Killing of bin Laden proves American exceptionalism

This time, the American flags were waving in celebration, not burning. This time, the people pouring into the streets were singing “God Bless America,” not chanting “Death to America.”

Americans are accustomed to images of foreign citizens reveling in our anguish. Such footage was especially outrageous following the devastating terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when thousands of Americans suffered horrible deaths at the hands of al-Qaida. Clips of people glorifying the cause of jihad and the murder of innocents reminded us of the depravity of our enemies, especially the man who orchestrated and funded 9/11, Osama bin Laden.

But on Sunday night, it was Americans who took to the streets in spontaneous joy. On Sunday night, citizens from sea to shining sea publicly shared in the joy and relief of the news U.S. special forces had found and killed bin Laden inside a large home in an affluent part of Pakistan.

These were righteous celebrations. Americans were not exulting in revenge realized, or to rub a moment of bloodshed in the faces of those who despise this country. No, they were commemorating indisputable, long-delayed justice.

For a country in desperate need of good news, this was great news. One of the most evil men on the planet has been appropriately punished. Osama bin Laden, the face of global terrorism, was killing of Americans long before 9/11. He arranged bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993, U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998 and the USS Cole in 2000.

He declared war on this country. He died on his terms.

This is a triumph for our military and intelligence communities, and a potentially defining moment for President Obama’s administration. The president kept the capture of bin Laden a high priority, and he did not capitulate to the demands of his far-left base to close the detainment facility at Guantanamo Bay. If he had done so, we might never have developed the intelligence that ultimately led to bin Laden’s comfortable hiding place.

The damage bin Laden inflicted on this country extends far beyond lives lost and buildings brought down. He hated our culture as much as our people, and because of that his campaign of terror also targeted our constitutional rights and civil liberties. The Patriot Act and airport screenings by the Transportation Security Administration are as much a part of bin Laden’s legacy as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Despite the extraordinary measures taken to hide the mastermind of 9/11, we found him. The message to the remaining leadership of al-Qaida: We’ll find you, too.

In that regard, the killing of Osama bin Laden is a testament to American exceptionalism. For all the predictions of our economic demise, and for all the political and fiscal challenges we face as a country, our global might and our collective resiliency remain unrivaled.

“The cause of securing our country is not complete,” President Obama told the nation late Sunday. “But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history.”

That is a story worth celebrating.