Economy · Health · Politics/Government

What does the death of Osama bin Laden mean to the world?

Eric Ringham May 1, 2011
88

President Obama announced Sunday night that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Today’s Question: What does the death of Osama bin Laden mean to the world?

Update:

We also posed this question to sources in our Public Insight Network. We talked with a few of them and featured their answers on All Things Considered.

Raghav Mehta, Minneapolis:

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Jamie Kaiser, Watertown:

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Lisa Kruse-Robles, Forest Lake:

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Ashley Ver Burg, River Falls, Wis.:

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  • Kevin VC

    It means the Wars we are in within the middle east are now without excuse to continue. Pulling out is finally the main goal.

    (We wasted enough on Iraq, a country that had no ties to the terrorists, nor had any weapons of mass destruction, and Bush point blank lied about.)

    We hopefully made friends, helped where we could, and need to let them know we have NO interest in annexing the lands. Which has lead to many a attack.

    And it means out troops did a good job, showed their training and professionalism.

  • Nicholas Roussos

    I wait for Donald Trump to take credit for telling the CIA how to get Osama bin Laden. He will probably find some angle to claim credit.

  • For those who needed this closure following 9/11, or other acts of terrorism orchestrated by Bin Laden that claimed the lives of their loved ones, it might bring closure. For many Americans, it may mean a sense of pride that a ten-year-long mission was accomplished. For U.S. Military around the globe it means a heightened state of alert. That is all I can guess at as “meaning” tonight without feeling overwhelmed at the long, long chain of events in which this is but one link.

  • David

    To quote Shakespeare, from Cymbeline: “I fear ’twill be revenged… on good ground we fear, if we do fear this body hath a tail more perilous than the head.”

    This is just a change of guard. Bin Laden was a figurehead for Al Qaeda, is now a martyr for Muslim extremists at the hands of the Americans, and while we finally achieved the goal of getting rid of him (which, as another commenter said, means it’s time to end this “war”), bin Laden’s death can only fuel anti-American sentiment in terrorist strongholds around the world. No doubt we’ll see more of Ayman al-Zawahri in the weeks and months to come, and increased threats and demand for attacks on the United States. Sorry to be the naysayer at the big party, but looking at the bigger global picture, this is worrisome.

    Bin Laden may have been our enemy, but let’s take care that we treat his death with proper dignity and decorum, keep the gloating and self-congratulating to a minimum, and not give the terrorists any more excuse to retaliate than they already have.

  • David

    To quote Shakespeare, from Cymbeline: “I fear ’twill be revenged… on good ground we fear, if we do fear this body hath a tail more perilous than the head.”

    This is just a change of guard. Bin Laden was a figurehead for Al Qaeda, is now a martyr for Muslim extremists at the hands of the Americans, and while we finally achieved the goal of getting rid of him (which, as another commenter said, means it’s time to end this “war”), bin Laden’s death can only fuel anti-American sentiment in terrorist strongholds around the world. No doubt we’ll see more of Ayman al-Zawahri in the weeks and months to come, and increased threats and demand for attacks on the United States. Sorry to be the naysayer at the big party, but looking at the bigger global picture, this is worrisome.

    Bin Laden may have been our enemy, but let’s take care that we treat his death with proper dignity and decorum, keep the gloating and self-congratulating to a minimum, and not give the terrorists any more excuse to retaliate than they already have.

  • David

    To quote Shakespeare, from Cymbeline: “I fear ’twill be revenged… on good ground we fear, if we do fear this body hath a tail more perilous than the head.”

    This is just a change of guard. Bin Laden was a figurehead for Al Qaeda, is now a martyr for Muslim extremists at the hands of the Americans, and while we finally achieved the goal of getting rid of him (which, as another commenter said, means it’s time to end this “war”), bin Laden’s death can only fuel anti-American sentiment in terrorist strongholds around the world. No doubt we’ll see more of Ayman al-Zawahri in the weeks and months to come, and increased threats and demand for attacks on the United States. Sorry to be the naysayer at the big party, but looking at the bigger global picture, this is worrisome.

    Bin Laden may have been our enemy, but let’s take care that we treat his death with proper dignity and decorum, keep the gloating and self-congratulating to a minimum, and not give the terrorists any more excuse to retaliate than they already have.

  • Larry M.

    I see the killing of Osama Bin Laden as symbolic victory after years of stalemates in U.S. foreign policy since 9/11. I think it shows leadership from Barack Obama who put the extra emphasis and resources to completing this mission. I think it restores confidence in our troops and intelligence community. I also see this as a victory for the State Department which had put pressure on Pakistan to cooperate in the fight against Al Qaeda.

  • jdb

    Justice achieved, and a clear message sent that murder of American civilians will not be tolerated. Sooner or later, we will find all those that engage in terrorism and end them.

  • WebTalker

    You Kill Me and I Kill You -> You Kill Me and I Kill You -> Where’s the Peace? Where the Justice?

    Hate, Envy and Pride are the Real Winners! Love, Peace and Mercy are the Losers!

    If Killing Equals Peace – Then War Equals Justice! Na, Na! God Help Us All If We Believe This!

    Let’s End The Pain by Always Pursuing Justice – Not Revenge!

    The Bible Clearly Tells Us That the Sins of the Fathers are Visited Upon the Children Unto the 3rd & 4th Generation!

    Let’s End the Terror, War, Foolishish and Madness for Our Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren Sakes!

  • Kristen

    I’m pretty sure we are going to kick ourselves later for this one. The war on terrorism is by no means over; this is just the beginning. Things are about to get nasty.

  • musa ibrahim

    For ten good years with all the military might and intelligence wealth and connections america could not catch osama alive. Shame to u.s.a

  • Zeke

    Best part of Bin Laden’s death : it will switch away media’s attention from the Royal Wedding.

  • Rich

    In the end, terrorists have never played by the rules and can only expect to be treated the same way back. Live by the sword and die by the sword and all that…

  • charles

    Why is it no one at MPR is challenging congress woman Bachmann in using some made up phrase “Sharia-compliant terrorism”

    here is a perfect opportunity to fact check this muslim bashing invented term. There is no such law and this and it doesn’t serve us when the media sits on the sidelines.

    I wish MPR would call her out on this. This is an on going issue for me whether it is the presidents birth certificate or global climate change. The media has been taking advantage of debate to instigate heated disagreements that produce entertainment while letting long settled and easily verifiable facts be put into question.

  • Virginia

    I am pleased with him being gone. I am concerned that we have not been shown any proof of his death. Buring within 24 hours still gives time to document proof of death for the World to see.

  • Hayduke

    This is great news for Muslims all across the world. Mr. Bin Laden and the terrorists that he influenced, have killed more innocent Muslims than anyone else. Perhaps this will be the beginnings of the end of radical Islam and will allow the vast majority of the peaceful followers of Islam to reclaim their faith.

  • GaryF

    In the short term, this guy got what was coming to him, in long run, we’ll have to see.

    We will find out just how influential he was in the AQ power structure. There were rumours he was seriously ill. Only time will tell. Was he still calling the shots?

    We also found out we cannot trust Pakistan. Pakistan should be weaned off any US military aid immediately.

    The reports didn’t say if we took any live prisoners. I hope we got a few so we can get more information out of them.

    We all need to celebrate for a couple of days, then back to business, besides radical Islam, we also have poor economy, gas is $4 a gallon, we have a “kinetic military action”, I call it a war, in Libya.

    So, rejoice for the day, the back to work.

  • Nick

    Where is the proof? we had proof of saddam’s death! Its good for the families of those effected on 9/11, to bring some closure, but this is far from over! I feel for our troops that are out there now!

  • Steve the Cynic

    Do you think the killing of Osama bin Laden on Presiden Obama’s orders will finally put to rest the speculation that Obama is secretly a muslim sympathetic to the jihadis? Or will the conspiracy theorists now say that Obama was just eliminating a rival?

    I did enjoy hearing the grudging congratulations from Pawlenty and Bachmann, though. (Except, that is, for Bachman’s slanderous phrase, “sharia-compliant terrorism,” as Charles pointed out earlier. Terrorism is by definition not sharia-compliant. Is Bachmann being disingenuous, or just stupid?)

  • Jason

    He got off easy. He died probably the way he expected or, with his failing health, the way he had hoped.

    I hope this will lead to the decline and eventual demise of al-Qaeda. I fear it may be the start of the cult of bin Laden.

  • GaryF

    The proof will come out at some time.

    They probably brought him to an aircraft carrier, weighed and measured him, took lots of pictures and x-rays, DNA samples, autopsy type stuff.

    Some day it will be revealed.

  • ceb

    Hate and killing are never the answer. No matter what, people are people. Where is the religious right? They should be talking about forgiveness and love. So much for what would jesus do. This is a sad day for the world and will only help to fuel the hatred. In some places we are the terrorists. We should be weeping not rejoicing with the mob. Now let’s pray for peace.

  • Steve the Cynic

    What do you mean, “Where’s the proof”? If he’s not dead, let him show up and prove it.

  • Mark M

    The US did the right thing by not distributing video or photos of his body. By quietly disposing of him at sea, the “martyr effect” has been minimized.

    For those talking of retribution, it’s not like al-Queda could hate the US more than they already did. These are people who think nothing of killing children, or using women as shields. There may be future strikes, but no more than there would have been before. In fact, the death of bin-Laden could spur them into executing some attacks that aren’t quite ready, which would make them less effective.

    Finally, while I certainly feel a grim satisfaction at bin Laden’s death, I’m disturbed by the jubilant celebrations, and chants of “USA, USA”. Killing should never be celebrated, but, at best, accepted as a necessary evil.

  • Maret Olson

    I wish that I could celebrate the defeat of someone who caused so much death and destruction, but his death will not turn back the clock and bring back those who died on September 11. I fear that terrorism is much like a hydra, that grows three new heads when one is cut off.

    Perhaps the real defeat of terrorism will come instead through the populist movements throughout the middle east. If a democratic revolution can bring a voice, and real change to the lives of the citizens living there, to increase economic and educational opportunities, maybe the radical religious extremism that drives terrorism will finally be defeated.

  • Chris

    I’m glad that bin Laden has been killed. But this doesn’t help the unemployed and I’m afraid it will be used as a distraction from more pressing issues.

  • steve

    it doesnt affect me-terrorism will still go on and thats the main thing-it takes attn away from the wedding of the century, lets start thinking about the derby this weekend!

  • Phil

    To boil it all down, this means relatively nothing to the world. You will rarely make a sensible person come to your side by using verbal and or physical attacks towards them.

    Individuals who wish to harm others aren’t going away just because a former head of an organization is dead.

    This does nothing in the name of “homeland security” and none of these wars we’re running will.

    We’ve successfully spent billions of dollars and countless human lives in pursuit of this man, you tell me if that cost is justifiable.

  • Clark

    I don’t agree with many of Obama’s political views, but I will agree he performed well and did not hesitate like lawyer Clinton in the 1990’s. He killed the head terrorist and then fed him to the fish. The terrorists cut our heads off on camera with a dull knife so osama got off easy in my view.

  • Noelle

    It feels…anticlimactic. It’s a symbolic victory for the U.S., but what does it really accomplish? I hardly believe that the Taliban is so centralized that the death of its leader will mean the end of terrorism.

  • Tim

    What does it mean? More hatred, maiming, death, destruction, orphans, widows etc. Same things that have been happening since Cain killed Abel.

  • This act of revenge and the celebration of it’s completion only shows the ignorance and sheer barbarism of the U.S.

  • megan

    I was 11 when 9/11 happened, I was taping the Today Show for my 6th grade news project. I turned on the t.v. and saw the first twin tower smoking, and my mom was shocked and explained what had happened. When I arrived at school all the 6th grade classrooms came together and watched news for three hours and throughout the day the t.v’s were playing the news. Half of my life, the anti-terror has been a focus, and seeing Osama brought to justice, like any other murderer. I am nervous about going to the Mall of America, maybe that’s too cautious.

  • James

    Pakistan has nuclear weapons… they did not like us to start with,,,, I hope Obamo did not put a stick in a wasp nest.

    I think we should have covertly captured him, tried him, and then had a public hanging.

    PS. Great job Seals!

    ∑

    DTOM

  • Chuck

    In the grand scheme of things it is quite significant. It demonstrates convincly to the world that the US has a long memory and a long reach. It is my hope that others will get the message and desist from attacking us wherever we happen to be.

    In the short run however, I think the there will be attempts at revenge. I do hope that those who seek revenge will remember that we did not start this fight, but we have the means to end it.

    I am pleased that our government had the courage and stamina to stay the course. Now is the time for more courage and stamina by all of us.

  • CJ

    Ummm…am I the only one puzzled by his strange end? The last ubber-bad guy was hung (his execution broadcast on the internet) and then subjected to a bunch of corpse photos to prove beyond the proverbial doubt shadow that the wicked one was dead.

    So…this uberduber bad guy gets a bullet in the brain with almost no witnesses and the body is snatched, then…dumped in the ocean for shark bait???

  • Tai Koma

    I want to be enthusiastic. A big part of my brain is telling me this should be a happy moment.

    But an equally large part of my brain is saying. “Will this bring back anyone who died? Will this make any real step towards stopping terrorism? Will this un-radicalize the young men who are so desperate for the feeling of power that they seek to hold the power of death over their fellow humans? Will this convince the lonely young Muslim who comes home after being taunted as a ‘terrorist’ at school from finding solace in the words of REAL terrorists online?

    It just seems like a symbolic gesture rather than a real accomplishment at this point. We’ve satisfied our base need for ‘an eye for an eye’ punishment, but we haven’t made the world any better.

  • Kent Matthews

    A very dangerous, evil, mass murderer is dead. Reports are that he resisted to the death. A ‘martyr’s death’ is what he sought and what his evil coharts will claim.

    It isn’t a martyr’s death of course, martyrdom implies the death of innocents and the innocents died on 911.

  • Molly

    Terrorism will never come to an end, quit trying to be optimistic. It’s foolish to question this event as whether or not it ‘helps the world’. That is ridiculous and unintelligent. Be realistic, people, and be proud of your country.

    All of you liberals need to just shut your mouth for once and be happy for the U.S.

  • David Abrams

    It means that the United States supports and practices state sponsored assassination.

  • Joseph Tokos

    I’m pretty upset. I am not “happy” that Osama bin Laden was, effectively, assasinated. I have feelings of relief, but this was not American justice. American justice is not an eye for an eye (or even many eyes). That’s Old Testament. Last night, the President said that bin Laden had been killed “following” a firefight. So, he was simply executed after the fight? At 09:00 this morning, just before the open-mike portion of the special coverage, MPR reported that the Navy Seal teams directive was to kill bin Laden, not capture or kill him. That’s revenge, and it plays into the hands of extremists who are motivated by revenge. Furthermore, dumping his body at sea will probably simply infuriate his followers for religious reasons. American justice would have been to capture him, bring him to trial, convict him, and execute him (a la Sadam Hussein). I asked a question on the MPR radio show at about 09:15 concerning whether the reaction from his living associates (revenge) will be greater or less because of the way this operation was carried out. The expert’s answer was that nobody knows. My bet is it will be more extreme if it turns out it was a kill-on-sight directive. The expert also stated that he had been killed during a capture/kill operation. Let’s have the truth, please. Did MPR make up the part about the directive to kill? Is that what the President said? If we just went out and killed him, even though he undoubtedly deserved it, it is not American justice. If we are trying to spread American democracy, then it has to be freedom and justice for ALL, even the most evil.

  • Brian

    Interesting, no body, just a proclamation that WE killed him; no photos, yet, they need to get Photoshop booted up.

    Funny that now WE respect the Islamic tradition and bury him at sea within 24 hours of his death after claiming to have killed the most notorious fugitive in human history, it’s becoming clear that this stunt is being designed to lead into something much bigger.

  • Brian

    Interesting, no body, just a proclamation that WE killed him; no photos, yet, they need to get Photoshop booted up.

    Funny that now WE respect the Islamic tradition and bury him at sea within 24 hours of his death after claiming to have killed the most notorious fugitive in human history, it’s becoming clear that this stunt is being designed to lead into something much bigger.

  • dragonfly13

    The death of Bin Laden IS NOT the death of terrorism or al-Quaida.

    Bin Laden was obsessed with the destruction of the American way of life. He was not stupid. In his shoes, I would have planned for my capture and/or demise and instructed my lieutenants to step up the war, not to capitulate. I would have left a message of the ultimate success of terrorism following certain prescribed acts of retribution.

    As a lieutenant for Bin Laden with such instructions (and assuming that accurate info is circulating in Pakistan about the event and subsequent burial at sea) the challenge would be to decide whether to carry out those instructions or adopt a life affirming role.

    A lieutenant who is dedicated to Bin Laden and sees the American jubilation and jingoism currently on display may feel enraged and re-energized by those demonstrations, not defeated and demoralized.

    A grief-stricken lieutenant may be a, re-energized foe who, having nothing more to lose, will initiate a mad-dog strike against civilians – with the primary goal being to maim and cause suffering.

    Diplomacy is more important than ever – to carry the message to Bin Laden’s lieutenants that his American obsession was irrational. Now is the time to disprove all that Bin Laden believed about the U.S. It is another time to speak softly, but carry a VERY big stick.

    The current jubilation and jingoism which is being carried on world-wide news undermines that effort. Those who dance and cheer today may soon have every reason to cry and grieve tomorrow.

    Hold off the celebrations until terrorism is defeated.

  • Patrick

    A conflict between opposing ideologies….fundamentalist islam and western manic consumerism….will continue.

    In terms of cause/effect, bin laden and others are an effect of western economic pressures upon cultures not yet closely linked to manic consumerism.

  • Steve the Cynic

    Osama bin Laden accompllished his despicable goals in spades. He wanted to provoke the world’s only superpower to overreact to his terrorism and to draw us into war in a muslim country, thereby turning the entire muslim world against us. It succeded beyond his expectations. He got two wars, not one, with more apparently on the way. He got us to shred our integrity, resorting to torture of his associates, provoking even more animosity against us. He got us to spend ridiculous amounts of money and sacrifice our civil liberties in the name of “security.” In the end, he made himself so important to us that we had to send in the elite of the elite forces to get him. He will be regarded as a hero and a martyr by his misguided followers. If we had regarded the 9/11 attacks as a crime instead of as an act of war, the muslim world would have come to see him as the narcisistic spoiled brat that he was. Instead, we played into his hands.

  • Chris

    It means that President Obama is a very effective leader who clearly has the ability to work on huge issues at the same time. Just think about the body of work that he accomplished already in 2 years, now he is working on balancing the budget and ending a second war.

    I think most of the world thinks highly of America not just because of us, but because of our current leader.

  • Peggy

    I thought Mr. Obama was a nice man. Now I think he is a cold blooded killer. He preaches peace and change and helping each other. No what does that teach my children?

  • Patrick

    All the dancing and flipant patriotism is reminiscent of “Mission Accomplished”. Truly disgraceful. Are we becoming like them?

  • David

    All we did was take down the CEO of an evil corporation, but left the evil corporation standing. Hopefully it weakens al qaeda significantly, and he’s not just replaced by a crazier even more evil figure head. But that analogy probably gives too much credit to the al qaeda management infrastructure. In reality they are probably not any more organized that the “tea party”. It’s just a group of nut jobs using it for their own political reason, trying to give their point of view a little more legitimacy. They only exist for the advancement of their own personal gain at the expense of their mislead followers.

    I’m rather disappointed his head isn’t atop a pike in the middle of the White House lawn this morning. The only better outcome for this piece of crap would be locking in an undisclosed supermax prison cell with a web cam on him 24 hours a day showing his last pathetic days on the planet. Which was exactly how he ended up, hiding in a compound with nothing but the occasional hand written note and the perpetual smell of burning garbage. Let that outcome always be pointed out to anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps.

  • Tom Dooley

    Scoreboard: Amateur terrorists have killed perhaps 50,000; professional terrorists such as US ,UK France,Russia have killed millions.

  • Tom R Dooley

    Amateur terrorists have killed perhaps 50,000; Professional terrorists such as US, UK, France, Russia have killed millions.

  • Carrie

    We should all be proud of our military, intelligence agencies and yes, President Obama our commander-in-chief. Job well done but unfortunately terrorism does not die with Bin Laden’s death. We must remain vigilant.

  • Tom R Dooley

    Amateur terrorists have killed perhaps 50,000; Professional terrorists such as US, UK France, Russia have killed millions

  • Gordon near Two Harbors

    Bin Laden got what he deserved, albeit about a decade late.

    I don’t know how anyone could extend that mass-murderer ANY sympathy or compassion. For those of you who think he should have been “captured”, do you think that would be worth the increased risk of injury or death to the brave Special Forces folks who were sent there?

    This event will not end world terrorism, but is justice well served.

  • yusupha

    this is a every good news to the whole world this man without saying his name have killed many people in the world and we are praying to the American to help us killed all this bad people in the world please.

  • Kiko

    Sorry to burst your bubble guys, but im really discusted by the mob celebration and the chanting of “USA, USA”. We need to keep this in perspective that in many parts of the World, we are regarded at the “terorists” by killing thousands or hundred thousands of innocent men, women and children for the sake of ONE guy. Now, you tell me if 3000 lives in NY worth more than hundred thousands of lives( and counting) elsewhere. We are so used to people dying in Iraq or afghanistan that if a blasts kills 30-45 people, MPR will mentioned them briefly right before or after the weather. Now imagine what kind of coverage that would get if 30-45 poeple were killed in the US. The moral of my comment is that no live is worth more than any other one.

  • John

    This is setting the stage for the next major war. A false flag attack with a dirty bomb will immediately point the finger at Pakistan and Iran to justify Israel’s desire to “own” the entire Middle East.

    America needs to wake up and start connecting the dots!

  • Jared Hoke

    Osama bin Laden reaped what he sowed. Maybe he thought we’re too soft and corrupt, that we’d forget, that he’d ultimately get away with it. Let the world ponder the contrary truth we have just made very clear, indeed. Our President had the gumption and presence to take his time, weigh the risks, and order the strike. Our guys went in clean and straight and doled out a little rough justice. And it WAS justice. Bin Laden (and all the other proto-Caliphs and their mullahs) are on the wrong side of history. Today put a period on that sentence, and for that, I rejoice. Now lets get serious about our oil addiction, reinvent our future and BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.

  • T

    Right on Jared. Best view of this yet.

  • Paul

    In victory, conduct yourself as if attending a funeral.

    -Lao Tzu

  • Matthew

    To the world, bin Laden’s death is another example of how the United States is persistent and unwavering in honoring values shared among politically, culturally, and spiritually diverse people. In this instance, those values include respect for justice, loyalty to each other, and courage and commitment in defense of our way of life. Bottom line: we are a people who do not take kindly to bullies.

  • David

    @Kiko

    EXCELLENT points. Thank you for raising them. I too was utterly disgusted by the blatant gloating and celebrating that went on last night and is going on today. The United States is indeed regarded as a terrorist nation by some countries, especially where we are trying to “do good.” As I observed last night during the media frenzy, we need to look carefully to Great Britain’s history in the previous century of nation building and spreading itself militarily and economically thin around the world.

    We’re accustomed in the United States to being exempt from terror attacks and terrorist casualties. Yes, 9/11 was horrific, but it pales in comparison to how many Iraqi and Afghani citizens have been killed by the U.S., Al Qaeda, and the Taliban. It saddens me how glibly we pass over the fact that these are human lives that are being lost. Even the twelve-year-old who blew himself up the other day: that was someone’s son who will now never have the chance to grow up to realize his full potential as a human being. We lose that in the nationalist propagandizing.

  • Allan Saugstad

    We ought not be too quick to swagger and boast. Even though the operation was a necessary evil, there is sadness whenever life is taken. I am reminded of passage 31.6 of the Tao Te Ching by philosopher Lao Tzu: “Conduct your triumph as a funeral.”

  • GaryF

    The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize had someone assignated..

  • T

    “The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize had someone assignated..”

    You refer to the Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry Kissinger, coorect? 😉

  • Sue de Nim

    It means we’ve sunk to his level.

  • Steve the Cynic

    “In terms of cause/effect, bin laden and others are an effect of western economic pressures upon cultures not yet closely linked to manic consumerism.”

    That is, shall we say, post-digestive cattle feed!

  • Gail

    The truth about how the events of 9/11/2001 transpired died with Bin Laden. Why not take him alive? It is shocking to see the celebrations across the United States. There certainly remains a power structure to operate Al Qaeda without Bin Laden. Sorry, jdb, no justice has been achieved. We just escalated the conflict and upped the ante by providing a martyr for the extremists. God have mercy on our country.

  • CF

    When I heard the news last night, I went out in my front yard and lit off a pack of firecrackers and then put out my flag, where it hangs today. Hoo-ray! The day I hear that Osama Bin Laden is dead couldn’t come too soon.

    Does this end the War on Terrorism? No. But with the economy, gas prices, unemployment, a winter that will never seem to end and the Twins couldn’t win a game even with a 6-point handicap, this is some good news for a change.

    To all you bleeding-heart, spineless, unpatriotic, America-hating liberals who think the elimination of the mastermind behind 9-11 was wrong or immoral, are you the same ones who think it’s perfectly moral for our country to allow the “choice” of killing enough unborn people to empty the city of Minneapolis every three years?

  • Kiko

    @David,

    Totally on the money regarding nationalist propganda.

    Finally a sensible person understands the underlining issues at stake here. All these celebration on the streets is not any different then the american flag burning that we see so often in other countries and it saddens me to see our own people demonstrate the exact same act. Tell me how the chanting and celebration in the time square or DC is any different then draging american soldiers/bodies across the streets of Mogadishu, because at that exact moment I’m sure they felt very patriotic. Again, the moral of my comment: Please don’t be a hypocrite and do what you preach.

  • GaryF

    Just think, your average Muslim guy in Pakistan could have won himself 27 million dollars by taking OSL out.

    I hope the Navy Seals get the money.

  • JO C

    I hope for the killing to stop now and the troops to come home. Can we start to focus on feeding the children who go to school without breakfast, education for everyone and housing for the homeless? Let’s find ways to stop the killing.

  • Steve the Cynic

    “America-hating liberals”? I don’t know any such folks, CF. For myself, I love America so much, it saddens me when it falls short of being the best it can be. I share your annoyance at the unthinkingly negative rhetoric about my country, but the kind of patriotism that forbids all criticism is no better. That kind of extreme patriotism verges on idolatry and is just as bad as mindless America-bashing.

    But I’ll tell you what really annoys me: people who think it’s “unpatriotic” to criticize the president for one policy while calling that same president “unpatriotic” for his stance on another issue. How many of today’s flag-wavers are yesterday’s teabag flingers? In America, criticizing the government is patriotic.

  • Steve

    Hallelujah!

    It just show that a President that wants to solve the problem can!

    Thank God for President Obama!!

    GW… kept this going.. Just look at the price of OIL now and before! Look at his and his families personal wealth growth.

    God love President Obama!

    A real American…not an oil person…

  • David

    CF you are one of those people that everybody on the block hates. Self centered, always right, closed minded, inconsiderate of everyone else jagoff. I bet you drive a chevy truck with annoying loud exhaust.

  • Steve

    Hallelujah!

    It just show that a President that wants to solve the problem can!

    Thank God for President Obama!!

    GW… kept this going.. Just look at the price of OIL now and before! Look at his and his families personal wealth growth.

    God love President Obama!

    A real American…not an oil person…

  • CF

    @David

    Sorry to disappoint you David. But I am well liked by my neighbors on the block. It’s amazing how the liberals can pick-n-choose their morals. Morality without God is merely opinion and holds no relevance. But then that’s relativism. To the point of calling the justifiable killing of a terrorist an immoral act.

    Now just what should have we done with Osama? Oh let’s keep and open mind here. Even though he was responsible for the deaths of 3,000+, let’s just gather round a circle, hold hands, weave flowers in our hair, invite all the terrorists who hate us and want to kill us, (and Israel), and sing kumbayah.

    And by the way, I drive a old Ford Escort with enough miles on it to have driven to the moon! So much for assumptions, eh?

  • Dan Graham

    I am shocked, distressed and saddened that for many people in the world the TV & newspaper images of some of my fellow Americans mugging and dancing in the streets to celebrate the death of a fellow human beings will serve as just more evidence that the USA is pretty much the same as countries we regard as barbaric and uneducated because we celebrate the tragedy of still another human death in the cause of what we call peace.

  • Steve the Cynic

    Interesting. Liberal David hates people like conservative CF (or at least, everyone on his block does, so presumably that includes David himself). And the feeling appears to be mutual (though I suspect CF would deny hating anyone, since a self-professed Christian is supposed to love everyone, the apparent hostility in his rhetoric notwithstanding). If we hate one another, how are we any better than those folks who hate us?

  • Frickdaddy

    I suppose that whether the death of OBL matters depends upon your point of view. Many Americans feel that he was an evil man who perpetrated evil acts that warranted his being jailed or killed. Other Americans see his killing as just another act of barbarity perpetrated by the U.S. to further its immoral war for access to oil and further its influence in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. In the rest of the world I’m sure these views are shared except by those who genuinely see Bin Laden as a hero. He was a “giant killer” who took on great powers in defense of his religious and political ideals. The movement he founded obviously has ressonance in the Middle-East and Central Asia and will continue to plague the west for some time.

    My point is that his death has the importance we assign to it. I think both the people who are rejoice and those who bemoan American involvment in the act are both making too much of it. Terror and confusion was what Osama Bin Laden wished promote in the West and particualarly America. That we should be fighting each other is just icing on the cake.

    Bin Laden was our enemy and killed our people. Really, that’s all I need to know. That’s what his death means to me.

  • CF

    Just heard a news report. OBL fired on Navy SEAL’s in the battle before he was shot… dead. He used his own wife as a human shield. Need I say more?

    Peace, love, flowers in your hair. Yeah right.

    Go Navy! Hoo-yah!

  • Jackson D.O.

    It means a revival of extremist anti-Muslim rhetoric and racism. We saw the propagation and condolence of anti-Muslim sentiments after the 9/11 attacks, making the lives of Muslim or Arab-looking persons in America and around the world risky and difficult. I fear that bin Laden’s death will only remind people of their anti-Muslim racism that may have slipped away in the years since the attacks. Let us instead use the publicity of this event to remind the public of the fallacious conceptions of Islam and Middle Easterners.

  • Kiko

    @ CF

    You must be one of these guys that only get their news sources from one place..hence Fox News…first of all he was unarmed and second the female was actually shielding him…so next time before u portray your Redneckness…READ. And Please, go and travel the world and leave your backyard once in a while.

  • CF

    @ Kiko

    In all actuality, I don’t read, web or listen to Fox News. The report I mentioned about OBL using his wife as a human shield was broadcast on AP News and then on CBS News. Why is it that liberals have such a hard time accepting the truth?

    Oh, by the way, OBL was armed. With three airplanes full of your fellow Americans plus the ones in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

    Also it should be noted that OBL was given all proper Islamic Rites as he was ceremonial cleansed, wrapped in linen and buried at sea. You just don’t get it do you? This is war! But even in war, Americans gave food, water and first aid to the Japanese and Nazi’s they were fighting. We could have simply buried OBL’s his body face down in a simple unmarked grave or had cremated his remains. Yet, in war there is still justice. To honor the war dead, friend and foe alike.

    But yet, you libs will always find a way to disgrace your own country! Such shame!

  • Patrick

    Religion is just a front in Osama’s war. And the West puposely perpetuates this myth also. It is a recruitment tactic on both sides.

    Before organized religion infected humanity there was the realization of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. That battle will never end.

  • T

    To all reasonable posters. Please don’t be baited into the trolls such as CF. His inflammatory approach is just to piss people off. No purpose for dialogue or intellect. I’ve been pulled on that line, but no more.

  • Steve the Cynic

    On the other hand, T, if no one calls the bullshit bullshit, there are those who will confuse its stench for that of gourmet cheese.