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Tuesday, May 3, 2011
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
The Philadelphia Inquirer
EDITORIALS Founded in 1829
This cancer is gone
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resident Obama’s an- sions. Yet, it is important to mainnouncement that a U.S. tain good diplomatic relations special-operations unit with both nuclear-armed Pakistan had killed Osama bin and Afghanistan. Laden was like having Bin Laden’s death doesn’t mean the doctor tell you he had success- an end to the war on terrorism. fully removed a cancerous tumor. Not with al-Qaeda still operating While the war on terror was in various forms across the globe, never touted as being just about and jihadis still expressing their bin Laden — for many Ameri- motivation to attack the West. cans, it was. After all, it was bin In that respect, the raid that Laden who masterminded the garnered bin Laden may end up 9/11 attacks that left thousands as more of a PR success for the dead and an iconic symbol of U.S. United States than an operational economic power in ruins. victory. But most Americans at The stated aim of the war in this point will gladly take that. Afghanistan was to With bin Laden’s cut off the head of a death, Americans worldwide terrorism feel like a great network. That meant weight has been liftgetting bin Laden, ed from their collecwho, if he never tive shoulders. As planned another terthe president put it, rorist act, would con“justice has been tinue to be the inspidone,” especially for ration for attacks on those who lost loved Western countries ones and friends in by other Islamists. the 2001 attacks. So, Americans Now is not the should celebrate bin time for this country Laden’s death. They to drop its guard. should also celebrate There are other terthe brilliance of U.S. Osama bin Laden rorists who can’t intelligence and miliwait to elevate bin tary capabilities, His ability to Laden to martyrdom which finally came while they plan other avoid capture through for this coundespicable acts to try. The CIA has added to a sense avenge his death. been bashed a lot But at least for a of pessimism in moment, over the years for inthe nation telligence failures, this country. can stop and cheer. but this is obviously It can shake off the one case where it sense of failure that painstakingly pursued good leads people felt — but rarely acknowland got it right. edged — in not being able to apHow many hundreds of people prehend bin Laden for so long. or thousands of man-hours went The announcement of bin Ladinto this operation may never be en’s death unified Americans in known. It’s worth noting that one spontaneous celebrations that of the best leads may have come were eerily reminiscent of their from the long-term detainees be- unity in grieving just after the ing held at the Guantanamo pris- 9/11 attacks. That grief 10 years on, who provided the nickname of ago seemed to inflitrate every asa courier trusted by bin Laden. pect of life in this country, birthThat information eventually led ing pessimism that only grew to the discovery of bin Laden’s stronger during the recession. hideout. Many people assumed Huge challenges remain. Solthat bin Laden was holed up in diers are still at risk in Afghanisome cave in a remote mountain stan and Iraq, with the threat of region. Turned out he was living being drawn into other conflicts in relative comfort in the bosom where totalitarian regimes resist of the Pakistani military. democracy. But with bin Laden’s Some Pakistani officials had to death, it’s easier to envision a day know he was there, and their har- not too long from now when the boring of the world’s most wanted wars are over, the troops come terrorist should have repercus- home, and optimism reigns.
Grace, Clarke are best choices
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esidents of the city’s First District should appreciate their new councilman. After all, he will have cost Philadelphians nearly $425,000, which is the size of the deferred-retirement payout that left incumbent Frank DiCicco with little choice but to actually retire. The district — which stretches from South Philadelphia along the Delaware to Port Richmond, including such thriving neighborhoods as Old City and Northern Liberties — at least got a strong field of potential replacements for the price. The strongest, JOE GRACE, offers a refreshingly reform-minded platform in the wake of DiCicco’s ignominious golden parachute. As the former executive director of CeaseFirePA, Grace successfully pushed efforts to curb gun trafficking in Philadelphia and other cities. He also served as the city’s communications director under John F. Street — a less righteous cause, yes, but one of several posts that give Grace valuable political and government experience. He’s also been a lawyer and a Daily News reporter. Grace has made ethical issues an appropriate focus of his candidacy, including the dubious DROP program that stands to enrich DiCicco and other Council members. He calls for banning outside employment and nepotism on Council, along with stronger city watchdog agencies and campaign-finance laws. He also has intelligent proposals on neighborhood revitalization, business taxes, and school violence. Among the other First District
Joe Grace
First District
Darrell L. Clarke Fifth District
candidates, union organizer Jeff Hornstein stands out with impressive academic credentials and an astute sense that the city should be “less weird” in terms of its tax and other policies. But his labor ties could diminish his capacity to choose taxpayers over the municipal unions. Vern Anastasio has a long record of neighborhood activism. Anastasio’s electricians’ unionbacked campaign four years ago was unfortunate, but in this race, that powerful union backs state systems analyst Mark Squilla.
Fifth District
Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, a contender for the Council presidency, has a record of legislative accomplishment and effective advocacy for his district, which runs from Center City through North Philadelphia into Fishtown. Clarke’s Democratic primary opponent, minister Suzanne Carn, brings abundant energy to her bid, but falls well short of making a case for firing the councilman. The Inquirer endorses DARRELL L. CLARKE. No Republicans are running in the First or Fifth District.
TONY AUTH / The Philadelphia Inquirer (tauth@phillynews.com)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters submitted for publication on the Editorial Page and at www.philly.com may be e-mailed to inquirer.letters@phillynews.com; faxed to 215-854-4483; or mailed to The Inquirer, Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101. Limit letters to 200 words. Letters may be edited. Writers must include a home address and daytime and evening telephone numbers. For more information, call 215-854-2209.
Readers respond to bin Laden’s death Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. I believed the moon landing happened because I saw it on television, and I had no problem believing Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. But the killing of Osama bin Laden feels fictional. First is the fact that he was living in Abbottabad, a major city in Pakistan near the Pakistani military academy and that, supposedly, no one knew it. Second, our forces lost no one despite having a helicopter crash. Finally, there is the lack of a body on display. Conspiracy nuts are going to have a field day with this. Henry L. Lazarus Philadelphia hlazar@verizon.net
¢ It is ironic that, almost a decade after former President George W. Bush told us that Osama bin Laden was “wanted dead or alive,” it should be President Obama who brings to a close an ugly chapter in American history by killing the man responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attack on our nation. That it was on Obama’s watch that a great intelligence and military effort bore fruit will surely serve to boost the likelihood that he will be re-elected. If only the killing of bin Laden could end the desire by some to slaughter the innocent. Nevertheless, the American people are forever in the debt of those who engineered this victory in the war on terror and the brave soldiers who carried out the mission. It is a cause for pride and satisfaction among those who believe in justice.
OLIVIER DOULIERY / Abaca Press / MCT
Reaction outside the White House was swift and jubilant. A crowd quickly
gathered after President Obama annouced Osama bin Laden’s death. It may be a coincidence, or it may not, but two beautiful things happened on the same day. As a veteran, I am elated. George J. Walton Upper Darby ¢
Osama bin Laden is dead. He was living in luxury in a city in Pakistan. He tried to kill our soldiers as they confronted him. Fortunately, he will never have another opportunity to harm one of our citizens. It only proves that our system will find you no matter what your precautions, and even though it may take years. May bin Laden rot in hell!
Oren M. Spiegler Upper Saint Clair
¢ I certainly am rejoicing with the rest of the country over the death of Osama bin Laden, but I would be rejoicing even more if our troops were brought home. We have troops in Germany. Why? We have troops in France and Italy. Why? Our troops are everywhere, including places where it is unnecessary for them to be. Our military budget is off the wall. The money that goes to the military would be better spent on health, education, and welfare. So let us rejoice, but let us also look at the realities of this. Who is next in line to take bin Laden’s place? I am not usually so cynical, but the years have given me a different take on the benefits of rejoicing too soon. Gloria Gelman Philadelphia
¢ A strange coincidence happened on May 1, 2011. One thing that happened is that the Vatican announced the beatification of Pope John Paul II. One more miracle and he becomes a saint. He is now Blessed John Paul. The other happy thing that happened is that Osama bin Laden was killed.
Anthony J. Frascino Swedesboro artgardenr@aol.com
¢ The news that Osama bin Laden is dead transcends the often petty nature of our domestic politics. As in World War II, good has overcome evil. Particular thanks must go to all of those who have worked so hard over the last 10 years to make bin Laden’s death a reality. This is a great time for our country, and for the world. ¢
Steven M. Clayton Pittsburgh
Thank God for the great news. No doubt this will boost President Obama’s chances for reelection. No doubt Donald Trump will be demanding to see the death certificate!
Jerry Silverman Philadelphia
FURTHERMORE…
Low violent crime rate in armed Switzerland In connection with Steve Frank’s column about the divide between gun rights and gun control in Arizona (“As gun battle shows, every right has limits,” Wednesday), here is some food for thought. According to the United Nations, Switzerland in 2008 had a murder rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared with 1.4 in France, 1.2 in England and Wales, and 5.2 in the United States. Switzerland requires all male citizens between 18 and 30 to perform military service. They are issued either an assault rifle or 9mm pistol. Upon completing their service they typically keep these weapons at home. The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva estimates that Switzerland has more guns per capita than any other country except the United States, Yemen, and perhaps Finland. But, four years ago, a coalition of doctors, churches, and women’s groups launched an initiative to tighten Switzerland’s firearms laws, citing a spate of high-profile shootings over the past decade. A proposed constitutional amendment would have required storage of army-issue weapons on base, the establishment of a national gun registry, and a ban on the sale of fully automatic weapons and pump-action rifles. On Feb. 13, the Swiss voted overwhelmingly to cling to their guns. The Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported that 1.4 million people — 56.3 percent — voted against the measure. Might there be a link between Switzerland’s low violent crime rate and its high per-capita gun ownership? Is an armed citizenry a deterrent to violence?
Gerald K. McOscar West Chester gmcoscar@msn.com
The Philadelphia Inquirer Gregory J. Osberg Publisher Stan Wischnowski Editor Michael Days Managing Editor Sandra M. Clark, Tom McNamara, Avery Rome Deputy Managing Editors Gabriel Escobar Metropolitan Editor Mike Leary Investigations Editor Acel Moore Associate Editor Emeritus Harold Jackson Editorial Page Editor
To find more editorials, follow the editorial board blog “Say What?”, e-mail letters to the editor, submit commentaries or responses to editorials and op-ed columns, and find archives of Tony Auth’s cartoons, go to:
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011
www.philly.com
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Commentary
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Some deaths can’t be assuaged by this one The demise of bin Laden does little to undo the countless mistakes we’ve made in his name.
happily absorbed a series of fabrications that told us our own security depended on bombing and invading this country. In offer any to me. It cannot the process, we abandoned ideBy Dante Zappala undo the legacy of the reck- als that are essential to our tramid the requisite less endeavors undertaken in dition and spirit. flag-waving, chant- the aftermath of that tragedy. My brother was killed chasing, and nationalisWhat may be convenient to ing a ghost, scouring the desert tic fervor over the forget in these moments of for weapons of mass destrucdeath of Osama righteous chest-beating is tion. But the true ghost we bin Laden, I will not be rejoic- that, shortly after the devasta- chase — the bin Laden that is ing myself. There will be no tion perpetuated by this crimi- still hidden to us — is our sense vindication for me as I re- nal, we accepted an ideology of security. In that regard, the member the sacrifice of my of permanent war. We waved legacy of bin Laden will be that brother, a soldier killed in not the Stars and Stripes, but he successfully baited us into Iraq in 2004. the flag of revenge. endless conflict in the Middle If the largely symbolic The so-called war on terror East, putting us on a road to event of bin Laden’s death took us to Iraq, a country that military, economic, and moral brings closure for the count- had nothing to do with 9/11 or bankruptcy. less people affected by the bin Laden. Preemptive warfare Will bin Laden’s death make tragedy of 9/11, I wish them was introduced to the lexicon us finally feel safe? This counpeace. But his death does not of American foreign policy. We try spends more money on its
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defense than all the other nations on Earth combined, and yet we cannot say with any conviction that the wars in the Middle East have done anything to increase our security. The consensus, in fact, is that they have done the opposite. The Iraq war is winding down without having met any clear military or political objectives. Waste, fraud, and mismanagement will define the conflict, as will what promises to be an indefinite military presence there. In Afghanistan, our forces have tripled, and though the definition of victory is everchanging, we still cannot achieve it. And now we are engaged overtly or covertly in operations across North Africa. Meanwhile, there are more
than 1.5 million veterans of these wars, many of whom served multiple deployments. Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder scar this class of heroes. More and more, the veterans of the global war on terror are in homeless shelters, prisons, or dead by their own hands. The toll will span generations. Who has benefited from this sacrifice? I certainly have not. And I feel certain that most Americans have not. Will the death of bin Laden resolve our need for permanent war? The likely answer is no. Bad guys, both real and exaggerated, will continue to exist. We will remain fearful, and we will squander treasure and opportunity on the premise that
we are perpetually threatened. The only way to truly kill Osama bin Laden is to reevaluate what we have done in his name. We must take a long, hard look at why we continue to spend $10 billion a month and to accept, albeit with sorrow, the loss of life in Afghanistan. We must question why we so readily drop bombs in Libya while some of our own city streets resemble a war zone. If we can face these hard truths, we can bury our ghosts along with this monster. Then, and only then, will we be vindicated. Dante Zappala is the brother of the late Sgt. Sherwood Baker. He can be reached at zappala1@gmail.com.
Extremism still resides in the Pakistani heartland By Brahma Chellaney
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sama bin Laden’s killing in a U.S. special forces assault on a sprawling mansion near Islamabad recalls the capture of other al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistani cities. Once again, we see that the real terrorist sanctuaries are located not along Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan and India, but in the country’s heartland. This, in turn, underlines another fundamental reality — that the fight against international terrorism cannot be won without demilitarizing and deradicalizing Pakistan, including by rebalancing civilmilitary relations there and reining in the country’s rogue Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Other terrorist leaders captured in Pakistan since 9/11 were also found living in its cities, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, al-Qaeda’s third in command; Abu Zubaydah, the network’s operations chief; Yasser Jazeeri; Abu Faraj Farj; and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, one of the coordinators of 9/11. If there is any surprise about bin Laden’s hideout, it is its location in a military town, Abbottabad, in the shadow of an army academy. This only underscores the extensive protection that bin Laden must have received from elements of the Pakistani security establishment to help him elude the U.S. dragnet for nearly a decade. The breakthrough in hunting him down came only after the United States, at the risk of rupturing its long-standing ties with the Pakistani army and ISI, deployed a number of CIA operatives, special-operations forces, and contractors deep inside Pakistan without the knowledge of the country’s military. In recent years, with its senior operations men captured or killed and bin Laden holed
up in Pakistan, the badly splin- pendent than ever on U.S. tered al-Qaeda had already aid. lost the ability to mount a maEven as Americans exult jor international attack or over bin Laden’s killing, the openly challenge U.S. inter- U.S. government must recests. With bin Laden’s death, ognize that its failed policy al-Qaeda is likely to wither on Pakistan has inadvertentaway as an organization. Yet ly made that country the its dangerous ideology is ex- world’s main terrorist sancpected to live on and motivate tuary. Rather than helping state-sponsored non-state ac- to build robust civilian institors. It will be mainly such ele- tutions there, the United ments that will have the capaci- States has pampered the jity to launch major transnation- hadist-penetrated Pakistani al terrorist attacks like the military establishment, best 2008 Mumbai strikes. Even in illustrated by the fresh $3 Afghanistan, the billion military U.S. military’s aid package earmain foe is not almarked for the Qaeda, but a resur- The real threat next fiscal year. gent Taliban, dictator emanates from After which enjoys haPervez Musharvens in Pakistan. Scotch whisky- raf was driven That is why the out of office, the sipping army spotlight is likely new Pakistani cito turn on the ter- generals. vilian governrorist nexus withment ordered in Pakistan and the ISI to report the role of, and relationship to the Interior Ministry, but between, state and non-state it received no U.S. support actors there. Significantly, as for this effort to assert civilthe CIA closed in on bin Lad- ian control, which allowed en, the chairman of the Joint the army to quickly frusChiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike trate the effort. Mullen, for the first time pubAfter he took office, Presilicly linked the Pakistani mili- dent Obama implemented a tary with some of the mili- military surge in Afghanistan. tants attacking U.S. forces in In Pakistan, however, he imAfghanistan. Pakistan’s home- plemented an aid surge, turngrown Islamist militias contin- ing it into the largest recipiue to operate openly, and the ent of U.S. aid, even though Pakistani army and intelli- the Afghan Taliban leadergence remain loath to sever ship and al-Qaeda remnants their cozy ties with extremist remained ensconced in the and terrorist elements. country. This only deepened U.S. involvement in the Grudging at best wrong war and emboldened For the United States, Paki- Pakistan to fatten the Afghan stan poses a particularly diffi- Taliban, even as sustained cult challenge. Although U.S. attacks continued to seAmerica has provided $20 bil- verely weaken al-Qaeda. lion in counterterrorism aid Make no mistake: The to Pakistan since 9/11, the as- scourge of Pakistani terrorsistance it’s received in re- ism emanates more from the turn has been grudging at country’s Scotch whisky-sipbest and duplicitous at worst. ping generals than from its Today, amid a rising tide of bead-rubbing mullahs. It is anti-Americanism, U.S. policy the self-styled secular generon Pakistan is rapidly unravel- als who have reared the forcing. Yet Pakistan, with one of es of jihad and fathered the the world’s lowest tax-to-GDP Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the ratios, has become more de- Jalaluddin Haqqani militia,
For a moment, truly united By Daniel Mintz
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and many others chose to go to college in Washington partly in anticipation of a momentous occasion — so we could chant and scream outside the White House, and so we could say “We were there” for whatever occurred during our time in the city. As the events of Sunday night started to unfold, I and my friends at George Washington University soon decided we had to get to Pennsylvania Avenue. News of the death of Osama bin Laden began to spread around 10:30 p.m., and by 11, throngs of mostly young Americans from all over the city had flooded the sidewalks in front of the White House to sing, chant, and display their patriotism. We celebrated into the night as people hung flags from trees and reporters interviewed and photographed them. By 1:30 in the morning, cars were still crowding the streets of Washington with their horns honking, and jubilant people were still filling the sidewalks. The feeling of brotherhood was palpable. After several hours of cele-
brating, my friends and I de- trum were irrelevant. They cided to call it a night. And were arm in arm, celebrating as I walked the few blocks a day for which all Ameriback to my dorm, I wondered cans had been waiting 3,519 why we had felt such a desire days. to join thousands of strangAfter the fanfare has subers and celebrate bin Laden’s sided, the pundits will no death. doubt resume the chorus of I realized that what I was partisanship, debating looking for — and what I gath- what this means for Presier many of my peers were dent Obama’s reelection, looking for — was unity. for the House Republicans, Especially in and more. But Washington, partion Sunday night, sanship and divior however An outbreak of fbrief sion are widely a moment, accepted and rare unanimity I felt an outpourrarely questioned of love for fills the streets ing these days, but this country they take their of the nation’s from myself and toll on us. And thousands of capital. here was a brief people around chance for thoume. It transcendsands of us to ed what divides come together as Americans us and accentuated what and celebrate the greatness brings us together. of the United States — to reOn the streets in front of mind the world and our- the White House and around selves that we do love this Washington that night, I witcountry and that all of us, re- nessed patriotism in its rawgardless of political affilia- est form — not as a punch tion, want what’s best for it. line for politicians, but as a I saw this exemplified by spontaneous expression of the image of two people in Americans. the sea of patriots, one holding a Bush-Cheney campaign Daniel Mintz is a George sign and the other an Obama- Washington University student Biden sign. On Sunday night, from Mercer County, N.J. their positions on opposite He can be reached at ends of the political spec- demintz13@gmail.com.
and other groups. Yet, by passing the blame for their continuing terrorist-proxy policy to their mullah puppets, the generals have made the United States believe that the key is to contain the religious fringe, not the puppeteers.
Ground zero
In fact, Pakistan’s descent into a jihadist dungeon occurred not under civilian rule, but under two military dictators — one who nurtured and let loose jihadist forces, and another who took his country to the very edge of the precipice. Without reform of the Pakistani army and ISI, there can be no end to transnational terrorism — and no genuine nation-building in Pakistan. How can Pakistan be a “normal” state if its army and intelligence agency remain outside civilian oversight, and decisive power remains with military generals?
Osama bin Laden’s death is condemned by
supporters of the religious party Jamiat Ulema-eIslam. They held a rally in Quetta, Pakistan, on Monday. ARSHAD BUTT/ Associated Press
With bin Laden dead, al-Qaeda can reconstitute itself only if the Pakistani military succeeds in reinstalling a proxy regime in Afghanistan. Until the Pakistani military’s viselike grip on power is broken and the ISI is cut down to size, Pakistan is likely to remain ground zero for
the terrorist threat that the world confronts. Brahma Chellaney is a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and the author of the forthcoming “Water: Asia’s New Battlefield.” Distributed by Project Syndicate.
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