Even With bin Laden Dead, War on Terrorism Isn't Over

May 5, 2011 RSS Feed Print
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Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these questions.

Why is VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), on May 8 a holiday in Massachusetts and not April 30?

Why did millions of Americans take to the streets on the day in 1945 when the Germans surrendered and not on the day that Hitler died?

Why were Americans celebrating in the streets Sunday night when we still have a long way to go to win the war on terror?

Why were the talking heads on TV Sunday night claiming that bin Laden’s death was a “decisive” victory in the war on terror?

Don’t get me wrong. I am very happy Osama bin Laden is dead. I had a friend who died at the World Center in New York City on 9/11. You can read about that in the post I wrote Monday. Also, I am very confident that bin Laden’s death will save thousands of lives. I am proud of our well trained military, especially the Navy SEALs. I am happy we finally have a commander in chief who was a strong enough leader to pull this off. President Obama was able to get to something important done in two years that President Bush couldn't do in eight. [See photos of reactions to Osama bin Laden's death.]

So why am I not celebrating. It was hard for me to celebrate Sunday night because...

...I was thinking about the death of my friend.

...I am worried that there certainly will be attacks in retaliation for bin Laden’s death that might kill hundreds or thousands of Americans.

...I think that it will take years to destroy all the al Qaeda cells spread across the world.

...I am sure the terror will continue as long as we don’t address the underlying causes of terrorism which include the conflict between Israel and Palestine. [See a slide show of six potential terrorist targets.]

We still have a lot of work to do before we celebrate Victory over Terrorism Day. But I guess I’m just a glass half empty kind of guy.

 

Tags:
national security terrorism and the military,
Osama bin Laden

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Herman Cain 2012!

kewaal of GA 7:49AM May 06, 2011

I really do try not to respond to the garbage written on this web-site but sometimes you commentators write with such arrogance and stupidity and outright misrepresentations my head wants to explode and I have to respond. First of all I am proud of what Obama did to Bin Laden, but once again other than this one thing he is the absolute poorest excuse for a president this country has ever seen. Now for your partisan crap:

Two of your quotes: I am happy we finally have a commander in chief who was a strong enough leader to pull this off. President Obama was able to get to something important done in two years that President Bush couldn't do in eight.

I think that it will take years to destroy all the al Qaeda cells spread across the world.

Put the two together, the finding of Bin Laden started years ago, it was the work of our intelligence and military that found him. Obama allowed him to be killed, Obama did not find him. The garbage you wrote is demeaning to our intelligence and military organizations. If it had not been for the work that was done under Bush, and the fact that he was willing to put his neck on the line with the interrogation techniques this would not have been possible today. Bush risked his neck to help keep partisan idiots like you safe. Obama would not have done that. In reality, Obama was just lucky that Bin Laden was found during his administration. I am glad that he had the balls to allow the killing of Ben Laden, however it does amaze me that Obama and all of his supporters will talk about the cruelty of water boarding, and would not have allowed that, now are praising Obama for allowing Bin Laden's head to be blown off. Once again I am not criticizing Obama for the killing, I am glad he did, but to me water boarding is much more humane than blowing someone’s head off. Now you admitted that clearing out the terrorist cells will take years. So now when our new Republican president in 2012 has the members of other terror cells killed in 2013, are you going to write that he was able to do in one year what Obama couldn’t do in four, or will be writing how it would not have happened without the work of Obama? I suppose you will be struggling for something else that you can say good about our current, until this week useless president, that you will be still be still trying to prop him up.

kewaal of GA 9:19PM May 05, 2011

The reason bin Laden is a hit with orthodox Muslims is that he emulated Islam's founder and prophet, Mohamed.

Of course, Osama, even with modern technology, wasn't able to kill a fraction of the number of people his prophet/mentor did. But he did give it the ol' Islamic try.

Now, I have a question. Why is it ok that we dance with joy in the street at the death of bin Laden, but it is a BIG no-no to condemn or even ridicule Mohamed who murdered, enslaved, raped and tortured thousands of innocents?

Just curious.

p.s.

You know Brad, you may want to check out a history book occasionally. After all, Mohamed was a historical figure. While you're reading you should compare Mohamed's deeds with those of Christ. That way you might be able to understand that not all religions are created equally, and that God is not a matter of subjectivity. It really is quite obvious if one devotes a few moments of logical thought, devoid of p.c. brain fog, to the issue.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 12:53PM May 05, 2011

Brad Bannon

Brad Bannon

Brad Bannon runs Bannon Communications Research, a political polling and consulting firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups, and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. Brad guest hosts Leslie Marshall’s nationally syndicated radio talk show and is a commentator on America’s Radio News Network. Follow him on Twitter @BradBannon.

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