Every war in history has required the meticulous construction of an adversary. As a nation at war, it is necessary to conjure up an enemy so fantastically wicked, that a critical mass of people of that nation are willing to, without question, either take the life of another human or die protecting their nation from the threat presented by this enemy. It is an intensive process of dehumanization so extreme that it nullifies the conscience of the citizenry and converts them into fuel for the war machine (i.e. soldiers and wartime supporters or at minimum apathetic non-dissenters).
Bin Laden has been the poster child of evil, the visage of terrorism that has fueled America’s war on the Middle East. With his death we are left with a plethora of imperative questions. Had Bin Laden outlived his utility as an author of American hatred for Middle Eastern agitators? Will someone rise to take his place? Or is American intolerance of Muslims so deep that this job has been rendered obsolete? Will this mark the downsizing of the American-led military campaign for control of the Middle East? Is this merely a transition into a more insidious means of control through policy and puppet governments?
Whatever the answers may be, in the post-Bin Laden political landscape one thing remains certain. As long as America attempts to control this region, there will always be strong and violent opposition from the people. If America wants to make the world safer for Americans, it might be time to think of how America might make the world safer from Americans.
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