Afghans: Osama’s Death Is Not ‘Mission Accomplished’

Osama bin Laden may be dead, but Afghan officials warn that the war on terror is far from over, the New York Times reports—even as bin Laden's death strengthens cries for the US to pull out of Afghanistan. “The killing of Osama should not be seen as mission accomplished,” says a former interior minister. “Al-Qaeda is much more than just Osama bin Laden.” But other Afghan politicians can't wait for the US to leave now that bin Laden is dead, notes the Wall Street Journal.

Some former Taliban members believe bin Laden's death will drive the Taliban to negotiate a peace deal. But Afghan President Hamid Karzai says bin Laden's death in Pakistan should show the US and NATO that "the war on terror is not in Afghanistan." Reactions were also split in the Middle East, where some expressed rage at the death of a martyr, reports Reuters, while others think bin Laden's death could "dry up the wells of terrorism," says one. His death comes at a time when al-Qaeda is already "in eclipse and the sentiments of freedom are rising," says another, citing the Egypt uprising in particular. (More Osama bin Laden stories.)