MAY 1, 2016:
THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPTURE AND KILLING OF OSAMA BIN LADEN
It’s been five years since President Obama beamingly announced to the nation that Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda’s leader, had been cornered, captured and killed.
Americans felt palpable senses of both triumph and relief. Finally some tangible progress had been made or so it seemed.
But what did it really mean then?
And more importantly what does it mean now?
What has changed for the greater good domestically and around the world?
Bush supporters, war historians and perhaps a large percentage of military personnel from all branches of service — with a particular nod to the “higher-ups” — might suggest that we are better off both here and abroad.
After all, we are the USA, the most powerful country on Earth. We will defend ourselves and help others as has been our wont and our duty since time began.
We will promote democratic values and educate those who have less than we.
And we will be strong on all fronts.
Noble.
Altruistic.
Heart-warming.
Patriotic.
Until Death Do We Part. Plenty of it.
And Casualties.
IN AFGHANISTAN FROM 2001-PRESENT: 2,229 US Deaths; 18,675 US Wounded; 20,904 Total US Casualties;
IN IRAQ FROM 2003–2011: 4,488 US Deaths; 32,222 US Wounded; 36,710 Total US Casualties.
At last glance, the number of American Combat Deaths in Afghanistan & Iraq combined, ranked 7th. behind WWII, The Civil War, WWI, Vietnam, The Korean War and The American Revolutionary War.
The intention here is not to reduce the gravity of these #’s to statistical gobbledy-gook.
There is no competition here.
Rather, the idea is to examine — however superficially — the whys and the wherefores.
To assess whether or not our goals, such as they are, have changed over time.
Have they been achieved in some tangible measure?
Will they ever be achieved?
Really, what’s the point?
And incidentally, was or is calling off the dogs a tacit or even bolder admission of weakness or abject failure?
And if so, so what?
Bruised egos and hurt pride pale by comparison to the horrific casualties painfully endured in the insatiable quest of exactly what?
World Peace?
A nice idea of course but woefully implemented by the power play engagement of unbridled and perhaps meaningless combat.
So where do we go from here?
And how can we do a better job of properly honoring those lives lost and those tragically altered forever?
Why must it represent the height of naivete to think that we can simply stop war?
Further, why have we been at war every day for the last 16 years?
Senior Adviser to President Obama, Valerie Jarrett recited a litany of the Chief Executive’s achievements during his 2 terms in office including “the end of two wars.”
Really?
Since when?
Certainly doesn’t feel like it.
Will it ever end?
Can we step up heroically in a different way and stop this madness?
High-level politics demands an understanding and comportment necessary to craft and maintain the desired image. It is theater in the purest sense.
Of the people, by the people and for the people has been shunted aside in favor of self-promotion and self-aggrandizement.
Many of today’s politicians seem more concerned with themselves and the power they wield than with truly and fairly representing those who put them where they are.
Their position and their social media-inspired visibility feed their egos rather than work in favor of their constituencies.
Ideals espoused and campaign promises — what a surprise! — have fallen by the wayside.
“Political correctness” to them means preserving their status quo.
And stopping war — sadly tantamount to finding the cure for cancer or eradicating bigotry — would sully America’s self-image and by extension the puffed-up images of most of its A-Game politicos, the people be damned.
Until we find a group of real leaders willing to do the right thing(s) at the expense of whatever may increase their poll popularity, we should regrettably expect more of the same.
[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in May 2016.]
