The U.S., in the name of helping the mujahideen against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, supported the Taliban and elements like Osama bin Laden. It was only after they turned against the U.S. and the West that they started eliminating these forces. Although Osama is dead, the religious fundamentalism he nurtured, particularly in Central Asia, will continue to have an impact for many more years.
Jetling Yellosa,
Nizamabad
In its game plan to defeat the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. armed and trained Osama and his followers. After the withdrawal of the Soviet forces, the al-Qaeda trained its gun on its mentor. There is a vital lesson in this. Any support to a violent organisation will invite only destruction and suffering. When a nation looks at only short-term political gains, it does so at its own peril.
K. Narayana Rao,
Bangalore
The killing of bin Laden marks the end of only one chapter in terrorism.
The U.S. should introspect and try to put an end to global terrorism which began with the invasion of Vietnam, and went on to Iraq and Afghanistan, all in the name of democracy.
N.G.R. Prasad,
Chennai
After reducing Afghanistan to cinders, America found its most wanted terrorist in Pakistan. With the war on terror officially and successfully over and mission accomplished, the allies will head back, leaving behind a huge arsenal of weapons in Pakistan and Afghanistan
S. Karthikeyan,
Sydney
Although bin Laden's killing is an important step in the fight against terror, we should not forget that he was a by-product of the U.S. government's policies. He was nurtured by the CIA and has been killed only because he became anti-American. The root cause of terrorism has always been imperialistic attitudes of superpowers.
G. Ramanujam,
Tirunelveli
Although there is every reason for American citizens to celebrate, they cannot forget their government's role in creating the situation. It is the U.S. that should learn a lesson or two from the episode, and desist from acting as the big brother.
S. Raghavendra Rao,
Nellore
