With the US confirming they have killed UBL in a US strike does it matter? Morally I think it is a victory. Strategically it will have short term impact, but long term someone will take his place. Maybe Mullah Omar or one of the other top Al Qaeda / Taliban types who knows. Or likely, they split into many factions which will hopefully make them less effective.
Why does this impact the Expat working in a warzone? For some of us, mostly Americans but I would gather that other nationalities feel the same, our motivations for coming here were far beyond the need to make money. There was a national pride and a thought of a way to make an impact into the overall goal of winning the 'war on terror'. Simply put, a good percentage of guys I've worked with over here just are not here for the money. If you come over here for just the money, and that alone, you will not last. I've seen it time again. There has to be some other inner drive either for adventure, sense of chipping in to the effort or for some a resume builder.
Osama, Usama Bin Laden being finally put to rest closes a significant chapter for some of us, probably most of us that watched with horror on 11SEP01 as those planes crashed into the buildings and the buildings fell. It probably was a national past time to wonder when/if he would be captured or killed. One thing I know working with and serving in the military, is the dedication and fortitude of the guys that literally went to the ends of the earth to find this one man is unmatched. My hat is off to them today, they are the true heroes.
So, in the end the war goes on. The machine still rolls forward, but with one small victory in hand.
Why does this impact the Expat working in a warzone? For some of us, mostly Americans but I would gather that other nationalities feel the same, our motivations for coming here were far beyond the need to make money. There was a national pride and a thought of a way to make an impact into the overall goal of winning the 'war on terror'. Simply put, a good percentage of guys I've worked with over here just are not here for the money. If you come over here for just the money, and that alone, you will not last. I've seen it time again. There has to be some other inner drive either for adventure, sense of chipping in to the effort or for some a resume builder.
Osama, Usama Bin Laden being finally put to rest closes a significant chapter for some of us, probably most of us that watched with horror on 11SEP01 as those planes crashed into the buildings and the buildings fell. It probably was a national past time to wonder when/if he would be captured or killed. One thing I know working with and serving in the military, is the dedication and fortitude of the guys that literally went to the ends of the earth to find this one man is unmatched. My hat is off to them today, they are the true heroes.
So, in the end the war goes on. The machine still rolls forward, but with one small victory in hand.
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