Yes, mission accomplished

Perseverance finally paid off for the United States in the pursuit of Osama bin Laden, and Americans should be proud of the gutsy operation that led to the death of the figurehead leader of al-Qaida.

It is awkward to celebrate the death of anybody, but in bin Laden’s case, it’s easy to remember the deaths of 3,000 Americans at the hands of terrorists led by bin Laden, who proudly took credit for the monumental war crimes of Sept. 11, 2001.

Obviously, the Navy SEAL team that carried out Sunday’s raid at bin Laden’s Pakistan compound deserves huge credit, but it should also be noted that it culminated years of efforts by all service branches and intelligence agencies.

President Barack Obama made a bold move in giving a green light to the highly risky operation, which had the potential to become another Desert One, the failed effort to rescue American hostages in Iran in 1980. That was a political disaster for former President Jimmy Carter.

According to some news reports, Obama had considered bombing the bin Laden compound. But he chose not to bury bin Laden under rubble, wanting confirmation and closure in finding the world’s most-wanted man, and wanting to avoid collateral casualties.

Something could easily go wrong with the raid, and it actually did — when one of the helicopters involved broke down as it landed at the compound. But there was a backup helicopter, and the operation was an overwhelming success with no loss of American lives.

It’s also important to note, however, that the operation’s success came as a result of using the counterterrorism apparatus that was established by former President George W. Bush that has so often been criticized by Obama and fellow Democrats.

Guantanamo Bay detainees identified a trusted bin Laden courier in 2007. He was located after about two years and tracked to the Pakistani compound.

There is much still to learn about the circumstances of how this mission was accomplished and about bin Laden’s life in the suburbs of Islamabad, but for now one thing is clear: The best way to fight terrorists is to hunt them down without mercy.

“Justice has been done,” Obama appropriately declared in his speech announcing the death of bin Laden, and for once there is bipartisan agreement about this.

As President Bush said just three days after the terror attacks of 2001, “This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing.”

For Osama bin Laden, that hour has arrived. The rest of the world should pay heed.