Vigilance remains vital in the wake of Bin Laden’s death

News item | 11-05-2011

Commenting on the death of Osama Bin Laden, Minister of Defence Hans Hillen said that it probably heralded a good day for the world at large because it had become a safer place. “Having said that, however”, the Minister added, “terror of course has many faces.” The Minister went on to say that most of those are unknown to us.

As Mr Hillen said: “One of the characteristic features of terror is that it lurks in the shadows until it strikes, bringing death and destruction.” He cautioned that although the death of Osama Bin Laden, in a symbolical sense, might be perceived to be a good day for the world, the world was not the safer for it yet. Mr Hillen expressed his regret at the fact that Bin Laden had not been arrested alive and referred to al-Qa’ida as a many-headed monster. “For each head cut off, two more grow back.”

Asked if he had any comments on the implications for the war on terror, Mr Hillen answered simply that it was not over yet. He thinks that it is important to stay alert as there are many people in this world who flock to the cause of terror.

The Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, stated that although al-Qa'ida had been dealt a severe blow, the war on terror was not over yet.

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