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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

New York Reflects On Osama Death

New Yorkers have spent nearly 10 years getting used to living under the shadow of terrorism.


Following the killing of Osama bin Laden by US special forces, they have taken the prospect of an increased threat with a trademark shrug of the shoulders.
New York's police chief has ordered more officers on the streets, the subway has stepped up bag checks and people have been warned to stay vigilant.
Intelligence officials fear the death of the al Qaeda leader might provoke a 'lone wolf' sympathiser - like the Times Square attempted bomber Faizal Shahzad - into an act of retaliation.
He was thwarted by a member of the public - a street vendor who followed the 'See Something, Say Something' advice to the letter - and that defiance in the face of those who wish to do America harm is very evident at the moment.
Soldiers keep guard around the compound within which al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad
Close to Ground Zero, Andrew Del Re queued for his cup of 'morning joe', dressed in a New York Yankees baseball cap and jacket.
He said: "Of course I think about the risks but what are you going to do?
"You've got to live, you've got to pay the bills, you can't worry too much."
Across the street, Eric Jones has nipped outside an office building for a smoke: "Do I look worried? Does anybody look worried?
"If it is going to happen, it is going to happen, me staying inside with the doors locked isn't going to change that."
Celebrations in Times Square
And native New Yorker Leo White said: "I am sure some people are thinking about it but you do that you end up paranoid."
The death of bin Laden has removed one poignant reminder for the people of New York.
Every day since 9/11, Cheryl Stewart has updated a sign outside her home, registering another day passed without bin Laden being found. At nine years, 232 days, she could take her sign down.
The New York Times produced a special supplement on 'The Death of bin Laden' with the front page headline 'A Mood of Triumph and Sober Reflection'.
New York Times and Daily Post
It quotes a former worker at the Ground Zero site who now relies on a respirator to breathe: of bin Laden, he said: "I'm glad he died before me."
The workmen collecting their lunch bags in a deli just yards from the construction entrance at Ground Zero talk of nothing but the death of bin Laden.
One joked that there could be extra over-time now that the world's eyes were on their building site.
One of them, John Jennings, said: "It doesn't worry me and I don't think it worries any of us. We learned a lot about just getting on with our lives. We look out for each other."
On Thursday, President Obama will visit Ground Zero and meet families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer said America should look to historical wars for signs of the significance of bin Laden's death: "The war on terror is not over but maybe this was the Saratoga or the Gettysburg where things turned."

20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. great post. ill keep following you. keep up the good work

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  3. what does it say on the second picure on the board in blue?
    "..AN: Debpt likely to be greatest tr.." ?

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  4. interesting blog will be following ;)

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  5. nice to keep updated on what's occurring, cool blog

    followed

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  6. that does not look like a "million dollar mansion"

    following for sure

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  7. Osama comes from a very wealthy oil family, he has endless funds for doing what he wants.

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  8. lets see whats happens now

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  9. Interesting, waiting for more :)

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  10. I kinda like the time magazine special edition

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  11. Who fights with fire dies with fire. Thanks for the news!

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  12. Stuff is getting more and more messy now, let's see what'll happen soon!

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  13. it's SO weird seeing people celebrating someone's death. i know he deserved it, but still...

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  14. I don't know if this is gonna "turn the tide", but it may help morale a bit.

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  15. "New York's police chief has ordered more officers on the streets, the subway has stepped up bag checks and people have been warned to stay vigilant."

    I think this is more to make people feel safe. A good planned terroristic attack can not be prevented that easy...

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  16. Old news. I'm tired of hearing about this guy.

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  17. The debates about how this sort of thing should be celebrated are interesting to say the least.

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  18. I find some of the reactions are slightly, unnecessary.

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  19. very interesting, waiting for more..

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