U.S. Rep. Peter Welch
At long last, the mastermind of the Sept. 11th attack on America has been brought to justice.
Tonight's announcement by President Obama is welcome news to all Vermonters and all Americans, especially to the families and loved ones of those murdered by Osama bin Laden on Sept. 11, 2001.
I know I join all Vermonters in the hope that this news will in some way ease the heavy burden still weighing on these families. And I am especially mindful tonight of the Vermont soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in support of America's response to this senseless act of terrorism.
While we anxiously await the details of the operation that sealed bin Laden's fate, it is clear that its success is a testament to the bravery, persistence, and dedication of the men and women of America's armed services.
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy
When Secretary Clinton called me at home to alert me that the President would be announcing that Bin Laden was dead, many thoughts and emotions came quickly to the surface.
I thought of the countless lives ended and disrupted by this malevolent figure. Thousands of Americans and thousands more of other nationalities were innocent victims of his self-righteous venom, and so many brave men and women have died in the struggle to bring him to justice. Our thoughts and prayers again are with the 9/11 families and our service members overseas.
We are also mindful of the need for continued vigilance.
It is an appropriate end of a life misspent fomenting hate, death, and destruction.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
The death of Osama bin Laden is an historic moment in our fight against international terrorism and his Al Qaeda organization.
I applaud the extraordinary bravery of those American military personnel who participated in this highly effective operation, the intelligence operation that made it possible, and the leadership of President Obama.
At this moment, we also must not forget the American men and women from Vermont and around the country whose service and sacrifice in the struggle to defend our country has made us safer.
It is impossible to predict the future, but I hope the death of Osama bin Laden and the growth of democratic movements in the Muslim world mark a momentous turning point that leads the region toward peace and prosperity, and away from terrorism, death, and destruction.
Tim Wessel
I'm not really digging the jubilation, folks - sorry. Yeah, he was a jerk and inspired murderers, but dancing in the streets at someone's (anyone's) death? Kind of sickening in my opinion. I'm not really a Jesus person myself, but I think he'd be pretty sad watching CNN right now.
I believe that the cheering after 9/11 was way outpaced by words of support - remember the “We are all Americans” statement? They were wrong to cheer, and we are wrong to cheer. It still makes two wrongs, not a right, in my opinion. Somehow, this feels like blood lust to me.
I think the majority of Americans feel relief that this threat is reduced and are happy because they feel this is justice.
Vidda Crochetta
I lost two friends in those towers. And I knew those towers well, having lived in New York City most of my life.
I don't do “conspiracy theories,” but anyone with rational intelligence can see that those three towers - 1, 2, and 7 - came down at free-fall speed into their footprints into small particle dust. Only buildings wired for demolition with powerful explosive force can do that. Collapsing buildings fall sideways into the street or into another building.
This is just a guess, but I would think that the need to neutralize bin Laden exponentially increased with the increasing growth and impact of the 9/11 “truthers.”
If we had succeeded in opening a new investigation of that attack, key people (on the “bridge,” as it were) would much prefer a silenced bin Laden over one who could spill the beans. And, there's the possibility that he's not really dead, no matter what Obama says.
Of course, he never had a chance, alive or dead. His battle was tribal.
Also, the timing is too good.
The U.S. needed a whopper to properly celebrate the 9/11 10th anniversary. We love our anniversaries, especially the ones that memorialize (and glorify) war.
Steve Farrington
I find at hearing this news that I am of two minds.
One, I would like to be with those who are celebrating and wish I could have been with those who dispatched the bastard.
But I also think that it is too bad we couldn't have captured him. No matter how bad a person is, we should treat all life as sacred - at least enough so that, if he could have been captured, he should have had his day in court, and then been executed.
This to demonstrate a contrast between us and terrorists that the rule of law is important.
Also, let's not be too confident. Al Qaida is decentralized into cells that exist in all parts of the world, including major urban centers in the West.
Bin Laden's organization is divided into divisions headed by his trusted deputies. We now need to be even more on our guard because it would be foolish not to expect retaliation.
Eric Anderson
There's hard work ahead: we have to find another bogeyman with which to stir the populace into a froth of fear, and keep the tax dollars flowing to the military and its contractors.
Otherwise, the money might be spent on domestic programs that improve the lives of citizens. There's no profit in that.