Reactions to Bin Laden’s Death Peter Blackburn, Jack Beattie, Jimmy Koerner

Leading up to Bin Laden’s Death  1979, December: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan  1984 Bin Laden involved in Peshawar supporting Arab volunteers to fight Soviets: moves between Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Sudan  2001, 11 September Hijacked planes destroy the Twin Towers  2001, December US backed anti-Taliban forces capture Bin Laden's base  2007, September Rumors that Bin Laden is dead  2010, January Audio tape message from bin Laden, claiming responsibility for failed Christmas day attempted bombing  2011, May 1 Barack Obama announces Bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan

Reaction in United States  What did Bin Laden’s death mean to citizens across the United States?  His death is similar to that of the Joker in Batman Dark Knight  Navy Seal Team Six are the heroes  We did it! 

Reaction in the Middle East  “We will remain, God willing, a curse chasing the Americans and their agents, following them inside and outside their countries. Soon, God willing, their happiness will turn to sadness, their blood will be mingled with their tears.” (Unknown member of Taliban)  We condemn the assassination and the killing of an 'Arab holy warrior'. We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.”-Gaza Strip Government  “Osama Bin Laden’s death in an American raid was indeed justice done.” (Yousuf Raza Gilani)

Legality of Killing-Against  “The attack had the appearance of an extrajudicial killing without due process of the law” –Prof. Nick Grief, international lawyer  Executive Order signed in 1981  President Nixon  -prohibits political assassination  “No one should be outside of the law” –Grief

Legality of Killing- For  “The action was a military action in the ongoing US armed conflict with Al-Quaida and it is not prohibited to kill specific leaders of an opposing force”- John Bellinger III- State Dept. Senior Lawyer  “…Legitimate action of self-defense, given that Bin Laden was clearly planning additional attacks”-Bellinger  Define “political assassination”?

The Zero “I couldn’t walk around, pretending any of this made sense anymore. Perhaps nothing made sense anymore (the gaps are affecting everyone) and this was some kind of cultural illness they all shared.”(264) “Bin Laden apparently received training from the CIA, which was backing the Afghan holy warriors – the mujahedeen – who were tying down Soviet forces in Afghanistan.” (CBC News). Inquiry Question: How did the modern media alter peoples' perspective of the death of Bin Laden and 9/11 around the world?

Sources  Bowcott, Owen. "Osama Bin Laden: U.S. Responds to Questions About Killing's Legality". The Guardian. 3 May Web. 17 Apr  Osama bin Laden timeline | World news | guardian.co.uk." Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr  CBC News Indepth: Osama bin Laden." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. N.p., 19 Jan Web. 18 Apr <  BAKER, PETER. "Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says - NYTimes.com." NY Times Advertisement. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr  Osama bin Laden dead: Arab reaction | World news | guardian.co.uk." Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian. N.p., 2 May Web. 18 Apr