Reflections on the Assassination of Osama Bin Laden

The United States Constitution is one of the highest points on humanity's road out of barbarism and into civilization.

Here, for the first time, was a constitution based on separation of powers and the Rule of Law.

One of the more painful aspects of the Rule of Law is that, however heinous the crime, 'due process' separates civilization from barbarism, and removes the lynch mob as a means of dispensing 'justice'.

In assassinating Osama bin Laden the USA has taken another step back from the vision of it's founding fathers.

In the torrent of obfuscation following the assassination it has also proved to be incompetent, since it could not present a narrative of events without further modifying it on a frequent basis.

Worse, however, is the long record of the USA's terror, first against the pre-Columbian inhabitants - 'manifest destiny' - then against central and south American countries - [2] - and finally world-wide after the Second World War, when the Cold War provided a cover for adventures such as the costly failure to 'save' South Vietnam from falling under the domination of it's northern neighbour.

The USA's alleged concern for freedom and democracy is circumscribed by its larger enthusiasm for world-wide economic domination.

Like Britain before it, the USA regarded the Middle East's oil reserves as a strategic resource. In 1951 the interests of both powers overlapped when Dr Mossadeq - Prime Minister of Iran - nationalised the country's British-owned oil fields.

This set in motion the chain of events which led to the overthrow of the Shah - widely perceived to be a Western stooge by his own people.

In turn this led to the USA - and other Western powers like Britain - supporting Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran in September 1980.

Support included Chemical and Biological exports, which became part of Iraq's biological warfare program. [Halabja]

Meanwhile, the USA's interest in Central and South America continued, and surfaced at its most spectacular in the part played by the CIA in the Chilean revolution of 09 September 1973. [1973]

Guided by the neoliberal social Darwinism of Milton Friedman's Chicago Boys, General August Pinochet 'liberalised' Chile's economy, persecuting opponents in a Hitlerian manner via Operation Condor.

Corporate America's faith in neoliberalism may have overreached itself as a result of Milton Friedman's visit to China, in 1980, to advise Deng Xiaoping on converting China to a corporate economy. (*)

China's human rights record is an easy target, and one which the egregious Mr David Cameron has also targetted, but the West is the proverbial blackened pot berating the filthy kettle. [DC]

To sum up: the assassination of Osama bin Laden is at one with the United States' deplorable record of tramping round the world, like some latter day Imperial Rome, in the belief that might is right, and that all problems can be sorted out - as Johann Hari so apptly puts it - with a blowtorch, rather than a scalpel.

Whether it was United Fruit killing strikers, support for the Samozas in Nicaragua, the murder of President Allende, the trashing of Bhopal, or 'collateral damage' in Iraq and Afghanistan, the message is the same: mess with the US at your peril.

The US does not do 'Rule of Law' for enemies, in fact they don't do it for the likes of Bradley Manning either.

The problem with China, however, is that for the first time the USA is confronted with another big guy on the block, and one who is not amenable to bullying.

Bin Laden - and his followers - might be useful for putting the frighteners on the victims of corporate neoliberalism's many failings, but it is China that is the real threat to America's great power status. [D&F]

(*) The Shock Doctrine  pp 184ff

Smedley D. Butler

I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class thug for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers.

In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914.

I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.

I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street.

I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912.

I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916.

I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903.

In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.

Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints.

The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

Smedley Butler

UN watchdogs demand mission details

Cheerleader must compensate school that told her to clap 'rapist'

America has shown yet again how important she is for freedom and civilisation

Raid Account, Hastily Told, Proves Fluid

Osama Bin Laden 'planned 9/11 anniversary train attack'

Archbishop 'uncomfortable' over Bin Laden unarmed death

Osama bin Laden death 'justifies' torture of suspects

America changes its story

Was Bin Laden's Killing Legal?

Obituary

Bin Laden news a boost to global markets

Osama bin Laden

United States support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war

1953 Iranian coup d'état

"Our son of a bitch"

Banana Massacre