Capture of Bin Laden Is Not Mission Accomplished

Like most Americans, I share the joy and relief that Osama bin Laden has been killed. It took ten long years of hunting across two countries, but the armed forces finally took the man down. While bin Laden's death could not replace the loved ones lost on September 11, their families may at least have some solace from the trying ordeal. Furthermore, as President Obama said and promised, the capture of bin Laden represented America's dogged pursuit and determination to bring the War on Terror to a victorious conclusion.

But Osama bin Laden's death is just a milestone and not the end to the War on Terror. Al Qaeda has been living on without his greater presence for a long while, and others will doubtless step into bin Laden's shoes. There are greater challenges facing the U.S. such as extracting intelligence from the captured materials, figuring out Pakistan's role in "hiding" bin Laden so close to Islamabad, and most importantly, making sure another bin Laden does not emerge in the future. I applaud President Obama's decision not to show pictures of bin Laden's body, for it would cause violence and affront Islamic traditions. Even if America pulls out its military from Afghanistan starting this summer, the War on Terror is far from over.