“Most Americans rightly praised President Obama for bold action in taking out bin Laden. But President Trump gets little credit from the opposition in sending al-Baghdadi to the netherworld.”
But there was one major dissenter: Vice President Joe Biden. His counsel was not to use military force. Apparently, he feared “blowback” from Pakistan and political damage at home if the American action failed.
I thought of that this weekend when the ISIS butcher Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by U.S. Special Forces in Northern Syria. Joe Biden was quiet about the victory while President Trump was not; telling the world the ISIS leader got what he deserved and went out a coward.
Eight years ago, the bin Laden killing united most Americans. We were happy the architect of 9/11 was gone. I remember that my operation sold thousands of bumper stickers that read: “Navy Seals 1, bin Laden 0.”
But the Trump takedown of the ISIS maniac was not greeted with universal applause. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi whimpered that she wasn’t informed in advance. Well, that might be because the President believed you would leak word of the raid, madame.