Students react to Bin Laden’s death
Some compare bin Laden to ultimate evil. (Jason Burwen/Flickr/CC-BY-SA 2.0 license)
President Barrack Obama announced Sunday night that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid at a compound in Pakistan.
The overall vibe the following day, across the world at both Saddleback and Irvine Valley College was that bin Laden was merely the symbol of radical terrorism.
Some students said that his death does not end any problems while others were pleased with this news but believe nothing will change.
“I feel like it’s a great accomplishment for U.S. but he’s spread his knowledge to his followers,” said Stephani Saltos, 20, psychology. “These people have been trained in the same manner he was, they’re just as dangerous for us.”
For others like Chris Hooshmand, 27, psychology, bin Laden’s death was a victory of sorts, proving to the world that the U.S. deals with its enemies eventually.
“I’m happy they’ve (al-Qaida) realized you can’t cause trouble here and get away with it, it felt like he (bin Laden) was just laughing in our faces for ten years,” Hooshmand said.
There were other students, such as Isadora Sharon, 18, zoology, a previous New Yorker and witness to the September 11 attacks, who was not overwhelmed by the news.
“I’m not really impressed because I think there’s going to be someone to take his place,” she said. “For me I don’t really believe it unless I see evidence that it’s him and that it’s his body and more details on it.”
Some compare bin Laden to ultimate evil.
“I am thoroughly pleased that he is dead,” said Daniel Corning, 22, political science, “but, I want to see the devil dead.”
With the help of DNA analysis and facial recognition, the government said it had confirmed his death.
In previous cases of terrorist deaths there was an immediate release of photographic evidence of the killings. The cases of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s dead body, video footage of Saddam Hussein’s hanging, and pictures of Hussein’s two dead sons were given to the media as evidence.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonized/5678348617