Double-tap justice: More to come

Justice started with a president our enemies foolishly dismissed as a "cowboy."

But George W. Bush's fortitude led the country back from 9/11 and foretold the future for our enemies in the War on Terror: "You can run, but you can't hide."

It ended with a president our enemies misjudged as a weak academic.

But when wartime action came, President Barack Obama did not flinch. He executed American justice.

President Bush promised, "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."

President Obama carried it out using SEAL Team 6, an elite force Democrats once dubbed "Cheney's assassination squad." Based on intelligence derived from both the Bush and Obama eras, America's finest dropped in on Osama bin Laden in his compound in Pakistan last Sunday, chased him to the third level of his "man cave" and delivered the only diplomacy a civilized country can have with al-Qaida terrorists -- the double-tap.

With a "bang" and a confirmation "bang," the world became a safer place. The planet's No. 1 terrorist, the killer of thousands of Muslims and Christians, women and children, was dead. His body was taken by the American military, identified conclusively and plopped into the sea, leaving his cowardly followers to wonder when their turn will come.

It might not be long.

The mission brought back a treasure trove of computer data that likely will give us excellent information for future, shall we say, settlement terms.

Look for drones, look for our elite fighting troops and, when you least expect it, listen for that bang-bang.

For a brief few hours last Sunday night and Monday morning, America experienced a rare unified moment around the news of the near perfectly executed mission that killed bin Laden.

Now, a week later, the nation's back to business as usual, debating competing narratives for how this event best supports politics of the day.

Did "enhanced" interrogation techniques (waterboarding) play a role in finding Osama? (It did, by the way, if the CIA director's word means anything.) Did President Obama's "extended hand" approach ease world backlash and rally support? Should pictures of a dead Osama be released?

And don't forget next year's presidential election. Democrat and Republican operatives swooped into action before Osama's body had sunk to the bottom of the ocean, with Democrats issuing a talking-point memo calling on leaders to make sure "Bush does not come out on top" in the killing of Osama.

Not surprisingly, one of the first to respond to the call was House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who said, "The death of Osama bin Laden marks the most significant development in our fight against al-Qaida. ... I salute President Obama."

But here's Pelosi in 2006: "Even if Osama bin Laden is caught tomorrow, it is five years too late. He has done more damage the longer he has been out there. But, in fact, the damage that he has done … is done. And even to capture him now I don't think makes us any safer."

No one drips hypocrisy like Rep. Pelosi. When Bush is president, capturing Osama doesn't mean jack. When Obama is president, killing Osama is "the most significant development" in the War on Terror.

Republicans play the game too, though not quite with the stunning moral bankruptcy of Pelosi.

GOP operatives work overtime even now to tie Bush policies on the prosecution of the War on Terror to last week's success.

And on and on it goes.

Exactly how many political points one side or the other can stack on the head of a pin may be unavoidable reality in the 24/7 news cycle, but I for one would like to spend a little more time relishing the extraordinary and uniting events of last Sunday.

We are a free country. We argue like brothers and sisters about all manner of politics. Uncivilized countries, like those al-Qaida would set up, don't understand this kind of liberty.

But no one -- least of all our enemies -- should forget that when it comes to American resolve in matters of national security, the drive for justice effortlessly passes from president to president, even presidents as different as George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Last Sunday night, President Barack Obama brought justice to terrorist Osama bin Laden with double-tap diplomacy. No Miranda rights. No Gitmo. No public defender. No Manhattan federal court.

Justice was delivered by a Navy SEAL. Just like George W. Bush would have done it.

Both did us proud. Well done, gentlemen.

Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@reviewjournal.com), the former publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and a member of the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame, writes a column for Stephens Media. Read his blog at www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm.