Here There Everywhere

No More Osama bin Laden

Kids: please ask a grown-up before reading this post on your own …

May 2, 2011 — The world’s number one bad guy was captured and killed yesterday. U.S. President Barack Obama went on live television at almost midnight last night to tell the country and the world about it.

The terrorist’s name was Osama bin Laden and he was found hiding out in the country of Pakistan (though he’s considered to have spent most of his time hiding next door in Afghanistan). Officials are saying that Pakistan co-operated in helping the U.S. locate him.

Bin Laden was the leader of a group called Al Qaeda which was responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks. This is something you may want to have your grown-up explain to you in his or her own way, but it’s considered to be the worst and saddest day in this country’s history.  Almost 3,000 Americans died that day.

Because of the September 11 attacks, the United States government declared “a war on terror” and has been looking for Osama bin Laden (and people connected to him) ever since — for almost ten years now.  He’s been really hard to find. There was even a $25 million dollar reward for him but that didn’t turn him up either.

The U.S. got some tips on where exactly he might be last August , almost ten months ago.  Finally, yesterday, after a lot of work to make sure, they felt they had enough information to get him. President Obama ordered it to happen. It was risky and brave. Many other people, including soldiers in the army, also worked bravely to find bin Laden and to make sure we’re always as safe as possible. And they will continue to do so.

Some of the people who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001 now feel some relief, and some do not.  Grieving is very personal and very different for everyone.

But the hope for everyone is that the world may be a bit safer now.

For parents: National Public Radio’s Tell Me More aired a great segment on May 3 called “Spelling out bin Laden’s Death to the Little Ones”. You can click here to listen to it.