Proposed parish pipeline provides promise
May 3, 2011
Rebecca Cheramie
May 5, 2011Sunday night’s news that Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces marked a historic moment in the ongoing war against terrorism and tyranny that will define a generation of Americans. It was met with both celebration and caution.
The event that reportedly resulted from a firefight at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan signified the end of a nearly 10-year manhunt for those that had covered and followed this story since the fateful morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when more than 3,000 people were killed on U.S. soil at bin Laden’s design.
During the past decade, both American and international soldiers and civilians had risked and given their lives in a mission that escalated beyond isolated attacks into a global war between the basic principles of militant extremists and democracy.
Understandably, most Americans initially, and it could be argued justifiability, offered expressions of jubilation after the news of bin Laden’s death was first broken. Three days removed, the battle may have been won but the war continues.
Lives remain lost. Families continue to be impacted. And the world is still changed forever.
“Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda,” President Barack Obama said during a live television broadcast from the White House.
“The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done,” former President George W. Bush said in a prepared statement.
“[The killing of bin Laden] was eventual,” said Louisiana National Guard Assistant Adjunct Gen. Hunt Downer (ret.). “Persistence is what has paid off. The tragedy of course is that 9-11 had to happen and we had to incur the loss of lives of our American heroes. At least this shows that their loss of life was not in vain.”
Praise for both Bush and Obama was offered on cable news channels.
The question now is, ‘what’s next?’
War continues in multiple theatres of battle. Tightened security is still the norm in airports and public buildings. Justice may have been accomplished, according to both Obama and Bush, but the impact of a violent ideology is still present.
What will happen within Al Qaeda? Will the death of bin Laden cause the terror organization to collapse from inside, or will the network, which has become far more decentralized and spurred offshoots since it became a commonly known name, treat bin Laden’s death as a rallying call? Will other extremists attempt to make their causes known by acts of violence? Will revenge attacks be launched?
“For the last 10 years, the brave men and women of our military forces and intelligence services have been determined in their effort to bring justice to those responsible for killing nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001,” Rep. Jeff Landry (R-New Iberia) said in a news release. “Due to their hard work, sacrifice, commitment Osama bin Laden is dead. This is not only a victory for America in our continued fight against terror, but also a clear message that America will not stand down and will pursue to the very end those who wish to harm us. May God bless all those in uniform who fight to protect our security and freedom, and may God continue to bless America.”
“Osama bin Laden’s death is a major success and a significant victory for America and our allies in the war against terrorism,” Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said in a printed statement. “”We’ve waited a long time to bring justice to the man who inflicted so much terror on innocent people around the world and I’m glad that day has finally arrived. This victory is all about our brave men and women in uniform and our intelligence community and we need to build on this significant success.
“Bin Laden is the face of Al Qaeda, and while his death sends a strong message, unfortunately there are more terrorists out there trying to destroy our way of life and our fight must continue.”
“I know many people are excited, but this unfortunately is not the end of it,” Downer said. “As Americans we have to come together. There are those that hate and despise us and hate and despise everything we stand for. As long as there are hate mongers who thrive on that, peace-loving people wherever they are in the world are at risk.”
The death of bin Laden, if nothing else, presented a reminder to the American public of how close knit we were because of one day nearly 10 years ago. For the first few days of this week, some of the political and professional differences that have developed since Sept. 11, 2001, were replaced with an almost nostalgic sense of unity.
“On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family,” Obama said.
For some, the death of bin Laden will offer a sense of justice and closure. For others it will mean little as lives of loved ones remain lost. For all it should present a reminder of what we were for a short period of our recent history, and what deep down we continue to be.
