Bin Laden Dead---What's Next?

Some rapid-fire thoughts on the historic news breaking tonight.....

1) Congratulations to the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces, the "boots on the ground", who never gave up in spite of waning public support at home. Special thanks to the special forces who were involved in the raid at Abbottabad, Pakistan to put an end to this scourge on humanity.

2) Congratulations to President Obama and his National Security Team for not dropping the ball, painstakingly planning from a tip on August, 2010 all the way to the execution of the raid that finally got the job done.

3) A reminder of thanks to the previous Bush Administration for their tireless work, much of it during withering criticism and pressure at every turn, to prove a surge works (Iraq), which set the stage for Obama to surge in Afghanistan, quelling any Taliban or Al-Qaeda gains, all the while looking inside Pakistan for the big catch.

4) All U.S. interests, both foreign and domestic, should be extremely vigilent in the days and weeks to come. If they can pull it off, those who side with Bin Laden will want to retaliate, quell our victorious feeling, and return us to that feeling of "this war will never end...."

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Which brings me to my final point, and I believe it is the most important. In light of this development, some issues are going to rocket to the top of discussion.

A) If the reason for going to Afghanistan was to "get Bin Laden", isn't it now time to come home? If the President does not do this, he risks making the hard left in America very, very upset just as the 2012 election campaign is ramping up. Meanwhile, Bin Laden's demise takes much of the wind out of the sails of those who want to continue in Afghanistan. On the other hand, April was the deadliest month for Americans in IRAQ since 2009. And we're ramping down there. What happens when we're gone?

B) How much political hay will Obama be able to make from being the one who authorized the successful raid on Bin Laden? Much, I suspect, and deservedly so. I could care less which President got him, I just wanted him gotten. This is a time to give credit where credit is due, and foremost, it goes to Obama and his National Security Team. Conservatives should not try to politicize this. There's nothing here to politicize.

C) What about the body? Yes, remember, in Islam, burials are normally done within 24 hours, and the fact that the "infidels, the Americans" have, in their possession, the body of their martyred leader, Osama Bin Laden, is really going to stir their passions, their hatred. Let us be vigilant.

As someone posted on Facebook tonight, now we know where Jack Bauer went after the final season of "24"....... :)