Official fails to see benefit of capturing Osama bin Laden

The Facts\nOutgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker has questioned the value of capturing Osama bin Laden, according to the Washington Post. These sentiments are similar to those in a 2006 speech by Vice President Dick Cheney, who warned that even if bin Laden were dead, the U.S. would still have to deal with al-Qaida. Would the capture of bin Laden have a large affect on the war on terror?\nCapturing fugitive would do little\nBy Jacob Stewart\nThe capturing of bin Laden would not be a major logistical victory for the U.S. Ignoring the symbolic relevance, the nation would benefit little since the international fugitive has been rendered largely ineffective as a result of the U.S. search.\nRather than continue to an unproductive pursuit of an old enemy, the nation would find greater benefit in moving those troops searching for bin Laden into Iraq, in order to continue to substantiate forces while the fledgling government gets on its feet. An increase in troops now means a quicker exit of the Middle East. Bin Laden will not dare poke his head out of whatever cave he is hiding in, knowing the concentration the U.S. has placed on his bounty the past several years. Therefore, his continued pursuit is irrelevant.\nFurthermore, finding bin Laden would serve to substantiate arguments for a “cut and run” policy in the Middle East, which would prove disastrous for foreign relations.\nGovernment should stick to goals\nBy Ayesha Awan\nIt’s time somebody throws the repeated ad nauseam Bush administration mantra of “Uh-oh, if you do X, Y and/or Z, the terrorists will have won!” right back in its face. \nAfter Sept. 11, Bush wanted Osama bin Laden “dead or alive.” Last September he addressed bin Laden directly “No matter how long it takes, America will find you, and we will bring you to justice.” Apparently he’s not important anymore. Wasn’t the war on terror started because of this man who is suddenly not important? We created a quagmire in Iraq because they supposedly had ties to bin Laden, and now he’s not important? \nIt’s no secret that the Bush administration makes heinous, sickening mistakes and refuses to admit them. The administration can’t find bin Laden, so it is going to act like his pursuit wasn’t important in the first place. Weak if you ask me. Oh my, the terrorists will have won!