On the surface, the news is what we’ve all been waiting to hear for nearly 10 years: Osama bin Laden, the founder of the jihadist terror organization al-Qaeda and the monster behind numerous terrorist attacks, including the 9/11 attack on the US is dead.
All devout Americans celebrate his departure from this light and his descending directly into the bowels of hell. Michelle Malkin has done her usual stellar job in listing some of bin Laden’s most dastardly deeds, in addition to 9/11. No person with a soul will miss the vicious bastard.
But before we declare today a national holiday, let’s take stock in some additional points that should be taken into consideration:
- In a report from About.com, as of last week-end, 4683 American soldiers have died in the combined conflagrations in Iraq and Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) on October 7, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom (beginning with the invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003). This does not take into consideration the number of deaths to coalition soldiers from other countries fighting in support of US Troops.
- According to a March 29th report from the Congressional Research Service, Congress has approved a total of $1.283 trillion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans’ health care for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan and other counter terror operations; Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), providing enhanced security at military bases; and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). This estimate assumes that the current CR level continues through the rest of the year and that agencies allocate reductions proportionately.
Looking at the above, bin Laden’s death comes with a mighty high price tag. But it shows the world, that the United States will not shrink away from a fight when we’ve been attacked. And whether it’s Afghanistan, Pakistan or Any-other-stan, you can’t hide indefinitely.
With the completion of the bin Laden mission, many will deem it time for American troops to leave the region. However, former President Bush added to the agenda as we moved forward. That goal was to establish a democracy in the middle-east region in hopes of creating some level of stability the region. Whether this was his Achilles heel, an idiot’s folly or a shrewd move will be debated for years. The bottom line is American troops are still there and will most likely still be in harm’s way in the middle east for years to come.
The Bottom Line:
When America was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, most of the Japanese celebrated their victorious moment. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the only one who saw the bigger, more ominous picture as he (reportedly) said, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” 
Osama bin Laden has now learned the meaning of the term “Terrible Resolve.” However, we would be fools if we didn’t acknowledge that Muslim extremists are also filled with a terrible resolve now that bin Laden is dead. It would not surprise me if the word goes out from whoever no leads al-Qaeda, to seek revenge on the United States for bin Laden’s death. And the options they could possibly have in their possession already include dirty bombs, nuclear weapons and who knows what kind of chemical poisons. Perhaps worse, given the porous American border (thank you Congress, Presidents Bush and Obama), these weapons could already be in place in numerous locations around the United States… perhaps even in your town or city.
Now, more than ever, we need a true leader in the White House, one with the kind of experience and ability to make the right decisions in a timely manner. If President Obama was ever looking for the chance to prove his leadership capabilities, that opportunity now lies at his feet.
I’m glad the monster (bin Laden) is dead. But we’re a long way from being safe, my friends.
Gerry Ashley
Grand Rants 
I infer.Americans will may be more attacks by terrorist ,special who oversea .
I’m not sure what you are trying to say, but if you’re saying you think there will be more terrorist attacks against Americans overseas, I would have to agree with you.
However, We have no idea just how many radical muslim fundamentalists have been able to settle INSIDE the United States. This is where I believe we are most vulnerasble right now…
Gerry, your admonishment to curb our enthusiasm is probably well placed, and should be heeded, for war is, after all, the ultimate game of tit for tat. Is there anyone anywhere who seriously believes the US would answer a nuke attack with a nuke attack? I think not. So, if the capability does exist,(and who knows for sure?) you can bet the opposition will use it. Our national policy has been clear for decades that the use of our nukes was only a cold war threat, against a nation that was identifiable as the enemy. No president, in office now, or wishing to be, would dare even breathe the words out loud for fear of scorched earth retribution from the media and all the liberal left pols in Congress, let alone the international community that would blare in his or her ear incessantly. Nope, nobody’s got the balls or the political capital to go there. So, IF the Islamic radical world has one, you can bet it’s coming. They know we will not tat that tit, therefore the worst they have to expect is another decade of intell gathering and astonishingly good small force actions. That price, I think, this enemy is more than willing to pay. We have a long way to go. Decades to go. Only time will tell whether we as a nation have the patience and the long term attention span necessary.
Well said, Tom.
The fact is, the future defense of this country is going to be largely accomplished through intelligence and special ops units. And that has had me concerned since it took nearly a DECADE for our (allegedly) elite intelligence community to find Osama, then actually eliminate him.
I had just about given up on the CIA, NSA etc. When you consider how HUGE these entities are and they couldn’t locate a 6’7″ bearded guy attached to a dialysis machine for nearly 10 years?
And how pathetic that the POTUS spent as much time in that speech patting himself on the back for accomplishing the goal, never ONCE acknowledging that the techniques used to gather the information used to get Obama came from interrogating techniques used and approved by the Bush administration. In fact, many of the very people Obama DID give props to were the very same people he had asked Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate for possible prosecution.
Once again, President Obama wants to have it both ways.
I’m no more confident tonight than I was before bin Laden was sent to sleep with the fish. Because it takes a LEADER to keep us moving in a positive direction in the area of security. And we don’t have one of those in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Not unless he’s visiting.
Thanks for your input.
Gerry,
Your premise that future war will be primarily carried out with intelligence and small unit operations is quite accurate. However, I don’t think most people who are not, and never have been, connected to the intelligence apparatus understand that good intelligence requires the patience of Job. It is the product of gathering small, seemingly insignificant bits of information and using them to piece together a true picture – much like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. In rare cases this can result in quick results, but it usually takes months or even years – especially when the object of the search is taking great pains to avoid actions that are subject to exploitation. OBL avoided networked computers and phones of any kind. Hard copy information carried by a courier is probably the most difficult to compromise, but patience and persistence finally paid off. I’m fairly certain that this will become the norm for intelligence gathering in the future. Our adversaries are dedicated, backward (to our way of thinking, at least), and brutal, but they are not stupid.
Very good points, my friend! This makes it difficult to curry favor with the American public… Because of TV shows, we’ve been conditioned to expect miracles to happen in 60 minutes, leaving time to include 6 commercial breaks. And because of Bruce Willis/Arnold Schwarzeneggar/Sylvester Stallone (et al) movies, we also expect that we can overcome any obstacle and blow up anything and everything and resolve any problem in the world in two hours, with a bitchin’ sountrack waiting for us at BEST BUY when we leave the theater.
Two of the most important character traits we could possibly teach or ingrain in future generations is “patience & persistence.” Because that is what it will take to beat these fanatics. And we had best prepare ourselves… we will be attacked again on our homeland and it may very well be an absolute holocaust. This is the reality of the world we (mankind) have created. I doubt any of us will escape untouched in some capacity.
..An editorial in the New York Times has said that it would be very difficult for the United States or any other country to keep a straight face or keep from screaming after nailing the most hunted man in the world – Osama bin Laden n a million dollar compound located an hours drive from Pakistan capital Islamabad.The fact that Sundays firefight took place close to both a military training academy and a large military base will create further suspicion and disbelief in the international community if Pakistani officials claim they have no idea where Taliban commander Mullah Muhammad Omar or dozens of other extremist leaders are hiding.According to the NYT editorial in ordering the elimination of Osama bin Laden through a Special Forces operation rather than a bombing President Obama has shown that he is a strong and measured leader.
A New York Times editorial calling President Obama a “strong and measured leader” is nothing more than an illustration of their bias and cluelessness. Obama sat on the information that the team was in position and “good to go” for a number of hours.
Do a little research and you will find that it was Leon Panetta who actually made the call in conjunction with the military and “over-ruled” Obama who, once again, voted “present” from the comfort of the golf course.
Of course, when Obama gave his presser to make the official announcement, gone was the golf outfit and notice how quick he was to use the words, “I” “Me” and “Mine” more than George Harrison did in his song of a similar title.
The truth is out there. But you will have to dig for it. One thing is sure: You will never find it if you rely on the New York Times or any of the mainstream media that has links to George Soros.