Osama bin Laden is dead, shot in the head during a courageous military operation in Pakistan led by U.S. Naval Special Operations Forces. The news was applauded at home by raucous Americans outside the White House, at a Phillies-Mets baseball game and in small towns everywhere. The victims of September 11, 2001 have finally received justice. But even justice cannot provide complete closure for the families torn apart by Osama bin Laden’s crimes. “[I have] a feeling of happiness, but not jump-up-and-down happiness,” said September 11 widower Charles Wolf. “The idea of closure is something that really, really — it doesn’t exist, to tell you the truth.”
We must not let our exuberance distract us from protecting our families, spouses and friends from future potential attacks. Even Sunday’s arrival of justice cannot replace the victims’ loved ones forever lost from their lives. Osama bin Laden’s and his followers’ crimes have victimized families in Kenya/Tanzania (1998), America (2001), Spain (2003) and India (2008). Sunday’s justice assuaged the pain inflicted not just upon America, but upon humanity worldwide. It was a somber day of justice delivered by America to families around the world.
However, preventing future innocents from suffering is a much more demanding duty than executing a military mission. America and its allies must continue to dismantle, disrupt and defeat Islamist extremists. More importantly, America must continue to strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with all Muslims. No amount of air-drone strikes can defeat an al-Qaeda with an endless recruitment stream. Events like the Iraq War have only increased the number of terrorists working to kill Christians, Jews and Muslims in places like Madrid and Mumbai. Prevention is one of the most difficult duties, but it is also the most imperative duty because no amount of justice, not even Osama bin Laden’s death, can replace a loved one lost to terrorism.
What the fuck? My comment doesn’t add anything to the discussion. Neither does this article. How poorly written and full of bias the Nexus is.
Events like the Iraq War ended a ruthless murders reign and fascism over a state and liberated its people. I’m astonished that the left still doesn’t recognize the clear successes made in Iraq courtesy of the USA.
Events like the Iraq war also killed 100,000 civilians, cost the U.S. Billions, and marred the reputation of the U.S. People always say that our invasion of Iraq is justified because we removed Saddam, despite the fact that we never meant to do that in the first place.
Our continued presence in the east only bolsters terrorist recruitment. If a foreign nation came to the U.S., occupied it, and killed a hundred thousand of our citizens for liberation, how do you think we would feel about their presence?
The Iraq war can’t be justified because we got involved under false pretenses, but things there will get better without Saddam. And as to bolstering terrorist recruitment, it seems like democracy is receiving an unprecedented number of recruits in that part of the world these days. People always use that argument, “How do you think we’d feel if China invaded us and told us what to do?” Well, if we were gassing Mexicans and Obama had two son’s running around the country raping brides to be and murdering Kurds for fun, I bet a number of us would be pretty… Read more »
Everyone has to admit that religion is the root of the problem when it comes to al-Qaeda. Religion is detrimental to the future of civilization. A normal child is lied to and misguided with bad ideas from birth…. down the road you have just another Osama bin Laden.
Religion is a patsy for the real problem, and that’s the same as it’s always been, money. You don’t see rich or smart people blowing themselves up. Religion is just a rally banner. Osama was rich and smart, and supposedly devout, he didn’t blow himself up. Land, power, money. That’s what the cause is. Not religion. Other reasons would appear if we all suddenly became atheists.