On May 2, 2011 a team of U.S. Navy Seals invaded a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where they found and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Since then People have condemned the invasion saying it was not moral for the Americans to go under cover and perform this secret act of retaliation to violence. This act of violence is morally permissible and can be proven through natural law theory and utilitarianism.
It started back in 1993 with several bombings throughout the years on U.S. military bases killing hundreds and injuring thousands. September 11, 2001 was the day members of al-Qaida executed their long plan of terrorism on the United States of America. Four planes were hijacked by members of al-Qaida, two were crashed into the World Trade Center, the third crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Over 3,000 Americans were killed that day due to the terrorist attack. Terrorism is defined by MacKinnon as “violent acts that deliberately intend to inflict harm on those who do not deserve to be harmed” (MacKinnon). The people of New York who were killed and injured by the attack did not deserve to be harmed. The United States tracked Osama bin Laden down for about ten years until one night U.S. Navy seals found and killed him. If we look at this through natural law theory every human being has a right to life and liberty, when that right is taken away from us it becomes morally justifiable to defend that right. If we choose to take away other peoples right to life and liberty, then we are also choosing to give up our right to life and liberty as well. When Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida committed these terrorist attacks on innocent people they gave up their right to liberty and life, while taking the lives and liberty of over 3,000 Americans. Based off of natural law the American military then had the right to defend our country and the people in it by killing Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida terrorists in order to defend Americans right to life and liberty. We can also look at this through a utilitarian point of view. Terrorist groups such as al-Qaida bring people fear, loss, and pain. A utilitarian would state that the most amount of happiness for the most people would be found by eliminating these threats. Americans were not the only people threatened by al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, and now the new group known as ISIS. They are targeting Israel the United States and anyone else who is supporting Israel. We cannot stand idle and let these terrorist groups wreak havoc on Americans as …show more content…
Osama bin Laden was “placed on the FBI’s most wanted list in 1999” (Timeline). The attack on the United States occurred in 2001 and bin Laden was hunted down for 10 years. It is not fully understood what went down the night of May second when he was killed. If Osama bin Laden would have been captured and put on trial, he wouldn’t have got the satisfaction of being martyr. This would have been a better option for everyone but because of the danger in the mission to capture him its not sure if they were unable to capture him and that’s what resulted in the shooting and killing of Osama bin
It started back in 1993 with several bombings throughout the years on U.S. military bases killing hundreds and injuring thousands. September 11, 2001 was the day members of al-Qaida executed their long plan of terrorism on the United States of America. Four planes were hijacked by members of al-Qaida, two were crashed into the World Trade Center, the third crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Over 3,000 Americans were killed that day due to the terrorist attack. Terrorism is defined by MacKinnon as “violent acts that deliberately intend to inflict harm on those who do not deserve to be harmed” (MacKinnon). The people of New York who were killed and injured by the attack did not deserve to be harmed. The United States tracked Osama bin Laden down for about ten years until one night U.S. Navy seals found and killed him. If we look at this through natural law theory every human being has a right to life and liberty, when that right is taken away from us it becomes morally justifiable to defend that right. If we choose to take away other peoples right to life and liberty, then we are also choosing to give up our right to life and liberty as well. When Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida committed these terrorist attacks on innocent people they gave up their right to liberty and life, while taking the lives and liberty of over 3,000 Americans. Based off of natural law the American military then had the right to defend our country and the people in it by killing Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida terrorists in order to defend Americans right to life and liberty. We can also look at this through a utilitarian point of view. Terrorist groups such as al-Qaida bring people fear, loss, and pain. A utilitarian would state that the most amount of happiness for the most people would be found by eliminating these threats. Americans were not the only people threatened by al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, and now the new group known as ISIS. They are targeting Israel the United States and anyone else who is supporting Israel. We cannot stand idle and let these terrorist groups wreak havoc on Americans as …show more content…
Osama bin Laden was “placed on the FBI’s most wanted list in 1999” (Timeline). The attack on the United States occurred in 2001 and bin Laden was hunted down for 10 years. It is not fully understood what went down the night of May second when he was killed. If Osama bin Laden would have been captured and put on trial, he wouldn’t have got the satisfaction of being martyr. This would have been a better option for everyone but because of the danger in the mission to capture him its not sure if they were unable to capture him and that’s what resulted in the shooting and killing of Osama bin