The significance of the moment could be found in the celebrations. On the streets surrounding the White House in Washington, D.C. In the area near Ground Zero in New York. And, most improbably and most spontaneously, at a Major League Baseball park in Philadelphia.
It was there, during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets, that fans broke into chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” as they received news of Osama bin Laden’s death on their cell phones.
And while Americans greeted the moment with a celebratory catharsis, emotions will be tempered in the days and weeks to come. The wounds have been salved but not healed. The battle has been won but the war continues.
We will think about those who were lost on 9/11, recognizing that bin Laden’s death cannot bring them back or rewrite the history that he irrevocably altered. We will ponder the role of the United States and its place in the world. We will reflect upon President Obama’s well-chosen words that the United States is not at war with Islam, but rather with those who would use terrorism to threaten our people.
As for bin Laden, we will remember him as one of the most despicable criminals in history, a man who changed the world in countless terrible ways. He engineered the murders of thousands, egregiously bragged about it, then spent 10 years on the run as he mocked the notions of peace and co-existence. As Obama correctly asserted, in bin Laden’s quest to advance his view of Islam, he also killed scores of Muslims.
“On nights like this one,” Obama said in addressing the nation Sunday night, “we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al-Qaida’s terror: Justice has been done.”
Yet questions remain.
Questions about the fact that, at the end, at least, bin Laden was hiding in plain sight in an urban area of Pakistan. How long had he been there? How could he go unnoticed? Did he receive protection from Pakistani officials?
And questions about the future of terrorism and American security. Will al-Qaida forces attempt to retaliate? Will our vigilance waver? Do we have the resolve to continue the fight, to recognize that bin Laden was a powerful symbol of terror but was not alone in his desire to harm Americans.
While the future will provide those answers, there can be no questioning the American resolve and determination and military preparedness that brought an end to this chapter. The image of a middle-of-the-night helicopter raid on a heavily fortified compound was the culmination of a nation’s desire and training.
In the wake of the daring maneuver, President Obama spoke of the unity that permeated the nation following the 9/11 attacks. He spoke of a shared purpose and a common cause. And while two presidents before him had attempted to rid the world of the scourge of bin Laden, Obama is the one who succeeded. His legacy has been forever altered.
“As a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed,” Obama said. “We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies.”
Even if that defense takes nearly 10 years. America’s dedication to the cause of bringing bin Laden to justice, while not always in the spotlight, had never wavered nor diminished.
Which led us to the celebratory scenes of Sunday night. Americans were cheering the death of a monster, one who has single-handedly altered the way we travel, the way we think about our country, and the way we regard our national security.
It was a moment worthy of celebration, but our dedication and vigilance must continue.
