Thank You, Jesus: Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

And thank you, Navy Seals for your courage, bravery and skills in accomplishing your mission. Thank you, President George W. Bush for authorizing waterboarding and other interrogation techniques that made this intelligence actionable. Thank you, all who worked in the various intelligence services who analyzed and developed the information that made this raid possible. And, yes, thank you, President Barack Hussein Obama for ordering this raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden, one of history's most horrible men.

Last night, I was watching Geraldo Rivera on Fox News. I had planned to watch House Hunters on HGTV at 10 p.m., but at the last minute, I decided to switch to Geraldo. I am so glad I did. About ten minutes into the program, it was announced that the President would be making a statement to the American people soon. This is highly unusual on a Sunday night. Like Geraldo, I knew immediately something big, even alarming, was happening.

Geraldo and other commentators started speculating as to what it would be. Had we or NATO taken out Gaddafi? Were we taking action against Syria in support of their rebels? Was there something going on with the tornado recovery operations? The latter was quickly discounted as not warranting action late on Sunday night. Gaddafi was more likely.

Then, Geraldo asked, what if it is even bigger -- much bigger -- than Gaddafi? Could it be they got Osama Bin Laden? This was about ten minutes before the first reports from the Associated Press and others started coming in that it was indeed news about Osama Bin Laden. Geraldo's reporting instincts, honed by years of experience, had nailed it.

Like most Americans, I had a whole range of emotions in the next few hours as I watched the President's announcement and the coverage after it. Thank you, Jesus, were the first words out of my mouth, especially after hearing no American troops died in the operation. I felt elation and pride in America, especially our military. I felt joy and satisfaction, especially for the families of 9/11 victims who have waited almost ten years for this. I also felt concern because I know there are still jihadists who will seek revenge through acts of terrorism or attacks on our troops deployed around the world. As CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote in a memo that congratulated the agency for its role in the operation, "Bin Laden is dead. Al-Qaida is not."
Today, as I have heard and read more reports with the details of the raid, I have to add anger to my reaction. There is no way Pakistani military and government officials did not know where Osama Bin Laden was living. His compound was "less than a kilometer away from Pakistan's Military Academy at Kakul." This is their version of our West Point. According to other articles, the area was favored Pakistan military retirees and professionals. Pakistan has a lot to answer for in harboring Osama Bin Laden.

Finally, I feel relief that the Navy disposed of his body at sea. No one can build a shrine at his grave. Shark bait is a fitting earthly end to this despicable excuse for a human being. I am relieved that Osama Bin Laden did not surrender peacefully. I am glad the Seals did not capture him to bring him back for trial. What a nightmare that would have been. I leave it to God to deal with Osama Bin Laden's soul as he deserves. But I admit I hope that, instead of the 72 virgins jihadists are suppose to get in heaven, it will include 7200 demons to torture him in Hell for the rest of eternity.

Sources:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bin_laden
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599206906900
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_bin_laden_sea_burial