Twenty years after 9/11, we were finally able to take-out Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two man to Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist group that carried off the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Remember how many of bin Laden’s number two’s we took out over the years? Until they got bin Laden himself 11 years ago, it seemed like we killed a “top lieutenant” in that accursed band of fundamentalist Muslim gypsies every other week or so.
No, killing people, religious movements and all the assorted human activities we've done or will do is not going to make much difference and it doesn't make much sense right now.
Because we're just humans trying to justify our existence, and anything that makes us the #1 killer, or top dog, or whatever makes us happy.
It just doesn't do anything for the rest of the world, is the problem. We've destroyed so much of the world and gloated over it that nothing we do is ever going to make things right.
I don't feel safer now than I did when Bin Laden was alive. In fact, we're in danger of more bad stuff now than we were back then.
The biggest problem is that we humans are self-destroying and we're doing a fine job of it.
Such folly. We make our mark and it washes out of existence.
In one hundred years (if this planet is still livable, not exactly sure of that...) our descendants will wonder, 'what the hell was that all about?' while they're trying to survive on dying planet.
Pretty depressing analysis, and spot on as usual. Especially the righteous and articulate diatribe against the folly of religion. Atheistic humanism is our only hope, and I’m not hopeful. Sometimes I’m glad I’m old.
OK, al-Zawahiri deserves to be dead if anyone "deserves to be dead," but so many things about this bother me. Starting with some Democrats crowing that *Biden* killed al-Zawahiri and *Obama* killed Osama bin Laden as if (1) these were personal acts of heroism, and (2) this means our guys are better than their guys. They sound like NRA apologists. "A good guy with a drone can beat a bad guy without a drone"? Is this about testosterone or what?
Next up is the notion that offing an identified leader will nullify, or even curb, a mass movement or otherwise turn the stampede of history. Sometimes it does have a profound effect, of course. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. was a huge blow to the movement for economic and racial justice, but it didn't stifle it forever. And I can't even imagine how the U.S. might be different today if Robert Kennedy hasn't been killed.
People who think that prosecuting or imprisoning Trump will make his 74 million voters go back into the woodwork are similarly deluded.
Finally, is anyone else thinking that if the CIA can take al-Zawahiri out with a drone, it probably isn't impossible for other technologically sophisticated, malevolent actors to take out high-profile figures they have a grudge against? The level of invective and even death threats directed against anyone who speaks out for justice in this country is appalling -- at least it was appalling a few years ago, before it became so goddamn common. To speak out like Christine Blasey Ford or Cassidy Hutchinson you have to be willing to go into a sort of witness protection program. When the cost of speaking out gets that high -- or even when it involves "only" getting fired from your job and/or vilified in your community -- how many of us are willing to do it?
Religions are going to be humanity's downfall. Imagine making up shit that ends your existence eventually. But, we never really deserved this incredible planet anyway.
Taking out a leader of a fanatical movement doesn't erase the fanatical ideology. We will always be infidels to Moslems. As long as religions feel they need to dominate the world, the wars will never end. We are primates doomed to keep trying to be the top gorilla. It is tragic because look at all the art music and architecture religions have engendered!
We are indeed the most maladapted species in nature. We identify the 7 deadly sins and instead of taking head, we double down. We have the brains to invent a pollinating bee drone, but not the brains to care for the bees in the first place. So many other instances of willful ignorance that the species is committing suicide by poisoning the beautiful, bountiful planet that produced us. Can’t think of another species that is that dumb.
I recently concluded that opposable thumbs are the worst mistake of evolution.
Great essay, Lucian.
We're all just monkeys in bigger, deadlier tribes
John Lennon:
Imagine there's no country
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
No, killing people, religious movements and all the assorted human activities we've done or will do is not going to make much difference and it doesn't make much sense right now.
Because we're just humans trying to justify our existence, and anything that makes us the #1 killer, or top dog, or whatever makes us happy.
It just doesn't do anything for the rest of the world, is the problem. We've destroyed so much of the world and gloated over it that nothing we do is ever going to make things right.
I don't feel safer now than I did when Bin Laden was alive. In fact, we're in danger of more bad stuff now than we were back then.
The biggest problem is that we humans are self-destroying and we're doing a fine job of it.
Such folly. We make our mark and it washes out of existence.
In one hundred years (if this planet is still livable, not exactly sure of that...) our descendants will wonder, 'what the hell was that all about?' while they're trying to survive on dying planet.
Because we're not doing anything to avoid that.
Pretty depressing analysis, and spot on as usual. Especially the righteous and articulate diatribe against the folly of religion. Atheistic humanism is our only hope, and I’m not hopeful. Sometimes I’m glad I’m old.
Should have taken out Tucker.
Way too hot to think right now. Excellent essay. Thank you.
"but know in your heart you who read
that all you tread
is earthquake rot and matter mental
and peace war religion revolution
will not help..." - Gary Snyder
Thank you, Lucian. You are quite the scholar of history and l appreciate you and your insights…
OK, al-Zawahiri deserves to be dead if anyone "deserves to be dead," but so many things about this bother me. Starting with some Democrats crowing that *Biden* killed al-Zawahiri and *Obama* killed Osama bin Laden as if (1) these were personal acts of heroism, and (2) this means our guys are better than their guys. They sound like NRA apologists. "A good guy with a drone can beat a bad guy without a drone"? Is this about testosterone or what?
Next up is the notion that offing an identified leader will nullify, or even curb, a mass movement or otherwise turn the stampede of history. Sometimes it does have a profound effect, of course. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. was a huge blow to the movement for economic and racial justice, but it didn't stifle it forever. And I can't even imagine how the U.S. might be different today if Robert Kennedy hasn't been killed.
People who think that prosecuting or imprisoning Trump will make his 74 million voters go back into the woodwork are similarly deluded.
Finally, is anyone else thinking that if the CIA can take al-Zawahiri out with a drone, it probably isn't impossible for other technologically sophisticated, malevolent actors to take out high-profile figures they have a grudge against? The level of invective and even death threats directed against anyone who speaks out for justice in this country is appalling -- at least it was appalling a few years ago, before it became so goddamn common. To speak out like Christine Blasey Ford or Cassidy Hutchinson you have to be willing to go into a sort of witness protection program. When the cost of speaking out gets that high -- or even when it involves "only" getting fired from your job and/or vilified in your community -- how many of us are willing to do it?
Thanks Lucian...a great reminder of miniscule self-importance of the human race.
Another great article.Merci!
Money talks and bullshit walks. War is money. Ask Alexander Hamilton.
Religions are going to be humanity's downfall. Imagine making up shit that ends your existence eventually. But, we never really deserved this incredible planet anyway.
Taking out a leader of a fanatical movement doesn't erase the fanatical ideology. We will always be infidels to Moslems. As long as religions feel they need to dominate the world, the wars will never end. We are primates doomed to keep trying to be the top gorilla. It is tragic because look at all the art music and architecture religions have engendered!
We are indeed the most maladapted species in nature. We identify the 7 deadly sins and instead of taking head, we double down. We have the brains to invent a pollinating bee drone, but not the brains to care for the bees in the first place. So many other instances of willful ignorance that the species is committing suicide by poisoning the beautiful, bountiful planet that produced us. Can’t think of another species that is that dumb.
Lucien would be such a welcome pioneer in the forest of inept politicians …