When I heard they killed Osama bin Laden I thought of Cork native Ron Clifford.
Ron from Cork, lost his niece and his sister on 9-11, and was almost killed himself.
He was in the World Trade Center that day and narrowly escaped with his life when the planes overhead crashed into the Towers.
Incredibly, Ron Clifford's sister and niece were on one of the flights.
Since that day I know that Ron, who I featured in my book Fire in the Morning on 9-11 heroes, has gone through hell, and I know that this news of Bin Laden's death will finally bring some relief.
I sat with Ron and his wife in their New Jersey home many nights after that awful event and marveled at the courage and resilience they showed.
But I knew their hearts were breaking
Not just for him, but for the thousands who died on 9-11 this is a great night.
The death of bin Laden proves that there is nowhere to hide when you are the most bloodthirsty terrorist in U.S. history.
For years with his videotapes and his taunts, he has continued to threaten America and to boast about how many of us he would kill.
Now he is gone, and truly the world is a much better place.
Anyone who lived through 9-11 in New York as I did will consider this one of the greatest nights in the history of this city.
The man who tried to take us down has himself had his life ended, and justice has at last been served.
I think of other victims of bin Laden. Mike Meehan from Donegal, who went to his grave early because of the death of his son Damian. There's Kieran Gorman from Sligo, a young Irish construction worker from Sligo trying to make his way.
I remember interviewing the widow of FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Dowdall for my 9-11 book, "Fire in the Morning." She recalled his great Irish sense of humor and his love of Irish music.
Just two weeks ago I met with Jim Smith, whose wife, NYPD Officer Patricia Smith, saved so many lives that day by leading people to safety, but died herself.
I think of them all tonight, and the thousands of others and the lives that were lost, and the senseless deaths.
I am so proud of this country that they have tracked down the man who ordered these deaths, and that justice has been done.
Excellent article, Niall, and right on the money.littleandloved and sirpeter,unconvinced etc. is fantasy island island a happy place or is it a dark,angry paranoid place full of misguided people who dislike everything American, people much like apparently yourselves.Praise Allah this murderous bastard is dead at the hands of the U.S. military.
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 09:04 PM EDT
littleandloved..You have a very good point.They had to kill him ..He knew to much
littleandloved | May 04, 2011, 04:11 PM EDT
The man was executed without trial, this act puts the executioners and those who gave the order, on the same level as a Third World dictator or, in fact, the same level as those who the West pro-ports to be opposing
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 12:05 PM EDT
@unconvinced..He is dead.Can't see a motive to lie about it. But you are right to been unconvinced about alot of things.There has been some BIG lies in history.Government's and President's are pathological liars.Always have been. The sad thing is the ordinary people continue to believe them,I guess it saves them having to think for themselves.But I admire the fact you are at least thinking.I think you have earned the right to be unconvinced or at least suspicious about anything that is said by the US government.Course nothing but some flesh eating cancer on some politicians in Ireland would soothe my contempt.
DanOLoingsigh | May 03, 2011, 08:47 AM EDT
@unconvinced – maybe your belief in a ‘judgement day’ is even more fanciful…how many people would need to go along with a charade to invent this killing? I don’t expect to see photos of OBL holding up a current-date newspaper any time soon…
unconvinced | May 03, 2011, 02:32 AM EDT
If you believe that hes dead you will believe anything. Also no matter what you think of him he never was tried and convicted , he was just shot and bumped. When the IRA was doing that America was against it so here we have America doing the same as the IRA and Americas is hailed a powerful nation- It just tells me how SICK this world is . The reported death is just as questionable as who actually carried out the Twin Towers ?????? We will never know the truth until judgement day when the secrets of mens hearts are made known
Beatriz | May 02, 2011, 05:18 PM EDT
A day of jubilation for the country that was a long time coming. Bravo Obama, you just won your re-election because nobody can take this victory away from you. Bush kept his eye off the ball and lost a golden opportunity to get this monster, may he rot in hell forever. God bless America.
sirpeter | May 02, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT
Big mistake!! The object should be to undermine your opponent's support network. The analogy of the Russian Dolls while clever is just not true.It might work with a conventional army.But in fact has the opposite effect with a guerrilla army.The United States just made a martyr out of him. It's exactly how Bin Laden wanted to die. He volunteered for a cause and died a martyr.Doesn't get any better then that.How many American soldiers who died in the middle east will be remembered like that.Those wars in the middle east are instigated by very rich men. If you feel your wage packet has a little oil bonus every month because of these wars,then fair enough. But if you are just making ends meet after your 39 hour hard graft and wish life was financially easier. I wouldn't be a dumb ass patriot without a cause.The Government you live with has to provide you with a very comfortable life style first.I would then defend it against an invasion.But put my life on the line for rich men to get richer ..Not a chance in hell.
vincem13 | May 02, 2011, 02:37 PM EDT
Very well said, Niall. Thank you and God bless.
Searlit | May 02, 2011, 02:09 PM EDT
The hope that I see is an end to the war in Afghanistan, very soon. Can't change anything that's already happened. Stay in the moment, we are equipped with everything we need to make positive change.
manhattan | May 02, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT
Trealach, how dare you accuse the US of being as evil as Bin Laden. Every one cheering on the streets of New York are entitled to celebrate the death by the hands of our fantastic military, so many of us lost so many innocent wonderful people. Of course terrorism is still on but we will beat them and send them back to the 1st century where they belong. So Trealach go soak your miserable head in your safe country you can't be here and say what you did.
MrSinatra | May 02, 2011, 01:05 PM EDT
My Best Man was a block way from the WTC that morning, in the shower actually. Anyone clear thinking should be able to tell the difference between good and evil, and ergo the difference between valid celebration and gleeful schadenfreude. There's no room for moral equivalence in these matters, unless you're happily prepared to be dead.
BryanTim | May 02, 2011, 01:04 PM EDT
It's amazing to watch the staged celebrations in Washington, D.C., but I never saw any evidence whatsoever that bin Laden was behind 911. Those accusations came from the U.S. government and since the U.S. Government routinely lies to the American people, I don't believe it.
Are you watching to unrest across the Arab world? Guess who is behind it? Do you remember how the U.S. Government was going into Libya to protect civilians? Why then did they just kill Ghadalfi's son and three grandchildren? Do you think someone may want to take revenge for that in the future? Would you blame them if they did? Let's hope they go after the people who are responsible and not ordinary American's who seem to have no control over their own government.
John5319 | May 02, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
How can this be ??? ... Bin Laden's DEATH is called "justice for grieving families" ... and yet Ireland has a Constitutional amendment against the "death penalty", for those same "grieving" Irish families of murderous crime ?? That is called Justice? I'll call it what it is foolish STUPIDITY !!
MrSinatra | May 02, 2011, 12:37 PM EDT
My Best Man was a block way from the WTC that morning, in the shower actually. Anyone clear thinking should be able to tell the difference between good and evil, and ergo the difference between valid celebration and gleeful schadenfreude. There's no room for moral equivalence in these matters, unless you're happily prepared to be dead.
howareya | May 02, 2011, 12:19 PM EDT
I'm sure he is now rejoicing with his 72 year old virgin...oh wait...is that correct?
Trealach | May 02, 2011, 12:18 PM EDT
Evil begets evil. What Bin Laden has been responsible for, which under no circumstance do I condone, the US stands equally guilty of the same level Evil. Those who condemned the radicals Muslims dancing in the streets after 9/11 are the same hypocrites who were dancing on the White house Lawn and on the streets when this news broke. The removal of the 'head' of terrorism will only result in an unmerciful back-lash, and the world will suffer as a result. So while America tries vainly to draw some solace and comfort over the terrorist style murder of a terrorist, the rest of the world holds its breath for the reaction. This is nothing more than one terrorist killing another terrorist - and it is nothing to be proud of.
ellenred | May 02, 2011, 11:48 AM EDT
Thank God we finally got him. Tears of relief. And tears for all those lost in my home city.
truthseeking | May 02, 2011, 11:31 AM EDT
Emmanuel Goldstein is dead! Who is the new Goldstein? We NEED our monster. Make us a new one.
Nancy61 | May 02, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT
Thank God, he is gone!!!!!!
antoman | May 02, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT
@Stephendoyle-Very well put.
SeamusMor | May 02, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT
One minute Osama was plotting Jihad, the next he eating lamb in paradise!
Contratulations Seal Team 6!!!
stephendoyle | May 02, 2011, 10:53 AM EDT
Antoman, I like your anology of the Russian Dolls. But as in your anology, each new doll is smaller than the outer one. Just as Osama's replacement will never be as large as he was......
Liamkeyes | May 02, 2011, 10:52 AM EDT
No doubt, there are others waiting to fill his shoes but at least they will know that there is a price to pay and Uncle Sam won't give up until they are also caught. To our friends, relatives and brave firemen who paid the supreme sacrifice on that fateful day......" Ar laimh Deas Dia ro raibh gach anam, in anman a Athair agus an Mhic agus an Spirid naomh AMEN) translated "May their souls be at the right hand of God, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit AMEN!!!! Spirit
truthseeking | May 02, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT
Niall:
A little 9/11 trivia that seems appropriate to revisit on this national holiday:
For almost a decade, some character named Bin Laden was featured at the top of the FBI's "Most Wanted" list. Hardly surprising. Oddly, though, he wasn't sought for the paradigm-shifting mass murders of 9/11, but just for the attacks on the US embassy in Tanzania and an American warship, the USS Cole. Hmmm.
When pressed on this by a tiny handful of independent journalists (the corporate boys won't go near it), an FBI spokesman explained that there is NO evidence linking someone named Bin Laden to the crimes of 9/11. Odd.
Seems the "fatty, gold-wearing, boastful, wrong-handed Bin Laden" of the infamous video "found" in Afghanistan wasn't good enough for the world's leading Bin Laden expert or the intrepid FBI. Makes you wonder. Good thing we took "him" alive... oops. Well, at least we have the body for dental and DNA identi... oops again.
As our old friend Voltaire might remind us "If Bin Laden didn't exist, we'd have to invent him." Bring on the new Goldstein.
antoman | May 02, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
Perhaps it is a cause for celebration.But I would be thinking Russian Doll.You open the doll and there's another doll inside.You open that and there's yet another doll and so forth.
cillowen | May 02, 2011, 10:16 AM EDT
obama gets the job done - shoudda be done within months of 9/11 - the baggers will go looney with the good news. read posting to glean much insanity
and see the ILLOGICAL apple and orange (freemason) compaRISONS.
antoman | May 02, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT
Can you really kill the boogeyman?No more looking under the bed for little Timmy.Dad says the boogeyman is dead.
JBRAFTREE | May 02, 2011, 10:08 AM EDT
Too bad it wasn't the Marines, Navy is OK too though!! Semper Fi
manhattan | May 02, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
GOD BLESS OUR NAVY SEALS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. Thank you President Obama for going in to that hot bed of terrorism that is Pakistan and the hell with asking permission of countries harboring these savages. I pray none of these anti americans get on this site because they don't deserve space here or anywhere. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN. I just read some of the comments below and I say to all of you "Aren't you lucky you weren't in the trade center,the pentagon,or the plane brought down by those brave men and women ." You care for nothing your a sad lot.
JeanieAStone | May 02, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT
A very evil man is dead but I believe it is bad karma to rejoice in the death of any sentient being. I am relieved that he is gone but he left behind many to take his place so we should not ever let down our defences and should keep actively seeking out his followers and deal them the same fate he received.
IAPRINCESS | May 02, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT
Joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God has blessed America AGAIN
antoman | May 02, 2011, 09:27 AM EDT
Remember the old Irish legend of the Salmon of Knowledge?What happens if a bloke catches a fish that's been nibbling on Osama and eats it.He instantly has a desire to commit acts of violence and terrorism?"Shark fin soup please..oh waiter..can I have the fin of the shark that ate Osama?"The wife and her mother are doing my head in. :)
stevieboy49 | May 02, 2011, 08:53 AM EDT
Whilst I appreciate the fact that in the USA there will be much relief at the annoncement of Bin Laden's death, I do not share your view that in your words, "the world is a much better place." Not only is it not a better place, it is a less secure one, for extremists will no doubt be intent on gaining retribution for the death of their leader. Confirmation will undoubtedly come in the increased security around the globe and particularly at airports in the next days, weeks and months!
antoman | May 02, 2011, 08:36 AM EDT
Shoot him again!! He's not dead!!.I've seen this happen so many times.The Americans back slapping each other.Offering one another cigars as they walk through the dark house towards the exit.Its always dark.On entering their home an American has the unnerving habit of walking about it without turning on a light.As was demonstrated here by an American who came to Ireland and could'nt work the light switch.I digress.Anyway,shot him again!!He's not dead.He's right behind you!! Oh no!
Aughavey | May 02, 2011, 06:57 AM EDT
Will you also be calling for closure for the thousands of victims made by IRA bombings and shootings - the majority of which were not security forces but ordinary Northern Irish civilians often women and children? Kingsmill, Teebane, Darkley, Omagh, Enniskillen, Bloody Friday when dozens of bombs exploded simultaneously around Belfast city centre......
FallsRNat | May 02, 2011, 06:23 AM EDT
Niall, maybe the ambivalent attitude of previous US govts towards the PIRA inspired Al Qaeda to carry out the 9/11 attacks, after all, Bin Laden repeated the assertion that the US feted Baron Adams & sooner or later would talk to him.
The death of bin laden is 10 years too late, they have franchised their terrorist machine to other outlets notably in the Yemen, Sudan & Indonesia where further attrocities will know doubt be committed - the one bright light on the horizon is that the arabs are now more likely to overthrow their govts & have democracies based on western principles, we should take a back seat & let nature take its course - however, it is important to show them that terrorists of all colours will no longer be tolerated in a free & open society. Let's have a guantanamo bay for the dissident republicans
LoyalCitizen | May 02, 2011, 05:34 AM EDT
Some of us feel that America had more to do with 9/11 than they admit....Setting up this terrorist as the scape goat resulted in ten of thousands of innocent people dying for reasons unknown.....No person has every presented evidence that this creepy person Bin Laden ever committed an actual crime for there was no trial.....Justice must be seen to be done and America has become to pretentious to judge what justice is....Pretentious American Corporations have asset stripped Ireland and kept the Irish in servitude, which is a crime against humanity, who puts Americans on trial???????????????????????????????????
citizen69 | May 02, 2011, 04:30 AM EDT
While it is good to see the end of this crazed fundamentalist your are extremely naive if you think this one act means that "truly the world is a much better place". On the contrary, i fear Americans on foreign soil are probably in greater danger now than ever before as extremist nutters will be out to revenge the death of a figurehead (and i doubt he's been much more than that since 2001). Let us also remember the million innocent non-American civilians who have died in order for this day to happen. Was it worth it?
miabryant | May 02, 2011, 12:47 AM EDT
God Bless America and God Protect this world against the remaining terrorists. God and Good will prevail over evil ALWAYS!
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.hancock | May 07, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
He got what he deserved.
semperfidelis | May 07, 2011, 12:17 AM EDT
Excellent article, Niall, and right on the money.littleandloved and sirpeter,unconvinced etc. is fantasy island island a happy place or is it a dark,angry paranoid place full of misguided people who dislike everything American, people much like apparently yourselves.Praise Allah this murderous bastard is dead at the hands of the U.S. military.
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 09:04 PM EDT
littleandloved..You have a very good point.They had to kill him ..He knew to much
littleandloved | May 04, 2011, 04:11 PM EDT
The man was executed without trial, this act puts the executioners and those who gave the order, on the same level as a Third World dictator or, in fact, the same level as those who the West pro-ports to be opposing
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 12:05 PM EDT
@unconvinced..He is dead.Can't see a motive to lie about it. But you are right to been unconvinced about alot of things.There has been some BIG lies in history.Government's and President's are pathological liars.Always have been. The sad thing is the ordinary people continue to believe them,I guess it saves them having to think for themselves.But I admire the fact you are at least thinking.I think you have earned the right to be unconvinced or at least suspicious about anything that is said by the US government.Course nothing but some flesh eating cancer on some politicians in Ireland would soothe my contempt.
DanOLoingsigh | May 03, 2011, 08:47 AM EDT
@unconvinced – maybe your belief in a ‘judgement day’ is even more fanciful…how many people would need to go along with a charade to invent this killing? I don’t expect to see photos of OBL holding up a current-date newspaper any time soon…
unconvinced | May 03, 2011, 02:32 AM EDT
If you believe that hes dead you will believe anything. Also no matter what you think of him he never was tried and convicted , he was just shot and bumped. When the IRA was doing that America was against it so here we have America doing the same as the IRA and Americas is hailed a powerful nation- It just tells me how SICK this world is . The reported death is just as questionable as who actually carried out the Twin Towers ?????? We will never know the truth until judgement day when the secrets of mens hearts are made known
Beatriz | May 02, 2011, 05:18 PM EDT
A day of jubilation for the country that was a long time coming. Bravo Obama, you just won your re-election because nobody can take this victory away from you. Bush kept his eye off the ball and lost a golden opportunity to get this monster, may he rot in hell forever. God bless America.
sirpeter | May 02, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT
Big mistake!! The object should be to undermine your opponent's support network. The analogy of the Russian Dolls while clever is just not true.It might work with a conventional army.But in fact has the opposite effect with a guerrilla army.The United States just made a martyr out of him. It's exactly how Bin Laden wanted to die. He volunteered for a cause and died a martyr.Doesn't get any better then that.How many American soldiers who died in the middle east will be remembered like that.Those wars in the middle east are instigated by very rich men. If you feel your wage packet has a little oil bonus every month because of these wars,then fair enough. But if you are just making ends meet after your 39 hour hard graft and wish life was financially easier. I wouldn't be a dumb ass patriot without a cause.The Government you live with has to provide you with a very comfortable life style first.I would then defend it against an invasion.But put my life on the line for rich men to get richer ..Not a chance in hell.
vincem13 | May 02, 2011, 02:37 PM EDT
Very well said, Niall. Thank you and God bless.
Searlit | May 02, 2011, 02:09 PM EDT
The hope that I see is an end to the war in Afghanistan, very soon. Can't change anything that's already happened. Stay in the moment, we are equipped with everything we need to make positive change.
manhattan | May 02, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT
Trealach, how dare you accuse the US of being as evil as Bin Laden. Every one cheering on the streets of New York are entitled to celebrate the death by the hands of our fantastic military, so many of us lost so many innocent wonderful people. Of course terrorism is still on but we will beat them and send them back to the 1st century where they belong. So Trealach go soak your miserable head in your safe country you can't be here and say what you did.
MrSinatra | May 02, 2011, 01:05 PM EDT
My Best Man was a block way from the WTC that morning, in the shower actually. Anyone clear thinking should be able to tell the difference between good and evil, and ergo the difference between valid celebration and gleeful schadenfreude. There's no room for moral equivalence in these matters, unless you're happily prepared to be dead.
BryanTim | May 02, 2011, 01:04 PM EDT
It's amazing to watch the staged celebrations in Washington, D.C., but I never saw any evidence whatsoever that bin Laden was behind 911. Those accusations came from the U.S. government and since the U.S. Government routinely lies to the American people, I don't believe it. Are you watching to unrest across the Arab world? Guess who is behind it? Do you remember how the U.S. Government was going into Libya to protect civilians? Why then did they just kill Ghadalfi's son and three grandchildren? Do you think someone may want to take revenge for that in the future? Would you blame them if they did? Let's hope they go after the people who are responsible and not ordinary American's who seem to have no control over their own government.
John5319 | May 02, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
How can this be ??? ... Bin Laden's DEATH is called "justice for grieving families" ... and yet Ireland has a Constitutional amendment against the "death penalty", for those same "grieving" Irish families of murderous crime ?? That is called Justice? I'll call it what it is foolish STUPIDITY !!
MrSinatra | May 02, 2011, 12:37 PM EDT
My Best Man was a block way from the WTC that morning, in the shower actually. Anyone clear thinking should be able to tell the difference between good and evil, and ergo the difference between valid celebration and gleeful schadenfreude. There's no room for moral equivalence in these matters, unless you're happily prepared to be dead.
howareya | May 02, 2011, 12:19 PM EDT
I'm sure he is now rejoicing with his 72 year old virgin...oh wait...is that correct?
Trealach | May 02, 2011, 12:18 PM EDT
Evil begets evil. What Bin Laden has been responsible for, which under no circumstance do I condone, the US stands equally guilty of the same level Evil. Those who condemned the radicals Muslims dancing in the streets after 9/11 are the same hypocrites who were dancing on the White house Lawn and on the streets when this news broke. The removal of the 'head' of terrorism will only result in an unmerciful back-lash, and the world will suffer as a result. So while America tries vainly to draw some solace and comfort over the terrorist style murder of a terrorist, the rest of the world holds its breath for the reaction. This is nothing more than one terrorist killing another terrorist - and it is nothing to be proud of.
ellenred | May 02, 2011, 11:48 AM EDT
Thank God we finally got him. Tears of relief. And tears for all those lost in my home city.
truthseeking | May 02, 2011, 11:31 AM EDT
Emmanuel Goldstein is dead! Who is the new Goldstein? We NEED our monster. Make us a new one.
Nancy61 | May 02, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT
Thank God, he is gone!!!!!!
antoman | May 02, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT
@Stephendoyle-Very well put.
SeamusMor | May 02, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT
One minute Osama was plotting Jihad, the next he eating lamb in paradise! Contratulations Seal Team 6!!!
stephendoyle | May 02, 2011, 10:53 AM EDT
Antoman, I like your anology of the Russian Dolls. But as in your anology, each new doll is smaller than the outer one. Just as Osama's replacement will never be as large as he was......
Liamkeyes | May 02, 2011, 10:52 AM EDT
No doubt, there are others waiting to fill his shoes but at least they will know that there is a price to pay and Uncle Sam won't give up until they are also caught. To our friends, relatives and brave firemen who paid the supreme sacrifice on that fateful day......" Ar laimh Deas Dia ro raibh gach anam, in anman a Athair agus an Mhic agus an Spirid naomh AMEN) translated "May their souls be at the right hand of God, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit AMEN!!!! Spirit
truthseeking | May 02, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT
Niall: A little 9/11 trivia that seems appropriate to revisit on this national holiday: For almost a decade, some character named Bin Laden was featured at the top of the FBI's "Most Wanted" list. Hardly surprising. Oddly, though, he wasn't sought for the paradigm-shifting mass murders of 9/11, but just for the attacks on the US embassy in Tanzania and an American warship, the USS Cole. Hmmm. When pressed on this by a tiny handful of independent journalists (the corporate boys won't go near it), an FBI spokesman explained that there is NO evidence linking someone named Bin Laden to the crimes of 9/11. Odd. Seems the "fatty, gold-wearing, boastful, wrong-handed Bin Laden" of the infamous video "found" in Afghanistan wasn't good enough for the world's leading Bin Laden expert or the intrepid FBI. Makes you wonder. Good thing we took "him" alive... oops. Well, at least we have the body for dental and DNA identi... oops again. As our old friend Voltaire might remind us "If Bin Laden didn't exist, we'd have to invent him." Bring on the new Goldstein.
antoman | May 02, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
Perhaps it is a cause for celebration.But I would be thinking Russian Doll.You open the doll and there's another doll inside.You open that and there's yet another doll and so forth.
cillowen | May 02, 2011, 10:16 AM EDT
obama gets the job done - shoudda be done within months of 9/11 - the baggers will go looney with the good news. read posting to glean much insanity and see the ILLOGICAL apple and orange (freemason) compaRISONS.
antoman | May 02, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT
Can you really kill the boogeyman?No more looking under the bed for little Timmy.Dad says the boogeyman is dead.
JBRAFTREE | May 02, 2011, 10:08 AM EDT
Too bad it wasn't the Marines, Navy is OK too though!! Semper Fi
manhattan | May 02, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
GOD BLESS OUR NAVY SEALS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. Thank you President Obama for going in to that hot bed of terrorism that is Pakistan and the hell with asking permission of countries harboring these savages. I pray none of these anti americans get on this site because they don't deserve space here or anywhere. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN. I just read some of the comments below and I say to all of you "Aren't you lucky you weren't in the trade center,the pentagon,or the plane brought down by those brave men and women ." You care for nothing your a sad lot.
JeanieAStone | May 02, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT
A very evil man is dead but I believe it is bad karma to rejoice in the death of any sentient being. I am relieved that he is gone but he left behind many to take his place so we should not ever let down our defences and should keep actively seeking out his followers and deal them the same fate he received.
IAPRINCESS | May 02, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT
Joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God has blessed America AGAIN
antoman | May 02, 2011, 09:27 AM EDT
Remember the old Irish legend of the Salmon of Knowledge?What happens if a bloke catches a fish that's been nibbling on Osama and eats it.He instantly has a desire to commit acts of violence and terrorism?"Shark fin soup please..oh waiter..can I have the fin of the shark that ate Osama?"The wife and her mother are doing my head in. :)
stevieboy49 | May 02, 2011, 08:53 AM EDT
Whilst I appreciate the fact that in the USA there will be much relief at the annoncement of Bin Laden's death, I do not share your view that in your words, "the world is a much better place." Not only is it not a better place, it is a less secure one, for extremists will no doubt be intent on gaining retribution for the death of their leader. Confirmation will undoubtedly come in the increased security around the globe and particularly at airports in the next days, weeks and months!
antoman | May 02, 2011, 08:36 AM EDT
Shoot him again!! He's not dead!!.I've seen this happen so many times.The Americans back slapping each other.Offering one another cigars as they walk through the dark house towards the exit.Its always dark.On entering their home an American has the unnerving habit of walking about it without turning on a light.As was demonstrated here by an American who came to Ireland and could'nt work the light switch.I digress.Anyway,shot him again!!He's not dead.He's right behind you!! Oh no!
Aughavey | May 02, 2011, 06:57 AM EDT
Will you also be calling for closure for the thousands of victims made by IRA bombings and shootings - the majority of which were not security forces but ordinary Northern Irish civilians often women and children? Kingsmill, Teebane, Darkley, Omagh, Enniskillen, Bloody Friday when dozens of bombs exploded simultaneously around Belfast city centre......
FallsRNat | May 02, 2011, 06:23 AM EDT
Niall, maybe the ambivalent attitude of previous US govts towards the PIRA inspired Al Qaeda to carry out the 9/11 attacks, after all, Bin Laden repeated the assertion that the US feted Baron Adams & sooner or later would talk to him. The death of bin laden is 10 years too late, they have franchised their terrorist machine to other outlets notably in the Yemen, Sudan & Indonesia where further attrocities will know doubt be committed - the one bright light on the horizon is that the arabs are now more likely to overthrow their govts & have democracies based on western principles, we should take a back seat & let nature take its course - however, it is important to show them that terrorists of all colours will no longer be tolerated in a free & open society. Let's have a guantanamo bay for the dissident republicans
LoyalCitizen | May 02, 2011, 05:34 AM EDT
Some of us feel that America had more to do with 9/11 than they admit....Setting up this terrorist as the scape goat resulted in ten of thousands of innocent people dying for reasons unknown.....No person has every presented evidence that this creepy person Bin Laden ever committed an actual crime for there was no trial.....Justice must be seen to be done and America has become to pretentious to judge what justice is....Pretentious American Corporations have asset stripped Ireland and kept the Irish in servitude, which is a crime against humanity, who puts Americans on trial???????????????????????????????????
citizen69 | May 02, 2011, 04:30 AM EDT
While it is good to see the end of this crazed fundamentalist your are extremely naive if you think this one act means that "truly the world is a much better place". On the contrary, i fear Americans on foreign soil are probably in greater danger now than ever before as extremist nutters will be out to revenge the death of a figurehead (and i doubt he's been much more than that since 2001). Let us also remember the million innocent non-American civilians who have died in order for this day to happen. Was it worth it?
miabryant | May 02, 2011, 12:47 AM EDT
God Bless America and God Protect this world against the remaining terrorists. God and Good will prevail over evil ALWAYS!