When it was broadcast Sunday evening that President Barack Obama was going to make a major announcement, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at the time. However, when I learned that the press conference was to inform the American public of the killing of Osama bin Laden my initial reaction was mixed. I was pleased that finally after so many years the man responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans was finally meeting his maker, but I was also concerned.
I was concerned because I know what the death of a “leader” like bin Laden means to the people who believe in his way of thinking – people who feel U.S. military bases and the American culture have corrupted the Islamic world. With bin Laden dead he is now considered a martyr by many of his supporters, which means retaliation on Americans can be expected. Ahsanullah Ahsan, spokesman for the Taliban, said just that in no uncertain terms: “Let me make it very clear that we will avenge the martyrdom of Osama bin Laden and we will do it by carrying out attacks in Pakistan and America.”
While I’m certainly not trying to instill fear in anyone, I think it’s important for us to be clear about the potential danger that looms over our heads.
What goes around comes around and bin Laden received what he had coming. I know Americans were elated to hear of his killing, but a level of decorum still has to be observed. After the announcement, as I watched various rallies that showed triumphant Americans proudly displaying the American flag and holding pictures of bin Laden with the word “dead” in a vibrant red, it was reminiscent of the past. A past when “Wanted: dead or alive” signs were a commonality. It was also reminiscent of a time not so long ago when we saw Afghan residents dancing around and cheering when they killed one of our soldiers. When I would see those images, I always felt a sense of anger at the demonstrators because I thought it was one of the ultimate forms of disrespect: first they kill our soldiers, and then they commemorate the travesty through celebration. This week, Americans have done the same thing and our acts can easily be viewed as antagonistic.
Rather than dance around and rejoice in the killing of bin Laden, I instead used the time as one of quiet reflection. I reflected on the thousands of innocent lives lost on that horrific Tuesday in 2001. I also reflected on our service men and women who died in battle while serving our country. And then I reflected on the future and the uncertainties it holds. There was so much to ponder. And while I was pleased that one of this nation’s top agenda items was accomplished, I didn’t quiet feel like celebrating in the traditional sense…it didn’t seem appropriate because everything leading up to bin Laden’s death and even things that are to come as a result of it seem so “heavy.”
Don’t get me wrong, the president’s order to move forward with the invasion of bin Laden’s fortress and the expertise of our Navy SEALs deserve accolades; the mission was accomplished. However, we should exercise cautious elation. Regardless of what we do or how we behave, some sort of attack is more than likely to occur, but we don’t need to incite anyone either. Perhaps Leon Panetta, CIA director said it best when he stated “Osama bin Laden is dead. Al-Qaida is not.”
I congratulate President Obama, his counterterrorism team, and the Navy SEALs for their efforts. This is a major kudos for us, but challenges still lie ahead. We must meet them with the same well-orchestrated precision, forethought, and execution as our entire team did last week.
On a side note: Was I the only person who was happy to know that the president’s special announcement on Sunday interrupted the full airing of “Celebrity Apprentice”? While I didn’t (and no longer will) watch the show, a small part of me was happy about the in-your-face gesture, though I’m sure it was the furthest thing from the president’s mind. Nonetheless, last Sunday Donald Trump was fired (and upstaged) by the president.
You can e-mail comments to Shannon Williams at Shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
