CORUSCANT — Obi-Wan Kenobi, the mastermind of some of the most devastating attacks on the Galactic Empire and the most hunted man in the galaxy, was killed in a firefight with Imperial forces near Alderaan, Darth Vader announced on Sunday.
In a late-night appearance in the East Room of the Imperial Palace, Lord Vader declared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that agents of the Imperial Army and stormtroopers of the 501st Legion had finally cornered Kenobi, one of the leaders of the Jedi rebellion, who had eluded the Empire for nearly two decades. Imperial officials said Kenobi resisted and was cut down by Lord Vader’s own lightsaber. He was later dumped out of an airlock.
This is the best political/media satire ever. And one of the best awakening calls ever. That we are celebrating the assassination elimination of an enemy without even the faintest touch of Law and Order that should be the reason normal action of a constitutional government.
Just for the Homeland Patriotic fascists folks, i had no doubt that Bin Laden Obi-Wan should have faced this penalty. But i think that at least a lawful nation should have had a court, a process, anything that might resemble a system of law. No one with an ounce of realism doubted that this would be the final result. But sometimes keeping the formalities and having the appearance of something is the difference between light and dark. Between moderates everywhere thinking that this was a criminal that should have been caught, judged and executed, or thinking that this was simply a band of imperial barbarians that have no respect whatsoever for anyone outside of their borders. (( and sometimes not even inside their borders…))
By the way, if you want/need examples of similar cases go no further than Saddam Hussein, Adolf Eichmann or Nicolae Ceaușescu. They all got the same deserved fate but at least a modest appearance of due process was maintained.