Geronimo fought against US troops and became famous for his daring actions and numerous escapes from capture.
UNITED KINGDOM: The United States military used the code name ‘Geronimo’ for the operation that led them to Osama bin Laden’s Abottabad home.
Geronimo (1829 – 1909) was a prominent Native American leader who became known for his bravery and was revered by the Apaches as a warrior fighting for their rights. Though outnumbered, Geronimo fought against US troops and became famous for his daring actions and numerous escapes from capture. His group was one of the last major forces of independent Native American warriors who refused to acknowledge the US occupation of the American West. The US Army was given the task to track and capture Geronimo and bring him back, dead or alive. In 1886, Geronimo was eventually tracked down by US authorities.
The similarities of Geronimo to the bin Laden case are apparent. Replace ‘Geronimo’ with the ‘muslim world’ and one can see how history repeats itself. The occupation of free lands is never accepted by native people.
Umar Khalid Dar
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2011.
