might be too obvious though, perhaps 6.

[Jim_H]

I'm going to go for a hike.

[azbackpackr]

I won't believe it until I see the long form of his death certificate...

[Jim_H]

I won't believe it until I see the long form of his death certificate...

Someone call Hawaii. Nuck, nuck, nuck.

[kevinweitzel75]

I wonder if Pakistan got the bounty for turning in info on Bin Ladens location. I do have to agree with Al and Nonot that this probably was some sort of deal in getting the US out of there. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next 6 months. The war in the Middle East is going to be something that I think we will have troops in for a very long time, no matter who we take out.

[cindyl]

@kevinweitzel75 we should've just consulted with google maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=bin ... a=N&tab=wl

[Jim Lyding]

I wouldn't read too much into this. I tend to doubt that there's any "deal" in which Pakistan offers up bin Laden in exchange for a cessation of drone attacks, for example. Pakistain is in a double-bind. If it doesn't criticize our military actions w/in Pakistan, then it risks further agitation from its Islamists. If it somehow got us to stop targeting militants with Predator/Reaper drone strikes then it risks the threats that leading militant rebels pose to its state. Consequently, Pakistan has chosen to play on both sides of the field.
Osama bin Laden wasn't much more than a figurehead for years. Global Islamic terrorism has become a franchised operation. Islamic militants/terrorists in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Iraq, etc. claim allegiance to al-Qaeda, but are not connected in any other fashions than getting funding from existing sources and a shared ideology.
My best guess is that this changes nothing. Islamist terrorists aren't going to stop wanting to kill us, and we most assuredly haven't won the war against them that will probably never be won.

[azbackpackr]

That was my first thought, that Bin Laden no longer held much power. He was very ill at one time, and still might have been (I'm curious if they will tell us anything about that.)

[kevinweitzel75]

@Jim Lyding
That is another thing to consider. How long has it really been since Bin Laden has had any accuall power. The reports had been saying that he was pretty sick for years. Had he given up any power that he might have had to someone else? Or was he just a "speaker" to say, because of his popularity with the rest of the world? I guess it's hard to say what was really happening over there. I know I thing for sure, his death has made millons of people happy. I personaly don't yet belive that he is really dead. Not till I see a REAL picture of him anyway.

[azbackpackr]

I do believe he's dead. I am glad the Republicans had the grace to congratulate Obama, instead of coming up with some specious bs about "validating" it. Even Trump had the presence of mind to say something positive. Imagine that. It won't last, though. It's more important that we (the rank and file of both major parties) be brainwashed to be partisan and hateful of the other party, just so we can help some fat rich old men stay in office so they can get richer.

Oh, wait, I forgot. I'm a registered independent!

[Al_HikesAZ]

A chapter is closed. But the book is not finished. There is still a lot of clean up. Hopefully some good actionable intelligence to cut off the flow of funds. Stay Frosty.

[Alston Neal]

I'm sorry I couldn't resist...

[beterarcher]

BIN LADIN IS DEAD, NOW THISwe left the guy that helped us track him down swinging in the breeze.
WE are being killed by our "ALLIES" (the guys that are supposed to take over security of their own country) left and right. Iraq is probably in cahoots to some degree with Iran. Selling oil for them and generally violating the embargos that are in place. the Arab spring has mostly turned out to be a bust for the West and for the people that do not want to live under Sharia Law. Pakistan has Imprisoned a young AUTISTIC girl for burning pages from the Koran. Syria is going to pumpkinville in a hand basket. Most of the countries that were helping us with the GWOT have or are in the process of packing up their toys and going home.............................I could go on and on but it is FINALLY raining in NE Phoenix and I have to go find my cat.

over and out ,
michael

[jeffmacewen]

That was a pretty good rant!

[beterarcher]

thanks@jeffmacewen, I guess I was just watching too much news while waiting for the rain. figured I'd for a bit.

[beterarcher]

some more....WOW!, I'm glad I have no reason to go anywhere near the Middle East! I think I'll leave it at that because there is just way too much to say.