FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
News of the death of Osama bin Laden late last night stirred up a lot of emotion in Americans: Shock, joy, sadness, relief. For many, those emotions are being replaced today by questions, like "So what now?"
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The vaguely termed "war on terror" was launched by George W. Bush in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The goal was to root out terror organizations like al Qaeda throughout the world, but the main target plain and simple was bin Laden, dead or alive.
It took almost 10 years to deliver on that, but we did.
In his address to the nation last night, President Obama said bin Laden's death does not "mark the end of our effort" to defeat al Qaeda.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "The battle to stop al Qaeda and its syndicate of terror" is not over.
And in a statement released last night, former President George W. Bush said, "The fight against terror goes on."
But what does that mean exactly now that the poster child of worldwide terror is gone? As difficult as it was to find and kill bin Laden, in a way, it was the simplest illustration of progress in this so-called war. But what now? Is the United States truly safer today from terrorism than it was yesterday?
Unrest is running rampant throughout the Middle East. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said U.S. soldiers should leave both Afghanistan and Iraq now that bin Laden's dead. U.S. troops will begin partial withdrawal from Afghanistan in July. U.S. troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq at the end of this year as part of a security pact with Baghdad. But will this change anything?
Here’s my question to you: What should come next for the U.S. in the war on terror?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Johnny in Los Angeles:
Our new war on terror should put the crosshairs of justice on the Mexican Cartels. The Mexican cartels have collectively killed 15 times as many people compared to 9/11. This terror is right across our border and infiltrating America on a daily basis.
Michael in Alexandria, Virginia:
Finding the cash source for building bin Laden's mansion and rooting it out. When they have no bribes to pay Pakistani Internal Security Forces, they will quickly be in custody or dead.
Joyce in Wisconsin:
Get the heck out of these other countries and take care of our own country. Protect America and stop nation building. We look as bad as England use to when it was trying to take over the world.
Joe in Chestertown NY:
Now is the time to let the other dictators know that we are not kidding around and recommend they step down now.
John in California:
Jack, retaliation by al-Qaeda or any Islamic radicals in the Middle East is very possible. The new and expected leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the same group that has helped destabilize parts of the Middle East in Egypt and Libya. I just have this gnawing pain in the pit of my stomach that something else more sinister is coming...
Greg in Lancaster, Texas:
Find al-Zawahiri and send him to sleep with the fishes like his good buddy. Then begin withdrawals from Afghanistan and tell their government that their leaders will share the same fate if they support al Qaeda or any attacks on the U.S.A.
Marty in Boston:
I think we've already taken the next step by sending a clear message to another terrorist in particular - Gadhafi. The message to him is this: "No, Moammar, those bombs in Tripoli were not meant for you. We were aiming for the military assets. We do not target individuals. Oh... just by the way... have you heard the latest about bin Laden?"
Martha:
We must remain ever vigilant on the war on terror, but we should also bring all of our troops home from the Mideast. Our mission is now over.