"No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

Almost all of us can think back to September 11, 2001 and remember where we were, what we were doing and who we were with when we heard the terrible news about the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. As you well know, the mastermind behind these attacks (and founder of al-Qaeda) was Osama bin Laden. For many, this man has been the face of terror. This is true both for the United States and many other countries all over the world that he and his organization attacked.

What we know so far is the bin Laden was hiding out in a million dollar compound in Pakistan. President Barak Obama gave the go ahead on April 29th for a covert operation to storm the compound with the intent of killing bin Laden. Bin Laden and those with him were killed during the firefight.

It's taken three presidents, decades of time and thousands of lives, but former president George W. Bush put it perfectly:

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done." - George W. Bush

What makes me nervous is the group of people who believe this is it - that now that bin Laden is dead, terrorism has been eradicated. I believe that to be an incredibly naive and dangerous belief. There are hundreds, if not thousands of men willing to step up and take bin Laden's place. If anything, we are more at risk today than we have been over the last ten years as al-Qaeda plans some sort of retaliation. My soon-to-be nephew, Shane, shipped out to Afghanistan last Thursday - I hope and pray that he and his fellow soldiers stay safe!

I am very interested to hear more details as they are released by the government. Obama's announcement was last night and this morning CNN reported that bin Laden had already been buried at sea (their rational was that there was no country willing to take possession of the terrorist's body). It all seems a little fast, though the United States says it's dictated by Islamic custom to have the body buried within a day of death.

While last night's announcement is a victory for all Americans, I can't help but think about all of the old wounds that this must have opened for so many people. There are the families of the 2,977 world trade, Pentagon and plane victims; the families of the 5,885 soldiers that have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. These people can't get their loved ones back and I don't think bin Laden's death provides the relief that many hoped it would. Don't get me wrong, I want to see justice served, but justice served does not bring a lost loved one back.

Click here for a link to the CNN article.