If I had my rathers.

[Uncle Joe]

I would rather that this mission had been a capture or kill goal and that Bin Laden was trying to fight back only to be killed.

Having said that even if this was a straight kill mission it's higher on the moral scale than trying to kill him with bombs or missiles which no doubt would've caused more collateral damage aka; innocent bystanders to be killed.

I also believe from a strategic standpoint, the obtaining of intelligence benefited by the personal approach instead of just blowing the compound to smithereens, obtaining that treasure trove of information may in fact save more lives in the future than anything else.

As to Bin Laden's culpability, I'm convinced he was indeed waging war against the U.S. going all the way back to the 90s after the first Persian Gulf War and he's responsible whether by his connections, financing, leadership and/or messaging for killing innocent people of many nationalities, whether it was here on 9/11, the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen and the Kenyan embassy bombings.

Bin Laden was an integral part of that organization.

I also believe the best overall strategy for the U.S. to combat terrorism is by supporting the people at one level or another of North Africa,the Middle East and anywhere else that we're capable of doing, in their pursuits of self-determination.

[bobbolink]

1. Your last sentence says it all for me.

:applause:

Killing leaders doesn't resolve the anger that enabled a leader to gain power in the first place.

[malaise]

2. Yes Uncle Joe

This one is difficult. I would have preferred due process but anything that destroys ReTHUG myths is good for the planet

[NYC_SKP]

3. Rec. There have been presidents who would have taken out the compound with Napalm...

of bunker busters or used far less discriminate tactics.

And I heartily agree with your last sentence.

Thanks.

K/R

[Common Sense Party]

4. "by rathers"?

Is that a regional colloquialism I haven't heard before?

I've heard the phrase "If I had my druthers..."

Neither of them make any sense gramatically. I just hadn't heard your version before.

To your larger point, I agree. OBL declared war on us. He is now a battlefield casualty. Too bad for him, but I'll not lose any sleep.

[glockshox]

5. Wrong word...

druthers refers to the part of the horse that one would use to direct its movement.."If I had things my way..."

English...not for everyone...

[Common Sense Party]

6. Druthers is part of a horse? I never knew that.

I say "If I had my druthers" from time to time, but never knew the origin.

[JuniperLea]

9. Nope...

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/194850.html

[Uncle Joe]

7. I suppose it is.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rather

—Idiom
9. had / would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.
Use rather in a Sentence
See images of rather
Search rather on the Web

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English hrathor, comparative of hræth quick, rathe

:)

[JuniperLea]

8. From one of my fav websites...

Origin
This is an American phrase and not used widely elsewhere. People elsewhere in the world might want to know what druthers are, as the phrase conveys otherwise. Druthers is a shortening of 'would rathers'. The phrase originated in the late 19th century and is first cited in the January 1870 edition of Overland monthly and Out West magazine, in a story called Centrepole Bill, by George F. Emery:

"If I was a youngster, I 'drather set up in any perfession but a circus-driver, but a man can't always have his 'drathers."

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/194850.html

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. Yes, by Rathers....

[Common Sense Party]

12. That was my first thought, actually.

[Uncle Joe]

11. I see what you're talking about now, I can't believe I missed that one.

corrected to my rathers.

[Common Sense Party]

13. Well, now, that's ANOTHER one I haven't heard!

I need to get out more.

I like it, though: "If I had my rathers."

[Jefferson23]

14. I can understand your opinion on this and I most certainly agree with

your last statement..100%.

I do believe bin Laden was the only legitimate target after 9/11, although
I am not sure what I think about how it went down, since the reports now differ.

Thanks for the thread Uncle Joe :hi: :thumbsup:

[Uncle Joe]

15. Thanks to everyone that posted.

Peace to all of you.:hi:

[Uncle Joe]

16. This is why I use the "if" word a fair amount of the time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x580596