Introduction
Operation Geronimo refers to the assassination of the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden in 2011. The execution of the most influential terrorist of that time, accused of planning the terrorist act on 9/11, was authorized by Barack Obama, the President of the United States (Pašagić, 2020). The successful operation completion made further advancement of the American military and intelligence in eliminating the terrorist menace easier. Osama bin Laden was a renowned criminal in international search, and the CIA made significant efforts to find and arrest him (Sinai, 2021). At the same time, his execution caused public debates due to the military’s ban on the assassination of unarmed people. It shows that the operation caused ethical controversies that the American President had to solve. In this case, executing terrorist number one who endangered the domestic security of the United States was more important than following ethical principles. Therefore, President Obama had the legal authority to order Operation Geronimo and to execute the plan.
Discussion and Analysis
Obama had the legal right to authorize the search of Osama bin Laden and his execution because this criminal endangered the United States national security. First, bin Laden was the head of al-Qaeda when they elaborated on the plan to attack Twin Towers on September 11 and executed it (Pašagić, 2020). The analysts agree that bin Laden had a significant role in motivating terrorists and ideologists of the radical Islamic movement (Pašagić, 2020). After the terrorist attack on September 11, the CIA prevented several more possible attacks on American citizens and their mass assassination (Sinai, 2021). These facts show that the decision of Barack Obama to justify Operation Geronimo and execute Osama bin Laden in his house was adequate in that situation.
The way Operation Geronimo was conducted corresponded to its ultimate goal. Operation Geronimo aimed to capture or kill the terrorist, but the participants kept in mind that they should not kill unarmed individuals when they wanted to surrender. As the representatives of the White House stated, it was evident from the beginning that neither Osama bin Laden nor other men in the house did not plan to surrender (Pašagić, 2020). As a result, all adult men, including the sons of bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and the courier, were killed during the mission. It is critical to mention that women, who were in the same house with bin Laden, and their children, were not killed by American soldiers (Pašagić, 2020). Therefore, it is impossible to accuse the participants of the operation of Geronimo of excessive cruelty or abuse of power.
The planning of the operation of Geronimo was long-term and detailed, which shows that President Obama was completely aware of the options concerning the outcomes. According to the official information, President Obama met with the members of the National Security Council before the operation and was present in the office during it. The process lasted 38 minutes instead of 30, as planned (Pašagić, 2020). Though its outcomes were successful, President Obama authorized all actions during the execution of the plan. It allows us to state that the President and the White House justified all activities during Operation Geronimo.
It is vital to mention that the CIA chose the best option for capturing or executing Osama bin Laden. According to the preliminary research, the leader of Al-Qaeda had an underground bunker to hide in. Its destruction required the use of 910 kg bombs, which would affect dozens of civilians who lived in the nearby area (Pašagić, 2020). President Obama did not authorize this plan due to the risk of killing many innocent people who were not connected with terrorism and Osama bin Laden. The plan for the capture or execution of Osama bin Laden in the house where he lived incognito was regarded as the safest (Sinai, 2021). The group of experienced officers from the Red Squadron was responsible for the operation of Geronimo. Its members had relevant experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the necessary knowledge of the local language (Pašagić, 2020). It allows us to assume that using military specialists with the relevant experience and skills allowed President Obama and the National Security Council to avoid unnecessary victims in the capture and execution of Osama bin Laden.
The execution of the leader of Al Qaeda was the only possible option during Operation Geronimo. It is necessary to mention that the terrorist had weapons in the room, and he lacked time to take them. According to the report, a Makarov pistol and AKS-74U carbine were in the same room. Potentially, bin Laden could reach the AKS-74U carbine if one of the SEALs did not shoot him (Pašagić, 2020). Therefore, this information shows that the execution of the terrorist was a necessary measure and was justified.
The burial of the body of Osama bin Laden is also connected with ethical controversy. The American officials stated that the body of the terrorist was buried in the ocean after the execution. He was wrapped in a weighted plastic bag, and one of the officers read the traditional Muslim religious formula for the burial (Pašagić, 2020). After that, the body was buried in the sea. From one point of view, the criminal was buried according to the Islamic tradition with the final prayers. From another point of view, it was a hasty decision, and the international community did not see sufficient evidence that the body truly belonged to Osama bin Laden.
After a while, The American National Security Council presented evidence that the body belonged to the former leader of Al Qaeda. Its representatives justified the decision to bury the body in the ocean with the idea that there were no countries that would agree to bury Osama bin Laden (Sinai, 2021). Moreover, this type of burial deprived the radicals of the opportunity to take the place of Osama bin Laden’s burial as sacred (Sinai, 2021). It allows us to hypothesize that the decisions of President Obama were wholly justified in this case.
It is possible to oppose this perspective with the claim that Osama bin Laden has become a martyr for his followers. The Iran representatives stated that Osama bin Laden’s execution was illegal and immoral because the terrorist did not try to fight (Sinai, 2021). The American military deprived him of the right to court decisions. It is critical to mention that sacrifice of own life and martyrdom are essential components of the radical Islamist ideology. It is possible to illustrate this idea with the following lines about the formation of the radical Islamic vision:
“Sacrifice, martyrdom, and jihad are Islamic concepts that have been distorted and exploited by the “Islamic State” (IS) to pursue a radical Pan-Islamic vision. This exploitation of Islam is a recruitment tactic that uses human lives as a weapon for spreading maximum terror and damage. By using Islam as its ideological basis, IS claims to have legitimacy and religious justification. Radicalized recruits are motivated to kill and die from this false legitimacy to support” violent goals” (Hutchins, 2017, p. 7).
This excerpt shows that for many Muslim people who shared the views of the radicals, the actions of the United States were the manifestation of cruelty and violence. The main question, in this case, is whether there is a need to pay attention to the voices of radical Islamic followers of Osama bin Laden. In all cases, the actions of the American military officers, the CIA agents, the National Security Council, and the decision of President Obama to authorize them corresponded to the needs of the United States. Therefore, they were justified in the critical situation of capturing and executing the leader of the terrorist organization.
Conclusion
To conclude, the decision of President Obama to start the operation of Geronimo and to execute the plan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden was justified. The facts show that the leader of Al Qaeda endangered the United States national security. The White House and the CIA made everything possible to eliminate the danger and save the civilians’ lives. In addition, the military officers who participated in Operation Geronimo did not kill women and children who lived in the same house as Osama bin Laden. They were not dangerous for them, and their lives were intact. It allows us to state that there were no unnecessary deaths during Operation Geronimo.
References
Hutchins, R. (2017). Islam and suicide terrorism: Separating fact from fiction. Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, 9(11), 7–11.
Pašagić, A. (2020). Failed states and terrorism: Justifiability of transnational interventions from a counterterrorism perspective. Perspectives on Terrorism, 14(3), 19–28.
Sinai, J. (2021). Review of the rise and fall of Osama bin Laden. Perspectives on Terrorism, 15(5), 93–93.