The killing of the world’s best-known terrorist may be a positive step in the world’s war on terror, but it won’t eliminate terrorism completely, an analyst said .
Mark Danner, foreign affairs and terrorism writer and professor at UC Berkeley, said the news of Osama bin Laden’s death should be taken as a win for American policy, but that it will not change the world overnight.
“This is going to be an enormous encouragement,” he said. “It certainly won’t end terrorism.
But it will hopefully get us beyond the fear, beyond the era of reaction and will put terrorism in its place — a persistent problem, but one that will not dominate the foreign policy of the United States and the preoccupation of its citizens.”
Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was slain in his luxury hideout in Pakistan Sunday in a firefight with U.S. forces, ending a manhunt that spanned a frustrating decade.
Bin Laden’s death, coupled with regime changes in multiple countries, will show the people of the Middle East that there is another way besides dictatorships.
“Ten years after the attacks of 9/11, things are changing in the Middle East,” he said. “The al-Qaida movement has been damaged by the broad opening in the Middle East.”
Danner said he does not think al-Qaida will retaliate immediately against the United States, but the Taliban might attack American targets in Afghanistan.
Discovery Bay resident Kevin Graves, whose only son, Joey, was killed in Iraq in 2006 while serving with the Army, said the death of bin Laden was a victory, but it does not ease his heart.
“What started with the towers falling on 9/11 is what inspired my son to enlist in the first place,” he said. “This is a resolution. I am extremely proud of my son and all the young men and women who went there to fight for us.”
Graves said military leaders need to learn from how bin Laden was killed and pursue the same strategy moving forward.
“This war needs to be fought with boots on the ground,” he said. “It needs to be fought in a covert way, if necessary. We have to let our military make military decisions.”
Graves said he still questions why his son had to die, and the death of bin Laden will not change that.
“Does bin Laden’s (death) serve any relief, any gratification? Not at all,” he said. “I live with a broken heart every day.”
Celebs react to Osama Bin Laden’s death
Even as the whole world is buzzing about the news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan, stars from across the world of show business have shown they are no different when it comes to voicing their shock and celebrate the death of America’s public enemy number one.
“I’m proud of our men and women in uniform. Wherever you are, take a minute to say thank you to one of the brave heroes who serve our country,” Contactmusic quoted Hollywood action man and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as writing on his blog on Twitter.
In a series of ”tweets”, CNN newsman Piers Morgan stated, “Bin Laden dead. Wow… What a moment for Obama. What a moment for America. Magnificent address by the President. And magnificent operation. This is his finest hour.”
Actress Christina Applegate wrote, “Let me try this one more time…my heart raced when I heard the news. the terror he caused us was epic.the lives lost, too many..”, while designer Nicky Hilton adds, “After 9 years, 8 months and 20 days justice is finally served. #binladenisdead.”
The news was made even more emotional for rocker Nikki Sixx, who heard the news while in the Big Apple: “Being in New York and hearing that Bin Ladin is dead is icing on the cake…”.
Meanwhile, a stunned LeAnn Rimes exclaims, “Omg (Oh my god), Bin Laden!!! Blessings to our troops and a bit of peace for our country and those who lost loved one”s (sic) in 9/11″, and Spice Girl Melanie Brown writes, “We need to take a moment to give thanks to the soldiers who risked there lives.”
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