Death of a Terrorist

The liquidation of Osama bin Laden is no doubt a heavy psychological blow for the al-Qaida network.

Shortly after the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, President Bush swore that the United States would not rest until the mastermind behind this monumental evil — Osama bin Laden — was captured, “dead or alive.” Nearly 10 years later, the Americans have kept their promise, and he was captured dead. This success is attributed to President Obama, whose authority has increased exponentially, thanks to the capture of this “icon of evil.”

Measured by the norms of the constitutional state, the fact that this outcome happened in Pakistan is not the most desired. It would have been better if bin Laden had been captured alive and tried. Unfortunately, the norms of the constitutional state cannot prevail in all situations. Capturing him alive would have created immense problems with Pakistan: Would he have to be handed over to the local authorities, or would the Americans have had to kidnap him? Both scenarios have severe complications and objections.

Unclear — and it will probably stay that way — is whether the Special Forces killed him intentionally or unintentionally. But the man responsible for killing many thousands of innocent civilians — both in New York and Washington, as well as in many other attacks that were claimed by al-Qaida — could not have expected a polite arresting squad with a law book in hand. Nor could he expect a mausoleum. In the fight against terrorists, who can still strike with devastation, hard measures are sometimes unavoidable.

In many reactions to the liquidation of Osama bin Laden, people justly refer to the fact that this does not eliminate terrorist danger. Certain followers surely want revenge; vigilance cannot be reduced. There is no doubt, however, that his death is a heavy psychological blow for a terrorist network that, following current developments in the Middle East, is receiving a political blow as well.