Deserves More Credit?
See What Granite Staters Say
This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.” This was former president George Bush’s reaction to the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death on May 1, 2011. Almost ten years after the horrendous terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon, the mastermind of terror can no longer cause harm. While many might think New Hampshire residents are jumping for joy at this news, it is in fact the opposite. Most New Hampshire residents are concerned about retaliation and revenge.
Ben Fiske of Raymond, NH compared the death of Osama Bin Laden to another bad guy in history. He said, “ [Bin Laden’s] death is the most significant achievement for the military since finding Adolph Hitler dead in his Bunker. ‘War on terror’ is a necessary evil. A war that has to be fought to protect those who are unable to protect themselves from cowards that seek to revoke their basic freedoms. Whether it’s the people of the USA, Iraq, or Afghanistan.
The news of Osama Bin Laden’s death has been plastered across newspapers, television, radio and even online social networks. Twitter has even been credited with breaking the news about Bin Laden’s death before any news station could broadcast the information. As the details leaked in about the situation surrounding the terrorist leader’s death, a multitude of emotions went through people all around the world. Many New Hampshire residents felt a twinge of fear.
Carrie Fiske, Ben’s sister-inlaw said, “While I think he was a completely evil human being that needed to be eliminated, I am concerned that his death might lead to acts of vengeance from the terrorists and put us more at risk for terrorist attacks.”
Amanda Russell of Ossipee said, “While I see the death of Bin Laden is a positive, I believe it comes with negative repercussions and that the circumstances surrounding the death and disposal of the body seem a bit odd and do not make a great deal of sense. Clearly, one man could not have controlled so many others and caused so much death without like minds at work, and therefore I think that it doesn’t resolve anything other than retribution.”
Many New Hampshire residents share the same feelings as Carrie and Amanda. They are now wondering if Osama Bin Laden’s followers are going to be looking for revenge and will pose another devastating attack on America.
The morning of September 11, 2001 changed the lives of all Americans. As every television station broadcasted live images of burning towers in New York City, we saw just how hateful the human race can be. And the destruction that comes with hatred. There were ten New Hampshire residents who lost their lives in the 9/ 11 airplane crashes.
American Airlines Flight 11, leaving Logan International Airport in Boston and headed for Los Angeles International Airport, was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City at 8:46 AM. All 92 people in the aircraft died in the crash, including Thomas McGuinness Jr. from Portsmouth, who was the First Officer on the aircraft, Thema Cuccinello from Wilmot Flat, Carol Flyzik from Plaistow, David Kovalcin from Hudson and Douglas Stone from Dover. Also leaving from Boston’s Logan International Airport and heading towards Los Angeles International Airport, United Airlines Flight 175 was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City at 9:03 am. In this crash, all 65 people in the airplane perished, including Carl Hammond Jr. of Derry, Robert LeBlanc of Lee, Louis Mariani of Derry, Kathleen Shearerry of Dover and Robert Shearerof Dover.
This September marks the ten-year anniversary of the War on Terror. We have seen two presidents inhabiting the White House, New York City has seen two mayors, and the state of New York is on its fourth governor. During the past ten years of fighting against terrorism, President George Bush and President Barak Obama have actively played roles in keeping an American military present in the Middle East.
When George Bush was President, Americans heard a lot about The War on Terrorism, but that could have been because this war was new and the wounds of 9/11 were still fresh. Over the years, the flags flying on cars and the flags draped on houses have come down and people have gotten used to the fact that there are thousands of troupes in Iraq and the surrounding Middle Eastern countries.
Media coverage of the Middle East also died down over the past few years, which gave Tom Parker from Manchester the feeling that George Bush was more instrumental in capturing Bin Laden than Barak Obama. He feels it was more just a matter of time and luck that he was caught during Barak Obama’s reign as President of the United States.
“I believe that Bush was more instrumental because he started aggressive actions to that end. I think that although the United State’s reaction to 9/11 was appropriate, it has gone on for too long, too many lives have been lost, and too much money has been taken away from other important issues and used for the war.” said Amanda. On the other hand, Carrie feels that it was the military, especially the Navy Seals, who were the most instrumental in his death. She doesn’t think either Bush or Obama should get credit. However, Carrie believes that public opinion will definitely be on Obama’s side.
Ben feels similarly to Carrie, stating, “Neither Obama nor Bush was instrumental in getting Osama. The soldiers, wailers, marines and airmen are the ones responsible for getting him. The ones who gave their lives or spent the last ten years of it serving in order to get [Bin Laden].”
The War on Terror and American’s involvement in Iraq has been a controversial topic on the political forefront since the Terror Attack on September 11, 2001. Some Americans feel that we’ve done all we can in the Middle East, and our troops should come home. Others feel that the military is still desperately needed over there. This very question is the topic of countless debates, presidential platforms, and even tops discussions at local coffee shops.
Angel and Tom Bart, a New Hampshire couple also from Raymond, said that they “feel it is about time that the US asserted its right and duty to remove terrorists from existence.” They also believe that “this could have been done long ago and both Bush and Obama are way too politically correct to do the things that must now be done in this world.”
The main consensus of New Hampshire residents polled is that while some residents are grateful he is gone, most residents are worried about possible attacks in the future. And many residents have a bit of uncertainty in the back of their minds as to whether Bin Laden is really dead. For at least one night, New Hampshire and all of America, can take a deep breath knowing that one terrorist can no longer cause harm to anyone, ever again.
