Osama bin martyred?

Recent unconfirmed reports that Osama bin Laden has died of typhoid have been welcomed in the West with much relief, and something very much like glee.

Ding-dong, the witch is dead!?

Well, perhaps the death of bin Laden, if true, is less than ideal in the circumstances. Hold that glee.

He should have been caught – by now surely, ferchrissakes! – and held up to the world’s scrutiny by being put on trial and made to face his victims, or their families. That would have the potential to show him for what he is, or was, in the cold, hard light of day.

Instead, dying as a fugitive and martyr, the legend just rolls on.

Osama the hunted! Osama the martyred! Osama the immortal!