Obama was announcing the Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s death on an assault at his secret headquarters in Pakistan on 1 May 2011 with the words, “Justice is done, mission accomplished.” In Washington, a rerun of the ‘breaking news’ flashed with an update: Bin Laden’s body was wrapped in a shroud and dumped in the sea, thus ended a decade which started with the planes taking off from Boston at about 9 a.m. in the morning to end up smashing into the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. CIA Director was saying, “Today, America is more secure than the day when Osama was still living,” and adding, “This does not mean the end of the network.” However, the essential question we need to ask is whether justice was really served or mission was really accomplished.

The last ten years have been a period of prevailing fundamentalism, dogmas, tragedy, destruction and fear. Tragedy, destruction, and fear still go on. Dogma still rules over all segments including the politics, culture, and personal lives. Human tragedies snowball containing countries like Libya and Syria. “Mission accomplished,” was a statement by the former US President George Bush. Obama was destined to accomplish it. However, the real question is still left unanswered: Has justice really been served? Has the mission really been accomplished? I am in Washington D.C. the next week after the killing of Bin Laden. I am among the people who jubilate about the rendering of justice and the accomplishment of mission, by hoisting the pictures of their loved ones who were killed in terrorist attacks. September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks claimed the lives of more than 3000 people. The attacks were gross crimes and gruesome violence against humanity. Yes, in this context, killing of the mastermind of these attacks meant the serving of justice.

In the wake of the September 11, I was invited to New York for a conference themed on these fresh terrorist attacks. It was November 2001. New York was so silent, confused and furious. While I now stroll on the streets of Washington D.C. and mix with the crowd in front of the White House, I witness an explosion of joy and a state of euphoria. This change, in a way, tells us that with the killing of Bin Laden, the September 11 came to an end. On the streets of Washington D.C. is the joy and jubilation of the end of September 11.

Is September 11 really over? While there is a worldwide injustice and human tragedy, or to put it more concretely, as long as there is no normalization and no human-oriented change in security risk zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, can we ever talk about justice being served and September 11 being over, even if Osama bin Laden has been killed?

In Washington D.C., I am watching the news shows on the TV and reading the newspapers besides talking to the foreign policy experts of the think tanks. A common point arises; the rest are differing interpretations. The common point is; a year and a half away from the presidential elections, Obama seems to have accomplished an immense victory. Obama is stronger today than ever. Moreover, maybe more importantly, since the presidential race he took in 2008 until today Obama always centered in on the Afghanistan and Taliban issues and reiterated that a victory in Afghanistan will render great importance on the future of Iraq. With the killing of Bin Laden, the mission has not only been accomplished and justice has not only been served; in the same time, strategically, an important step has been taken for the solution of the issue of Afghanistan and Taliban. Obama’s hand is hot before the elections; he even made a significant move towards proving himself right about his decision to focus on Afghanistan. If, as a result of Bin Laden’s killing, a process towards stability starts in Afghanistan, and if Taliban is weakened, then Obama will really be proven right. The stability in Afghanistan will strengthen the possibility of Iraq’s stability in the future. The more Obama will come right; he will have his power strengthened. Let us highlight this point.

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