CBC: The Devil likely died happy

[pampango]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/05/02/neil-macdonald-osama-bin-laden.html?ref=rss

Not that he ever came close to establishing some medieval Islamic caliphate; one presumes even he wasn't deluded enough to believe that was truly possible. Nor was instituting Taliban-style Shariah law throughout the Muslim world. Extreme self-denial is never an easy sell, and too many Muslim men love their daughters, to name just two obstacles.

He taught this country the consequences of operating an open, free society. Literally, he showed Americans the price of their liberty, how many of their principles they'd be willing to cast aside, and how quickly they would do it.

In other words, bin Laden showed American exceptionalists how unexceptionally they behave when faced with horrors most older nations have endured. Beginning the day after the attacks, the United States became a meaner, more paranoid, more impoverished place.

Congress, its knees jerking, passed the grotesquely named Patriot Act, removing civil liberties that took centuries to earn. America's famous dedication to individual rights shriveled in the sudden heat. National security, rather than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness became the fundamental determinant.

[Possumpoint]

1. Can We

Eliminate the TSA, Homeland Security and Patriot Act Provisions now? Or like every other Government program are these violation of our civil rights now entrenched, never to be removed?

[Javaman]

3. Our "government" has become a cottage industry.

what was once before, will never be again.

[Raine]

2. Sadly true and there is no going back,

things will never be the way they were a decade ago. :-(

[lonestarnot]

4. We are fucked, but he is apparently more fucked.