Reactions to Bin Laden's Death in the U.S. (ContributorNetwork)

Monday, President Obama addressed the nation and said in an official statement that Al-Qaida's leader Osama bin Laden has been killed in a U.S. Special Forces military operation in Pakistan.

The news quickly spread around the U.S. and Americans reacted to bin Laden's death with public celebrations. Crowds gathered in New York where the terrorist attacks occurred 10 years ago, cheering and waving flags. New York firefighters also gathered in New York's landmark Times Square cheering. People gathered outside the White House and were also celebrating the death of the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

So here are the reactions of people around the U.S. and also those who have been directly affected by the terrorist attacks and lost loved ones on 9/11.

"The murderer, the monster is no more," said Mary Ann of Pennsylvania. "I just didn't think they will ever get him. I'm just so surprised they finally got him"

A guy in Pennsylvania (where one of the airplanes with the terrorists on board went down) was wearing a sign saying: "I did not forget."

"It just made me feel proud that after all these years they finally got him," said Jeff Barry of Pleasant Hills, Pa.

President Obama declared that today was "a good day for America."

A family member of a 9/11 victim said: "Better later than never!" about capturing and killing the al-Qaida leader who evaded authorities for so long and managed to hide and escape for the past 10 years.

A family member who lost a loved one in the 9/11 attacks said: "I couldn't believe how quickly people forget things. But now I see that they haven't forgotten what happened on that day."

The DHS secretary Janet Napolitano said the U.S. still remains "at a heightened state of vigilance" and has issued "a situational awareness alert."

Former CIA director said: "Brace for retaliatory attacks" on the U.S.

In my opinion "It was about time and way overdue to capture the most wanted terrorist." I'm even surprised that it took the US military so long.

So, is the war of terror over or is this just the end of a long-lasting hunt for a major terrorist?

In my opinion, the long wars in the Middle East will create more anti-American sentiments in that region of the world. If the U.S. continues to strike and kill in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now Pakistan, there will be retaliation of some kind by Islamic groups.

News Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110502/pl_yblog_exclusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2860/1/

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111222/us_ac/8408349_reactions_to_bin_ladens_death_in_the_us

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