The U.S. Creates New Al Qaeda Martyr

I was very dismayed to read that the United States bombed parts of Pakistan--without permission--to kill Abu Laith al-Libia, a senior Al Qaeda commander. Al Qaeda is set up so that it does not fall should one of its leaders die, much like our military is designed to survive the death of leaders through a line of automatic succession.

What really disturbs me about this--other than the fact that once again my country has violated another state's sovereignty--is that this "War on Terror" is fought with Cold War mentality. Death to the Westerner and death to an eastern terrorist are not the same. They don't mind dying for their cause. We talk a good game about dying for a cause, but the truth is that while we are willing to risk our lives, few walk into a situation fully prepared to die. Once more, the only thing that comes out of the deaths of these operatives is that they become martyrs, only serving to reinvigorate their cause.

So thanks a lot, CIA, you just made the world a bit more unsafe.