Was justice done in bin Laden's killing? Candy Chan/SCMP

Candy Chan is disturbed by America's unilateral action, without regard for the rights of others

By Philadelphia Daily News

The story began in September 2001. The villain, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, masterminded a devastating attack on America's World Trade Centre. The hero, that is, the US government, then began its mission to seek out, capture and kill the villain. A decade later, bin Laden was killed by US military operatives and the hero could finally declare, "justice has been done". But the story does not end with the death of the villain; and it never will. 

In the aftermath, the question has arisen as to whether images of bin Laden's body should be released to the public. Despite the US restraint, the public and the media have become fascinated with the topic. False pictures showing bin Laden's "gory death" were displayed widely over the internet and Reuters published photos of the raid, showing several men lying in pools of blood.  

The widely circulated picture of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton - in the White House Situation Room with other US officials as they watched the raid unfold - showed her with her hand over her mouth. This further aroused readers' interest as to what they saw.

If published, the photos of bin Laden's death would not be merely evidence but also a tool for macabre pleasure. People have become morbid voyeurs; by consuming such gruesome pictures, they encourage the spread of violence.

Bin Laden's final moments were vividly portrayed by a US official, who said he had been shot above his eye and the bullet blew away part of his skull. Are such details necessary? Is the disclosure meant to reinforce the politically correct portrayal of villainy? 

The mission also makes us question whether the US media has gone too far in defending its government's actions; as a Vatican spokesman put it, a "Christian never rejoices in the death of a man".
In general, the US media has failed to address a number of controversial issues. Is it justifiable for Barack Obama to condemn the Pakistani government for hiding bin Laden's whereabouts, without explaining if his actions infringed Pakistan's sovereignty? Did the US commander-in-chief ask bin Laden's family for permission before burying him at sea? Did the US deal with the family of bin Laden in a reasonable manner, especially his daughter, who witnessed her father shot dead by US forces?

Eradicating terrorism requires an international effort, involving Europe and the Middle East especially. Bin Laden's death was certainly a milestone for Americans, but through this "one-man band" operation, the US is walking further away from the global anti-terrorism policy.

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