Loading ...
Metro Detroiters React to Bin Laden Death
The death of Osama bin Laden prompted a wave of local reaction, from stunned Arab-Americans to the some of state’s politicians in Congress, some of whom had learned of the development before the nation learned.
They declared it an enormous victory in the the war on terrorism.
“Osama bin Laden murdered thousands of Americans, yet evaded justice for years,” said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, in a statement. “Our country is united in gratitude to the brave men and women of our intelligence and counter-terrorism community and our troops for their sacrifices in keeping us safe from terror.”
Michigan’s senior U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, was on a plane and unavailable for comment.
The reaction in the local Muslim community was swift. Victor Begg, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, said reaction he was hearing from fellow Arab-Americans was of excitement and elation.
“The Muslim community joins the president and our country united. Justice has been served,” Begg said. “This man has killed Muslims. The president says this and President Bush has also said… he doesn’t represent Islam or Muslims.”
Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said the bin Laden’s death is “way overdue and welcoming news.”
“However, we have to remember that executing the figure doesn’t execute the ideology and school terrorism that will continue to exist,” Hamad said. “I feel that his execution will weaken the terrorism movement, but not as much as we want it to be.”
Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, called bin Laden’s death a significant victory in the fight against terrorism.
“The attacks on 9-11 were a turning point in our history,” Peters said in a statement. “Osama bin Laden coldly plotted the murder of thousands of Americans and innocent civilians around the world, and while we still face serious threats and we cannot let down our guard, today America can move forward with bin Laden behind us.”
Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican freshman, agreed. He updated his governmentFacebook page shortly after the world learned of bin Laden’s death.
“Justice has been done,” Amash, R-Cascade Township,said in a post. “Let’s remember those who lost their lives. And let’s pray for a more peaceful future.”
Ronald Stockton, a University of Michigan-Dearborn political science professor, said bin Laden had become less powerful and a “caricature” of himself in recent years.
“At this point Osama bin Laden was marginalized and organizationally irrelevant,” said Stockton on Sunday. “But he remained a symbol of the pain we in the United States felt and the danger we still face.”
Stockton said al-Qaida has been less centralized, with other groups of the terrorist organization sprouting up. “This organization has been mutated. It is run like a franchise organization.”
Leonard N. Fleming, Marisa Schultz,Nathan Hurst
The Detroit News