Bin Laden's head on a platter doesn't bring back 3,000+ dead today, tomorrow, or in 20 years.

I don't hold Bush personally responsible for what has happened after 9/11; however, I do think his legacy has already been largely written in the handling of the aftermath.  I remember in the week after 9/11 thinking: Let's see if we can turn this into something that does service to the memory of those who lost their lives.  We squandered that window of opportunity based on a reactive and ill-conceived policy that has compromised fundamental values and damaged our alliances.

Bin Laden "dead or alive" doesn't change any of that.

from the main struggle against Al Qaeda.  It's not just bin Laden, of course not...in fact, he's pretty powerless right now.  But Al Qaeda is as powerful, if not more so, than ever, by all accounts.

As long as he is alive, he represents the ability to attack the United States brutally and ruthlessly and get away with it.  We have to show these terrorists what happens when you mess with the US.

I know some of you don't like the Death Penalty.  I myself have a few concerns.  But the Death Penalty exists for people like Osama, and I for one wouldn't hesitate to execute the man myself.  This man is pure evil.

and we should definitely get the bastard if we can.  But the broader point is that we need to focus on fighting Al Qaeda and stop wasting our time, energy, resources and lives in Iraq (or whatever other distraction).  For that, I totally blame the Bush administration.

I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page about Osama.  I agree, however, that Iraq has taken our focus of Al Qaeda.

all that you wish, but I remain unconvinced that he is alive.

And killing him would simply turn him into a martyr.

In parts of the world his violent death wouldn't become a cautionary tale; it would become a rallying point -- great for recruitment. 

We are successful to the extent that we can get people to buy into our vision as a viable alternative to what Bin Laden is offering -- especially in the Middle East, North Africa and East Africa, and South Asia.  We would be well-advised not to elevate Bin Laden into a special category.

As far as intimidation goes, that has essentially been our foreign policy since 2003.  We make no compromises; we don't talk to our enemies (or allies for that matter); we go it alone. 

In the end though, intimidation is overrated as a persuasive technique -- too inefficient, not sustainable. 

Bin Laden is now more the patron saint of Al Qaeda, and no longer crucial to their continued existence or success.  Their grand and their franchising of it proceeds apace.

There are others beyond Osama who have risen to the top, and every time we kill a "number two" he is quickly and efficiently replaced. Their financing is in excellent condition, their strategy even more well thought-out, and their tactics increasingly effective, clever, and flexible. 

In other words, even if we finally get bin Laden, it will give us no victory, just a rush of vengeful satisfaction (which is not to be belittled, however; revenge is Big).  In fact, capturing and/or killing Osama, a la Saddamm, might energize the radical Muslim faction even more, so we need to think through just how we will deal with possible after-Osama's-death-by-US scenarios. Maybe we should egg the Israelis on to kill him, rather than letting them bomb Iran for us. Heh. 

Yes, it will cause anger.  But we must show that we will not allow such evil actions to go unpunished.  We must find Osama and make him pay for his crimes.  We must not let him become the saint of antiAmerican feelings any more than he already has.

and not anyone else's (although the Brits and the Spanish have good reason to go after Al Qaeda as well...).

I wasn't totally against taking him out, because he was a butcher.  But, that entire region lives on killing each other and has for thousands of years, and it takes a dictator and butcher to keep the peace, in a rather sick way.

With Sadam you had an evil dictator, who ruled with an iron fist, torturing and killing his countrymen.  But, the country was fairly stable and the region intact.

Without Sadam, you have hundreds/thousands of people torturing and killing their countrymen, a region in utter chaos, and a breading ground for many more terrorists where there were none before.  Bin Laden is still free; we've lost thousands of American lives fighting a war in a country that didn't attack us.

Somethings wrong with this picture.

Governor Kaine's statement on the 9/11 anniversary:

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor

Timothy M. Kaine  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor  September 11, 2007

Contact: Kevin Hall 
Phone: (804) 225-4260 
Cell Phone: (804) 393-9406
Internet:  www.governor.virginia.gov 

STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR KAINE

~ On the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks ~

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine released the following statement on today's sixth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Arlington, New York City, and Pennsylvania:

  "Today marks the sixth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

  "I join all Virginians in honoring those who lost their lives that day, and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to reflect on the daily service and sacrifice of our first responders, firefighters, police officers, and members of our armed forces

  "Let us use this sixth anniversary of 9/11 as a time to set a new priority to commit ourselves to offer service to others. The America that we know, and the Commonwealth that was attacked six years ago, is at its best and shines its brightest when we each give of ourselves in service to others."

  In addition, Governor Kaine has ordered that U.S. and Commonwealth of Virginia flags be flown at half-staff throughout Virginia until sunset today in observance of Patriot Day 2007.