General News

WASHINGTON: In the dark of the night, someone held up an iPad which read the final score in translucent capital letters: OBAMA 1 OSAMA 0. It was past midnight on a cool spring night, and the crowd first trickled in, then surged, to the gates of the White House the moment news of Osama bin Laden's death broke. ''USA, USA'' they chanted waving the star-spangled banner; then "Hey, Hey Goodbye" to the man who came to epitomize evil for Americans. Osama bin Laden was dead; long live Barack Obama.

A similar crowd had gathered near Ground Zero in New York, where bin Laden's diabolical plan had seen terrorists plunge two airplanes into the twin World Trade Center towers, killing nearly 3000 people, and bringing America to its knees. But the United States had stood up, and now had its foot on the head of the key perpetrator after a daring commando operation half the world away. Retribution had been obtained. Or as their President said on television a few moments ago, "Justice had been done."

This was America's World Cup moment, a time for sheer joy and relief, matching the famed end of the World War. A cowardly, despicable, hated enemy had been hunted down and killed in the true western way.

Inside, the man who presided over the Washington's stunning intelligence coup and special action comeback had just retired for the night. But he couldn't have helped hear the chants of support outside. Stricken with political and economic crisis just days before, with critics doubting his very birth in the US, he had suddenly won a new lease of life. Not just his fortune, but the kismet of the United States could turn. It was America's 'gotcha' moment.

In his ten minute national TV address, just three hours after a team of US Navy Seals nailed bin Laden in a hail of gunfire, Barack Obama did not hesitate a moment from taking direct, personal credit. ''Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan...'' he intoned, after saying how ''I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority'' soon after taking office. There was no mistaking who he thought had gotten the job done even if the bullets were fired by Navy Seals.

But the bragging right was tempered with grace. Soon after nailing America's public enemy # 1, he had phoned his predecessors Bush and Clinton, to inform them of the deed done. In the moment of triumph, he reaffirmed that the ''The United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam.''

''Our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity,'' Obama said.

Critics and supporters were one in hailing the moment as a ''political game-changer,'' both for Obama and for America. The Presidential elections are still some 18 months away, but there is already chatter of an Obama shoo-in for a second term. There is also talk of drawing down U.S troops from Afghanistan, which many Americans are demanding, and accelerating the political process. At home, the achievement strengthens Obama's hand in making difficult choices to set right the economy.

At a broader international level, America's pride and honor, seen to have diminished in the decade after 9/11, is on track to being restored. ''This is America; We get the job done,'' grated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the New York Senator during 9/11, warning terrorists that ''you cannot hide from us, you cannot wait us out.''

Both Obama and Clinton were less charitable about Pakistan, although they acknowledged intelligence cooperation from the country now widely seen as a terrorist cesspool and sponsor. There was no thanks; just the barest acknowledgment of cooperation from its dodgy civilian government. Clinton very pointedly said the U.S was with the people and government of Pakistan, and the exclusion of the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment was loud and clear. read more