Where to from here...

As per usual my normal disclaimer applies.

Today I am still a little beside myself. After 10 years of trying we finally killed Osama bin Laden. Although after all this time there is a sense of relief and vindication. Many of us feel like we are on top of the world but this victory is exceptionally bitter sweet. The thousands of people who have died because of what that man started is still unfathomable. The events of 9/11 knew no religious boundary or nationality. I still clearly remember standing on the deck of the Harpers Ferry as we were given the news of what was happening in NYC and DC. There was a young Marine standing next to me who had turned ash white because both of his parents worked in the World Trade Center and his baby sister went to daycare on the same floor that his mother worked. He lost his entire immediate family in an instant. Now I sit and wonder how he feels right now. For me, I went on an emotional roller coaster because I know so many people that have been killed because of this man. So many people that died in an effort to find and kill him. So many people that gave their life to save a brother-in-arms. Just so fucking many.

Now there is also the question of what is going to happen next. Al Qaeda is set up to operate independent of any higher level leadership. The killing of Osama bin Laden is more of a moral victory than anything else. They may have problems at first but they will persevere and continue to make an effort to kill those that they view are less than human because of their beliefs. It's frustrating but unfortunately that's the way it is.

Some of you are probably sitting there like "what the fuck man" but there is a reason I bring this up. The war is not over. We still have a mission to complete and we still have people going into harms way. I'm sure that those still in Al Qaeda want nothing more than to strike us on our soil again as a giant "Fuck You, We're Still Here." So we have to continue to fight and not completely lose sight of what we are actually fighting for. Osama, much like Saddam, is not the end state. I'm not sure if we will ever truly achieve a world without terrorism. As long as there is a weaker group they will fight by any means they see possible which in many instances is terrorism or insurgency or any number of things.

So in the end I leave you with this. Enjoy this victory, it's a big one, but always remember that it isn't over yet. We still have to stand guard against a group of people that hate us because of the way we live our lives and because of our beliefs. We still need to support our troops, we still need to be vigilant, and we still need to stand up for what we believe in.

Via con queso,

The Senator