The master mind of the 9/11 attack on the United States belatedly met his death 9 years and 8 months after that tragic event. President Obama announced that news on May 1 and said U.S. intelligence and our special forces teamed up, identified Bin Laden's compound and in the operation killed Bin Laden.
Obama said one of his first acts as President was to tell the CIA Director that bringing Bin Laden to justice was his number one priority. That justice came two years later and was a culmination of the stepped up activity of the CIA and the military in striking Al Queda along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. It had been noted and reported in several news media publications that the attacks by our drone aircraft nearly tripled after Obama took office.
The death of Bin Laden is significant because it tells those who want to harm the U.S. that the U.S. has the resources to deal with terrorists and their leadership where ever they may be. The fact that our special forces went into Pakistan to engage Bin Laden demonstrates what presidential contender and now V.P. Joe Biden said during the campaign, that countries who support and harbor terrorists loose their sovereignty. That is a powerful message that now has teeth by the Obama administration.
This writer in previous commentaries mentioned how Bush and the republicans so called tough talk failed to keep America safe on 9/11. Coupled with the fact that after 9/11 Bush's focus was on Iraq and not the real problem of terror, Bin Laden was off the radar screen and Iraq became the all consuming war and the war on Terror was on the back burner.
Don't expect any republicans, especially those in congress to give Obama and his administration any credit for tracking down Bin Laden once and for all. On the contrary the republicans will turn up their opposition a notch and their personal attacks will become more vocal.
President Obama and his administration should stay focused on the economy and our national security. Tough talk is not necessary. It is what one says, how it is said and how it is implemented that counts. We don't need a show off President, we need one that is willing to do those things that really matter and make a difference for our country and its people.
Congratulations Mr. President on a job well done. Your focus on bringing Bin Laden to justice was the correct policy for America.
