America And Global Terrorism After Bin Laden

46:39

May 02, 2011

What Bin Laden’s death means for the country and global terrorism.

Perched on another's shoulders, Ryan Burtchell, of Brooklyn, waves an American flag over the crowd as they celebrate the news of Osama Bin Laden's death early Monday morning near ground zero in New York. (AP) — Perched on another's shoulders, Ryan Burtchell of Brooklyn, waves an American flag over the crowd near Ground Zero as they celebrate the news of Osama Bin Laden's death. (AP)

He took the world’s most powerful nation, wounded it grievously and disappeared into the mountains. Now, President Obama said last night, Osama bin Laden is dead.

It took a long time. Some thought it would never happen. Now, Americans have celebrated in the streets of Washington and New York — sung the national anthem, chanted against bin Laden. But we know this is not a simple moment.

In their longing for vengeance and justice, Americans have been on a long journey in the last nearly ten years.

This hour On Point: the long American journey to the death of bin Laden.
- Tom Ashbrook

Guests:

Tom Brokaw, former anchor of NBC Nightly News and author of "The Greatest Generation."
Retired Colonel Laurence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell. He is now a professor at the College of William and Mary.
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst.

This program aired on May 2, 2011.