The big news is the death of Usama Bin Laden. The Pakistani government and intelligent forces working closely with ours located the man; President Obama authorized a surgical strike on the compound where he was and in a fire fight he was killed. No American lives were lost. I like friend Elizabeth's way of putting it: a subdued celebration.
There is something that reminds me of how the family felt when Daughter told us her abusive ex-husband was dead. Something was lifted. Something was released. We didn’t cheer. We simply were at a different level. That’s how I feel about my country this morning. We simply are at a different, lighter level. There were cheering, chanting crowds gathering spontaneously at the White House last night and in some ways it was nice for them to have something to cheer and chant about. On the other hand, I could not have joined them. Rather I would have held a candle in a subdued celebration for the persistence and power of our military and intelligent services who for ten years have searched and fought and lost their own lives to bring justice to 9/11.
I also thought President Obama was as presidential as I have ever seen him. He was calm. He spoke with great clarity. The speech was well-written and delivered, invoking the history of the event, making it very clear why we went after and killed this man. He referenced President Bush when he declared we were not at war with Islam. And he closed by quoting some of the pledge of allegiance. Today all the journalistic questions will be asked, mulled over and chewed to death. Last night our President stood tall and spoke to his people and people around the world in the strong and powerful voice of victory. History had been made.
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