Strangely all that plays through my head is the song from Team America.

I'm sure they'd have liked a capture if the option came up, but they weren't going to risk a missed chance by hesitating to shoot. It's true that his death in itself is unlikely to do much; I doubt that he alone held all of his organization's secrets in his head, and no no one will know what to do without him. There are other leaders that can pick up the slack. However, he was an icon of what he stood for, and the death of an icon can have a considerable impact. Those who had considered joining may lose some faith in the group, may be afraid to step in line with a force that just lost its head, and current members may have their loyalty shaken, especially during the subsequent disorganization.

For the most part though, yes, it's more about people declaring victory over an enemy. That's the way it's always worked; leaders take much of the credit, good or bad, often regardless of their actual influence. An act creates an enemy, an enemy needs a name, a named enemy becomes the target for those wronged. It may or may not be of any benefit, but people will always seek that goal and celebrate its victory.

Edit: The death of an icon can also empower a cause as a martyr, of course, but that rarely stops people.

In the past, has this type of thing meant that people think the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine down on them so that nothing may ever go wrong again?

I think I read somewhere that his sister was killed as well.

In the past, has this type of thing meant that people think the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine down on them so that nothing may ever go wrong again? What I'm saying is I'm worried people may not realize or care much that there's still an entire organization that wants to harm their country/countries and they may become even more aggressive... partially based on that martyr status you mentioned. He's one man, hence I really don't see why this is a great victory. The great victory will be the destruction of affiliated terrorist groups, not the killing of one man, in my opinion. :shrug:

In the past, has this type of thing meant that people think the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine down on them so that nothing may ever go wrong again? What I'm saying is I'm worried people may not realize or care much that there's still an entire organization that wants to harm their country/countries and they may become even more aggressive... partially based on that martyr status you mentioned. He's one man, hence I really don't see why this is a great victory. The great victory will be the destruction of affiliated terrorist groups, not the killing of one man, in my opinion. :shrug:

In the past, has this type of thing meant that people think the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine down on them so that nothing may ever go wrong again? What I'm saying is I'm worried people may not realize or care much that there's still an entire organization that wants to harm their country/countries and they may become even more aggressive... partially based on that martyr status you mentioned. He's one man, hence I really don't see why this is a great victory. The great victory will be the destruction of affiliated terrorist groups, not the killing of one man, in my opinion. :shrug:

In the past, has this type of thing meant that people think the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine down on them so that nothing may ever go wrong again? What I'm saying is I'm worried people may not realize or care much that there's still an entire organization that wants to harm their country/countries and they may become even more aggressive... partially based on that martyr status you mentioned. He's one man, hence I really don't see why this is a great victory. The great victory will be the destruction of affiliated terrorist groups, not the killing of one man, in my opinion. :shrug:

Pretty sure no one thinks every fanatic with ill intentions toward the US (and it's allies) will suddenly put down their arms and become pacifists just because Osama's dead. Now, can victims of Osama and his minions across the globe take solace in his death? Absolutely. Because to them he represents those that took their loved ones away from them. I fail to see why that's a bad thing or why we shouldn't consider it a victory.

Thank you Seti!

Bin Laden wasn't the guy who took their loved ones away. It was some hijackers/bombers who were already dead when Bin Laden was killed. I wholeheartedly sympathize with those who have lost their loved ones, but just because he represents that figure, to them, doesn't mean he really is that figure. By all means, I'm fine with people cheering. I just don't really understand it. Al Qaeda isn't going to stop, now, and revenge does nothing to bring back the dead nor assist and immunize the living.

That accurately summarizes my thoughts. I'm glad the SOB was taken out, though, don't get me wrong. It's just that he was one man among many in the vast networks of terrorists that have the same vision he had.

Good news nonetheless. Sorry if I'm being too much of a realist. :laugh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

Hey it only took two wars, trillions of dollars, thousands of American lives (and the lives of countless other countries that got involved in the war) but we got the bastard!

We played into his hands and we will likely continue on in Afghanistan and Iraq (and yes the Iraq war is in large part connected to American foreign policy post 9/11) continuing to spend money and lose American lives in those countries.

Those people that are celebrating are foolish in thinking that we've won.

Counter-terrorists win.

Sorry to make light of it - I had to.

And an upset George Bush accuses the President of kill-stealing?