| Small Wars Journal

Beyond Measure by Mark Moyar, Wall Street Journal. Review of No Sure Victory: Measuring U.S. Army Effectiveness and Progress in the Vietnam War by Gregory A. Daddis.

"In Vietnam, the U.S. had trouble judging whether it was winning or losing. Does the problem persist in Afghanistan today?"

Beyond Measure.

We All Were There

We All Were There

by Professor Gene Kamena with Dr. Roy Houchin

The head of the Snake has been severed,

This raid could not be weathered,

Bin Laden is dead, for he could not hide,

Only twenty-four were sent, but we all stood at their side,

The fight is not over, but justice was done,

We will continue to serve until this war is won.

~ Kamena

The twenty-four special operators assigned the mission to find and then capture or kill Osama Bin Laden did their jobs well. The members on this elite team were highly trained, extensively rehearsed and were well supported; they were the best our nation had to offer. Those twenty-four special operators represented each one of us. They stood in the stead of every member of our military who has served and has sacrificed over the last decade in ways those who do not serve will never fully comprehend. We were all on that mission, with those special operators, if not in body then at least in spirit. This operation, now part of military heritage, will be studied, analyzed, dissected and second guessed. We currently know little of the actual details; but in time, through released or leaked information, the details will emerge. Indeed, the book is probably being written as I write this short article.

Just as the people who executed the mission against Bin Laden were representative of every service member that has served or is serving in the war on terror; the mission itself is emblematic of military operations and all we have learned over the past decade. I find it interesting that much of what has permeated the military at large is also reflected in the special operations community. Some will say that the techniques and procedures of our special operators have been ingrained into the large military, and maybe that is true. It probably does not matter—the lines have blurred, the best of both worlds have merged.

We were there with those select few, those Spartans who finished the task so long in coming—yes, we were all in the room with Bin laden. We also share common experiences with these special warriors; even this sensitive and classified mission brings to the forefront the challenges and the hard lessons learned by all who have fought in the war on terror:

The Joint-Interagency approach works: A special operator with a small arms weapon ended the life of Bin Laden. However, it took years of interagency cooperation, a massive intelligence effort, and a joint strike team to get that operator into the same room with Bin Laden. No single service or agency is capable of succeeding in the complex environment in which we now operate; fighting terror is the ultimate team activity.

There are no easy victories: Even a significant win on the battlefield is difficult to translate into a strategic victory. The raid accomplished what it set out to do, find and deal with Bin Laden. Although Bin Laden is dead, there will be another terrorist who will take his place. The body of the snake we call "terrorism" seems to always grow another head. Moreover, the real victory comes from the strategic message, not solely from the action in the field. We seem to have difficulty in converting our vast capabilities into strategic wins. Too often we get the message exactly wrong; satisfying no one. Is it possible that we talk too much? Looking back over the last decade, strategic communications has been our Achilles heel; it may well continue to be in the future.

Technology helps and hurts: The raid would not have been possible had it not been for overhead imagery, satellite communications, sophisticated navigation systems, and advanced command and control systems. Sometimes, however, leaders have too much information making it difficult to sort out what really matters. "Streaming" live video of the raid to the President, and his key cabinet members, could well be the ultimate "ten thousand mile screw driver. "

Culture is hard: Culture matters on the battlefield, and our own culture matters as well. The question as to whether or not the President should release the death photos of Bin Laden may well be a clash of cultural considerations. For instance, many Americans want proof of Bin Laden's death, while many Muslims will not believe the photos even if they were released; there are no easy answers where culture is concerned. As for the burial at sea, the only thing I will say is that I doubt that I get a "forty-five" minute ceremony when my time comes. Culture certainly is a two-edge sword.

Yes, we all were with those special operators, for we have walked in their shoes. Anyone who has fought in Iraq and Afghanistan knows: it takes a Joint-Interagency team effort to get anything done on the battlefield; there are no easy victories; technology helps and hurts; and culture is hard. These are truths learned from fighting a determined enemy for more than a decade, confirmed once again by the raid against Bin Laden—the raid we were all on.

Professor Gene C. Kamena currently teaches Leadership and Ethics at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. He is retired from the Army as a Colonel of Infantry. He holds a B.A. in History from Auburn University and a Masters Degree in Military Art and Science from CGSC at Fort Leavenworth. He graduated from the Army War College in 1998 and Commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1AD. He also served as the Chief of Staff for the 1st Infantry Division, Director of Staff of U.S. Space Command and the Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Northern Command, Director for Iraqi Security Forces and formed and led an Iraqi Special Border Commando Brigade on the Syrian border. His operational deployments include; Desert Shield Desert Storm, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Iraq (OIF.)

Dr. Roy F. Houchin II joined the faculty of the Air War College in 2006 following his retirement from active duty with the Air Force. He has taught previously at the School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Air Command and Staff College and in the Department of History at the US Air Force Academy. While on active duty, Dr. Houchin served as Director of Operations and Chief, Combat Operations, 607th Combat Operations Squadron, Osan, South Korea. He also held various air battle management assignments in the Tactical Air Command, Air Force Space Command, Air Combat Command and HQ USAF. He is the author of US Hypersonic Research and Development: The Rise and Fall of Dyna-Soar, 1944-1963, Taylor and Francis Publishing, 2006, several chapters in edited works and numerous articles in professional journals. He is an associate editor for Quest: the History of Spaceflight Quarterly. He is also the historian and archivist for the former Atlantic Research Corporation (now a part of Aerojet). Dr. Houchin holds a B.A. and M.A. from Western Kentucky University, and a Ph.D. from Auburn University. His areas of interest and expertise are history of technology and military history (particularly space and World War I), as well as airpower history, theory and doctrine.

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5 May SWJ Roundup

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Al Qaeda

White House Goes Quiet on bin Laden Raid - Washington Post

CIA Detainee's Clue Started the Trail to Bin Laden - Los Angeles Times

Account Tells of One-Sided Battle in Bin Laden Raid - New York Times

Obama: 'I Won't Release Bin Laden Death Photos' - Voice of America

Obama Will Not Release bin Laden Photos - Washington Post

Reuters Releases Graphic Photos of Raid - Washington Post

Reuters Raid Photos - Wall Street Journal

Photos Show Three Dead Men at Bin Laden Raid House - Reuters

No Release of Bin Laden Photos - BBC News

In Bin Laden's Compound, Seals' All-Star Team - New York Times

Mission Helo was Secret Stealth Black Hawk - Army Times

Aviation Geeks Scramble to ID Raid's Mystery Copter - Danger Room

Inside bin Laden's Lair with SEAL Team Six - Associated Press

Officials: SEALs Thought bin Laden Went for Weapon - Associated Press

Spy Chief, Not Pentagon, Led Raid on bin Laden - Associated Press

Property Records Give New Insights Into Bin Laden - Associated Press

A Bin Laden Hunter on Four Legs - New York Times

Bin Laden Death Prompts Questions About Legality - Associated Press

U.S. Had the Law on its Side - Washington Post editorial

Pakistan

Military Investigates How OBL Able to Hide in Plain View - New York Times

Pakistani Army, Shaken by Raid, Faces New Scrutiny - New York Times

Pakistanis Seek Answers After U.S. Raid - Los Angeles Times

Pakistan Under Pressure Over bin Laden's Hiding Place - VOA

Pakistan Sees Shared Intelligence Lapse - New York Times

Why the U.S. Mistrusts Pakistan's Spy Agency - Reuters

Afghanistan: Pakistan Must Have Known bin Laden in Abbottabad - VOA

In Pakistan, No More Secrets - Washington Post opinion

Afghanistan

NATO Chief Says Afghan Mission on Track After Bin Laden - Reuters

Afghan Taliban Likely to Rethink Ties to Al-Qaida - Associated Press

In Afghan Outpost, Sunset Means A New Attack - NPR

France to Mull Faster Exit from Afghanistan - Associated Press

Division Commander Reflects On Tour - American Forces Press Service

ISAF Operations Roundup - American Forces Press Service

Taliban Release Video of Captured U.S. Soldier - Associated Press

Syria

Syrian President: Military Operation in Daraa Will End 'Soon' - VOA

Syrian Tanks 'Deploy Around City' of Rastan - BBC News

Britain Says Still Seeking U.N. Condemnation of Syria - Reuters

Libya / Operation Odyssey Dawn

NATO Chief Says He Favors Financing Libyan Rebels - Associated Press

ICC to Seek Arrests for Crimes Against Humanity in Libya - VOA

Hague Court Seeks Warrants for Libyan Officials - New York Times

ICC Prosecutor to Seek Arrest of 3 Libyans - Associated Press

Aid Ship Dodges Shells in Libya - Washington Post

Libya Aid Ship Comes Under Fire - BBC News

Yemen

Blast Kills 9 in Yemen, Including 5 Soldiers - Associated Press

Iraq

Officials Grapple With New Scourge: Assassinations - New York Times

Iraq to Disband Court that Tried Saddam Hussein - Associated Press

Iran

U.S. Woman Refuses Iran Spy Trial - BBC News

Israel / Palestinians

Palestinians Sign Unity Deal in Cairo - Voice of America

Hamas and Fatah Sign Unity Pact - BBC News

Palestinian Factions Sign Accord to End Rift - New York Times

Fatah, Hamas Sign Pact to End Rift - Washington Post

Palestinian Unity Pact Still Faces Big Hurdles - Los Angeles Times

Palestinian Deal Ends Rift, Hurts Peace Prospects - Associated Press

A Sliver of Hope Unites West Bank and Gaza - New York Times

Reconciliation Deal Sparks Small Celebrations and Skepticism - VOA

Netanyahu: Palestinian Unity Pact a Blow to Peace - Reuters

Jerusalem Mayor Says Holy City Indivisible - Associated Press

The Palestinian 'Reconciliation' - Washington Post editorial

Hurting Moderates, Helping Militants - New York Times opinion

Cautionary Tale for Mideast Peace - Washington Post opinion

Middle East / North Africa Unrest

Unrest Endangers Turkey's Newfound Influence - New York Times

Egypt Coroner Sacked, Said to Have Hidden Torture - Reuters

Tunisia Hands Ousted Dictator Additional Charges - Associated Press

U.S. Department of Defense

Sikorsky, Army Claim Whisper-flapcopter Test Success - The Register

House Panel OKs More Money for Special Forces - Associated Press

1.6% Pay Hike for Troops in House Proposal - Stars and Stripes

War Dog - Foreign Policy photo essay

Time for an Independent Special Forces Branch? - World Politics Review opinion

United States

Americans Yearn to Talk to SEALs in bin Laden Raid - Associated Press

AG Holder Worries About Revenge for bin Laden - Associated Press

Fla. Mosque Bombing Suspect Fatally Shot in Okla. - Associated Press

The Torture Apologists - New York Times editorial

United Kingdom

Strain on Britain's Cameron-Clegg Government - Washington Post

Australia

Last World War I Combat Vet Dies in Australia - Associated Press

World

Who is Now on the World's Most Wanted List? - The Guardian

Africa

DRC War Crimes Trial Begins in Germany - Voice of America

Rwanda Rebels on Trial in Germany - BBC News

Ivory Coast Retakes Gbagbo Area - BBC News

Americas

Cartels Taking Over Gov't Roles in Parts of Mexico - Vancouver Sun

11 Bodies Found in Mexico Pits, Total Now 121 - Associated Press

Colombia Prosecutor Suspends Bogota Mayor Moreno - BBC News

Incumbent Casts Big Shadow Over Peru Election - Associated Press

News Group Studies Charges Against Argentina Gov't - Associated Press

Asia Pacific

Workers Enter Japan Nuclear Reactor Building - Associated Press

China Tightens Internet Controls - BBC News

China Creates Agency For Patrolling Internet - New York Times

Thai-Cambodia Crossing Reopened - BBC News

Indonesia: Terror Suspect Went to Meet Bin Laden - Associated Press

Europe

E.U. Moves to Tighten Border Controls in Schengen Zone - BBC News

Party Convoy In Turkey Is Fired On, Killing Officer - New York Times

Attack After Turkey PM Poll Rally - BBC News

Crime Gangs in Europe Are Profiting From Web - New York Times

South Asia

India Rules Out U.S.-Style Strike Against Terrorists in Pakistan - VOA

Labor Strike Sparks Debate in India - Washington Post

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Quotable

Tom Ricks quotes "the likely next chairman of the JCS" on operational risk and career cowardice - excerpted from the May issue of the Marine Corps Gazette:

"The enormous irony of the military profession is that we are huge risk takers in what we do operationally -- flying airplanes on and off a carrier, driving a ship through a sea state five typhoon, walking point with your platoon in southern Afghanistan -- but publishing an article, posting a blog, or speaking to the media can scare us badly. We are happy to take personal risk or operational risk, but too many of us won't take career risk."

The author is Admiral James Stavridis, Commander, U.S. European Command.

Small Wars Journal on Wisconsin Public Radio

Yesterday I was interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio. I discussed the raid on bin Laden's compound and what policy issues will now come under discussion in the raid's aftermath.

Mary Habeck, Associate Professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, followed me and discussed the future of al Qaeda and Pakistan's internal stability.

Click here to access the program.

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Reflections

Reflections

by Rebecca Zimmerman

Osama bin Laden is dead, and it makes me want to cry. Puzzle that one out, if you will. Bin Laden has dogged my professional life since 1998. On September 12, 2001 I was asleep on a bus in rural Nepal when a rap on my window woke me in time to hear, "your World Trade Towers, they are gone!" I scribbled in my journal all the way back to Kathmandu; even without details I wrote that I knew it must be Osama bin Laden. Today, Afghanistan is my life. After two extended field research trips embedded with the military and working with Afghans, I've returned home to write my dissertation on the U.S. military's experience there. By rights, I should have been among those who gathered by the White House in joyful celebration. But as I examine the reasons much of America is celebrating I cannot find justification for such brash, self-congratulatory cheer. And I am not alone, those friends of mine who have shouldered the greatest burdens of the last decade are somber and qualified in their reactions.

To view Osama bin Laden as the gravitational center of global Islamist terrorism is to see the world as it was a decade ago. Terrorism and (mercifully) counterterrorism have evolved profoundly since then. As the pundits have already remarked, any tangible effect is likely to be negative, in the form of hasty reprisals from Islamist affinity groups. If this was the point of all this war, I'd rather have just kept my friends alive and let Osama die a forgotten old man, thank you very much. Of course his death wasn't ever the sole point. But even by those who understand that Osama bin Laden's death has little intrinsic value, I am told we should celebrate the symbolic victory of this moment.

As a civilian among the military, I often find myself caught between two visions of this war. The war as many Americans see it is a titanic, ideological clash through which the innocent can be liberated from fanaticism. In this war we have given evil a face, and with its destruction feel thrillingly victorious. But the real war isn't like that at all. The real war is one where you find out the district subgovernor you've been backing for six months is a murderer. It is one where the rich and powerful play us off against our enemies for profit and power. It is confusing, it is hard, and it is increasingly misunderstood and maligned by the American people. In this war evil has no face, and there will never be a golden moment when we can call it vanquished.

Today I am deflated. I fear that this false summit, this pretend victory in an imagined war, will sap America's resolve for the real, confusing war that continues. I am thinking about the Afghans I know who have endured much and will fear what they will assume is a reinvigorated schedule for U.S. military withdrawal. And I am thinking about my deployed friends, alone and unafraid, trying to do right amid a vast array of bad choices. We haven't even figured out how to win the real war yet, if we follow our fantasies perhaps we never will.

Last summer, in the darkest night imaginable, I stood at a fallen comrade ceremony in Helmand. The formation broke and five Marines walked briskly to the edge of the tarmac, picked up their rucks and strapped on their helmets. In silence they walked to a waiting helicopter and flew back to the fight. At home many are cheering, but all I can see are the thousands who, as we celebrate, are shouldering their packs and heading out, back into the real war.

Rebecca Zimmerman is a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and a fellow with the Truman National Security Project. She has extensive field research experience in Afghanistan and the southern Philippines.

4 May SWJ Roundup

Keep the Roundup (the Journal, the Blog and the Council) Going AND Get a Nifty Coin to Boot

ABC News / Washington Post: A look inside bin Laden's compound.

Al Qaeda

Bin Laden Operation Full Coverage - U.S. Department of Defense

Bin Laden Operation Full Coverage - Stars and Stripes

Bin Laden Operation Full Coverage - Washington Post

Bin Laden Operation Full Coverage - BBC News

Bin Laden Operation Full Coverage - Christian Science Monitor

U.S. Revises Description of bin Laden Killing - Voice of America

New U.S. Account Says Bin Laden Was Unarmed - New York Times

Bin Laden 'Resisted' Assault But Was Unarmed - Washington Post

Bin Laden's Fate Nearly Sealed From The Start - Los Angeles Times

Bin Laden Compound Location Suggested by 2008 Study - BBC News

CIA Working on 'Robust' Trove of Material from bin Laden Compound - VOA

Raid Produced Massive Intelligence Haul - Wall Street Journal

How bin Laden Led Operations - Washington Times

Zawahri: From Suburban Doctor to Chief of Al Qaeda? - Reuters

Bin Laden's Neighbors Saw Little Amiss - Washington Post

Model Neighbors Were Harboring a Fugitive - New York Times

Abbottabad Residents Startled by Events - Los Angeles Times

Bin Laden's Neighbors Noticed Unusual Things - Associated Press

U.S. Says Bin Laden Photo 'Gruesome,' Weighs Release - Reuters

Muslim World: Many Doubters Say bin Laden Still Lives - Fox News

U.N. Rights Chief Seeks Details on Bin Laden Killing - Associated Press

The Long-Awaited News - New York Times editorial

Measure of Justice, Warning to Others - Wall Street Journal editorial

Impressivenness of the Navy SEALs - USA Today editorial

Farewell to Geronimo - New York Times opinion

Why Did It Take So Long to Find Bin Laden? - New York Times opinion

Pakistan

Pakistan Criticizes U.S. Raid, Defends Record on Terrorism - VOA

U.S. Presses Pakistan for Answers - Washington Post

Tensions as U.S. Presses Pakistan for Answers - New York Times

Pakistan Plays Double Game Concerning Militants - Los Angeles Times

U.S. Aid Could Hinge on What Pakistanis Knew - Washington Times

U.S., Pakistan Try to Ease Tensions - Wall Street Journal

U.K. Says Bin Laden Must Have Had Pakistani Support - Reuters

Pakistan Rejects U.S. Fear on Bin Laden Raid - BBC News

Pakistan Criticizes U.S. Raid on Bin Laden - Associated Press

Embarrassment Grows for Pakistan Security Forces - Daily Mail

India Sees New Reason to Distrust Pakistan - New York Times

Can Pakistan Survive Its Pack of Lies? - Foreign Policy opinion

Afghanistan

An Opening to End the Afghan War - Washington Post

Report Outlines Progress in Afghanistan - American Forces Press Service

Forces Kill, Detain Insurgents in Baghlan - American Forces Press Service

Afghanistan: Pakistan Had to Know Bin Laden There - Associated Press

Taliban Delay on Bin Laden Death Speaks of Agenda - Reuters

Can We Win in Afghanistan? - The New Republic opinion

Syria

Quiet in Damascus Despite Protests Across Syria - Washington Post

Army 'Surrounds Baniyas' Days After Deraa Siege - BBC News

Syria Charges Hundreds With 'Degrading the State' - Reuters

U.S. Calls Syrian Anti-Protest Actions 'Barbaric' - Voice of America

Turkey Worries Syria's Refugee Influx Could Cause Crisis - Voice of America

Libya / Operation Odyssey Dawn

Libyan Rebels Seek $3 Billion Loan - Washington Post

Rebels Seek Ways to Keep Economy Afloat - Los Angeles Times

Hidden Workshops Add to Libyan Rebels' Arsenal - New York Times

Car Bomb Explodes at Rebel Headquarters in Libya - Associated Press

Gaddafi Forces May Be Charged - Washington Post

Turkish Leader Says Qaddafi Must Step Down - New York Times

Turkey Calls on Col Gaddafi to Go - BBC News

CIA Chief Says Gadhafi Alive After Hit on House - Associated Press

Targeting Mr. Gaddafi - Washington Post editorial

Yemen

Bin Laden's Legacy Strong in Yemen - Voice of America

Iraq

Some Troops Should Stay in Iraq, Speaker Says - New York Times

In Iraq, Assassinations a Nightly Event - Washington Post

Deadly Car Bomb Strikes Shia Cafe in Baghdad - BBC News

Car Bomb Near Cafe Kills 16 in Baghdad - Associated Press

Bahrain

Bahrain to Charge Doctors Over Protester Deaths - Reuters

Israel / Palestinians

Hamas and Fatah to Ink Peace Pact - BBC News

Fatah, Hamas in Cairo for Palestinian Reconciliation - Reuters

Abbas Aide: Hamas Doesn't Have to Recognize Israel - Associated Press

Gaza Demonstrators Condemn Death of Bin Laden - Associated Press

Hamas-Fatah Agreement Step Toward Peace - Washington Post opinion

Give Palestinian Unity Deal a Chance - Washington Post opinion

United States

Bin Laden Raid Revives Debate on Value of Torture - New York Times

Debate Flares new on Harsh Interrogation - Washington Times

U.S. Officials Warn Terrorism Threat Remains Post-bin Laden - VOA

Security on Higher Alert Across U.S. - New York Times

New York City Tightens Security After bin Laden Death - Voice of America

American Interests in Mideast at Risk - Washington Times opinion

Canada

Canada's Conservatives Win Long-sought Majority - Washington Post

Canadian Leader Celebrates Victory Over Opposition - New York Times

PM Says He Won't Move Canada Hard to the Right - Associated Press

Election Proves Surprisingly Interesting - Los Angeles Times

World

U.N. Forecasts 10.1 Billion People by Century's End - New York Times

Africa

Dozens Dead as Ivorian Troops Clash With Militia - Reuters

Rwanda Rebels Face German Trial - BBC News

Americas

5 Decapitated Bodies Found Near Mexican Capital - Associated Press

Honduras Dismisses Zelaya Charges - BBC News

Asia Pacific

Cables Show U.S. Concern on Japan's Disaster Readiness - New York Times

China Hails bin Laden Death, Defends Pakistan - Voice of America

North Korean Prison Camps Massive and Growing - New York Times

North Korea Jail Camps 'Growing' - BBC News

Guilty-By-Association-Growing Up in Hell of North Korean Gulag - Reuters

Google's S. Korean Offices Raided Over Data - New York Times

Taiwan: China Pressures Taipei-Seoul Military Ties - Associated Press

Rights Group Urges Prosecutions in Thai Violence - New York Times

Cambodia Seeks U.N. Court Ruling on Thai Border Row - BBC News

Europe

The E.U.'s Balancing Act on Open Borders - New York Times

E.U. Wins Special Rights at U.N. - Associated Press

U.K.: Sellafield Nuclear Site Terror Arrests Made - BBC News

Five Men Arrested Near Plant In Britain - New York Times

Spain Beefs Up Security, Remembers Victims of al-Qaida Bombings - VOA

Russian Charged With Betraying Spies in U.S. - New York Times

U.S. and Romania Move on Missile Plan - New York Times

South Asia

India Sees New Reason to Distrust Pakistan - New York Times

Maoist Mine Kills Indian Police - BBC News

Despite Rapid Growth, India Lets Its Girls Die - Associated Press

Read more about 4 May SWJ Roundup

OBL: Epic Fail and Legacy

Osama Bin Laden: Epic Fail? - Dr. David Betz at Kings of War:

"... On the other hand, I also agree with something Bruce Berkowitz wrote about Bin Laden years ago in his book The New Face of War: 'History will not portray Osama bin Laden as a mere terrorist, rather instructors at West Point and Annapolis will cite him as one of the first military commanders to use a new kind of combat organization in a successful operation.' There's no contradiction here; Bin Laden joins a long list of military innovators who fought in lost causes. The advantage of being first is often fleeting and I think, hope earnestly, that that is what is happening here ..."

FPRI Perspectives on bin Laden's Demise - Foreign Policy Research Institute:

The world is better off without Osama bin Laden. But his demise does not mean the end of terrorism. What is bin Laden's legacy, and what will Al Qaeda and its affiliates do in the post-bin Laden era? We asked two Senior Fellows of FPRI to comment on these questions -- Lawrence Husick and Barak Mendelsohn.

Bin Laden Arabic Editorial Roundup

Bin Laden Arabic Editorial Roundup

Selected Excerpts Compiled by Scott Weiner, PhD Student, Political Science

The George Washington University

Translated from Arabic

Emphasis and brackets have been added.

Addustour

"Even before [the assassination], he was not the key man in the organization because al-Qaeda operates on ideas, not on its structure. The first beneficiary will be President Obama who will be very much assisted by this in his election campaign to be re-elected for a second term!"

- Hilmi Asmar

"Was it a coincidence? Was 'Osama' exhausted in his role and function? Do I feel regarding his death that the date of his passing was really recorded three months ago at least and they had to release it this time exactly? [Is there any coincidence]...in the beginning of the era of people who are searching for freedom, and the end of the age of the "warlords," those who have inspired the world to invent this so-called "war" under the pretext of fighting terrorism?"

- Hussein al-Ruashida

"They did not stop Bin Laden for over ten years and his name became a symbol of the danger to America and the West, until the day came when the American "knights of windmills" [Don Quixote reference] killed Bin Laden, and they terrorized the American people with his name for over a decade...It saves the popularity of President Obama who enjoys popularity today at a level unreached by an American president. And the President's popularity increased after the news of salvation from Bin Laden, which could prove the foundation for his reelection in a year and a half..."

- Rakan al-Mujali

"Bin Laden was not effective as a leader in his last years, proving that he was cut off from the world, and that this access to his head has symbolic meaning on both sides. The Americans and the West generally recount [stories of] him, and his admirers and colleagues focus on the symbolism of his legendary death as a martyr who approached his life with holiness, and is worthy of modeling."

- Bassem Sakajha

"For starters, the armed action against the regimes is a marginal impact. Second, it is rejected by the masses, especially after the success of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt and the outbreak of other revolutions mentioned earlier [in the article]. The impact is that the killing of the Sheikh [Bin Laden], (May he rest in peace) will not clarify or add to the audience and the symbolism of a man who fought American imperialism without being stopped, just as the case with Guevara before, with the difference being the religious dimension in the case of Bin Laden."

- Yasser al-Za'atra

Al-Jazeera

"To clash with the Arab regimes is not an integral path in al-Qaeda's program which turned from Jihad of the near enemy (systems) to the far enemy (the United States)."

- Yasser al-Za'atra

Asharq al-Awsat

"He died in his style of "Leader of the Mujahideen" in his luxury house, and not on the battlefield, or in Jihad...he died with his wife, and three individuals, the opposite of how he had betrayed our people, and the Muslim people whom he sent to die one after the next for years, he and the sheikhs of evil and terrorists."

- Tareq al-Homayed

"Finally, Obama was victorious in this epic moment, which is what the previous president George Bush himself [had wanted]. But fortune came to Obama, whom the American far right accused of being "Half-Muslim" or a secret Muslim!"

- Mashary al-Zaidi

"It was strange when yesterday Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas movement, in response to the announcement of the death of Bin Laden, described him as a Mujahid and condemned his killing, since we had not heard before that jihad allows randomly killing civilians, explosions, and sabotage."

- Ali Ibrahim

"Muslims will not continue a strong effort in purifying their references, writers, and sheikhs from the toxins found in some of what they say...and we will return to the original 'important' questions like origins, and nationality. And things like this are not found in Arab culture, or some of it."

- Hussein Shabakashi

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