December 14, 2001
The United States certainly doesn't want to capture Bin Laden. Jailed, Bin Laden would generate unthinkable terrorist violence. Besides, the U.S. can't afford to give Bin Laden a platform from which to rally his religious soldiers. We don't want him sitting in a courtroom discussing, for example, the United States' past support of the Taliban. In court, we might not even be able to prove that Bin Laden was responsible for the September 11th attacks.
No, Bin Laden has to die. But if U.S. forces kill him, Bin Laden will be portrayed in the Arab world as a victim of American tyranny who fell in glorious battle--thus spawning generations of terrorists who worship at his gravestone. It makes no sense to fight a war against Bin Laden, only to make him more powerful than before the war started. Even if he happens to be dead. --testing blogger setelah error
