Bin Laden's Gone, But It's Not A Party

by Michael D. Hume, M.S.

When I was a young buck, I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. I was the division newspaper editor - not as much a specialist in the arts of war as were my fellow paratroopers - but the 82nd has always been an "elite" unit. Whatever your job, as a trooper in the 82nd you were always aware that the unit was "all business." And I will never forget the bright morning in late-spring when we heard that elements from Fort Bragg had made a failed attempt to rescue the hostages held by the Islamic radicals in Iran.

It was 1980, and an increasingly unpopular big-government president had made an effort to score an election-year military victory. Personally, I doubt that Jimmy Carter's reelection chances were ruined by that failed helicopter mission, but it didn't help him... and it made all of us in uniform feel at least some measure of defeat. I remember feeling decidedly uninspired... even a little hopeless.

This morning, though, I'm struggling a little to find inspiration in the killing yesterday of terrorist thug Osama Bin Laden. This morning's details of the military operation in Pakistan do bear some resemblance to those of the operation attempted 31 years ago... but with the crucial difference that yesterday's op was a success. The bad guy was killed. And some people, particularly those in the U.S. military who've been hunting Bin Laden since he led the attacks against us on 9/11, are rejoicing today.

But is it inspring?

I don't feel like rejoicing in Bin Laden's death. I certainly don't feel like this is bad news, of course - the world is better off without him - but it's not a party. It occurs to me that, 31 years ago, perhaps I would not have been all that inspired if Carter's hostage-rescue mission had been a success, since undoubtedly that success would have been accompanied by death. But I believe inspiration starts with appreciation, and there are many things to appreciate in today's news of victory.

First, I appreciate that a big-government president who had pushed for severe cuts to the military was able this time to claim a victory, where the 1980 debacle by the administration of a similar president was a saddening defeat. Kudos to President Obama and his staff. While I neither think, nor hope, that this event will help his chances for reelection, I think it's the highlight (so far) of his presidency, and I am happy to give credit where it's due. Like other fans of the U.S. Constitution, when it comes to the president's move-toward-socialism agenda, I do hope he fails; but when it comes to his role as Commander In Chief, I ardently pray for his success. I thought his speech last night, informing us of the successful operation, was his finest moment to date, and I appreciate him and his words.

Second, and more importantly, I appreciate the fact that there was no loss of life among the brave American military members who conducted yesterday's operation. That, indeed, is an inspiring blessing. And while I don't feel like dancing in the streets in response to this news, I certainly don't begrudge the military folks from celebrating this hard-won victory. They took tremendous risks. They took fire. And, at the end of the day, they took victory against tall odds. For them, this definitely IS a party.

And, of course, I appreciate the fact that the Osama Bin Laden chapter of global terrorism is over. There are other bad guys who will jump up to try to take his place... but his removal from the world scene can only be a good thing. I've always been sad that someone like Osama Bin Laden, who enjoyed the support and protection of our American way of life, could bear such evil hatred toward us. And his attacks have angered me, as they have most Americans. So good riddance. I appreciate the guy's absence from our world.

Now, we go on with our lives. We run our businesses, we talk to our customers, we spend time with our families. Hopefully, over time, we can find further inspiration in our lives, and maybe victory over Osama Bin Laden will help. Death is never a party, but victory is. It's something to be appreciated, and it inspires the victorious within each of us.

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