Community Corner
Mayor on Bin Laden's Death: 'The World is Better Off With One Less Coward, Isn't It?'
But Sandham says for families of those who died, 'I don't think there will ever be closure.'
Less than 24 hours after President Barack Obama announced Sunday night the , leader of the al Qaeda terrorist group responsible for the , Montville Township Mayor Jim Sandham reflected on the situation.
In an email correspondence with Patch, this is what Sandham said:
What is your reaction to the news of Osama bin Laden's death?
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Sandham: "I think it's important for America to protect its citizens, to defend itself and to promote the freedoms we enjoy for all of the world's citizens. Osama bin Laden used death and destruction of innocent people for his political purposes. Then he ran and hid for 9+ years. History books are full of martyrs that did not use violence, that did not run & hide that were readily willing to be persecuted for their cause. They were heroes. So I think the world is better off with one less coward, isn't it?"
Do you think this makes America any safer?
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Sandham: "I think we are, but only marginally. His self imposed exile in hiding made him less important in all aspects of his agenda. We're safer in that now we can use the resources that were tracking OSB down to find the next level of terrorist 'leader' (an oxymoron). And it's harder for them to play offense when they are on defense."
Did you know any of the Montville residents who were 9/11 victims? If so, does this bring a sense of closure?
Sandham: "We lost a group of friends and neighbors on 9/11 and in the Lockerbie bombing. I think justice has been brought to bear, but closure is difficult if you are now living life without your mother or father, your sister or brother, an aunt, an uncle, or a friend. Just think about this—fast forward to 20 years from now when some young couple is explaining to their 5 year old that the reason they only have 1 grandmother or grandfather is that some crazed individual halfway around the world thought it was a good idea to kill 3,000+ people in horrific fashion. For families and friends of the people and emergency workers that lost their lives I don't think there will ever be closure."
