Daily Democrat - 'Yolo County lawmakers wondering what next for al-Qaida?'
Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement referring to bin Laden's death as "a defining moment in our nation's history and, I hope, a turning point in the ongoing war on terrorism."
"The impact of Bin Laden's death cannot be overstated," he wrote.
In a subsequent telephone interview, Thompson said it was too soon to say just what that effect would be, though he expects al-Qaida to be "disrupted" by bin Laden's passing.
"I think it's premature to say the entire impact of this, but I think it's appropriate to say this is huge," he said.
In Washington, bin Laden's death will likely play a role in the debate over methods in the war on terror, he said. Thompson, for his part, has pushed for a policy that emphasizes quicker "counter-terrorism" operations over "counter-insurgency" operations that involve a sustained military presence, like the war in Afghanistan.
Congressman Wally Herger, R-Chico, returning to Washington on Monday, described the mood as "exuberant" but saw bin Laden's death as a signpost on a long road.
"This is not the beginning of the end, this is the end of the beginning," Herger said. "There are still radical jihadists out there that want to see us dead."
His death is unlikely to trigger major changes in America's foreign policy, he said.
In California, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, also issued a prepared statement addressing bin Laden's death, praising the "professionalism and excellence" of the military.
"The death of Osama bin Laden is testimony to the relentless pursuit of justice by the United States since 9/11 through both the Bush and Obama administrations," he said.
Bin Laden's death will "not diminish the sorrow of all who have lost loved ones in those cowardly attacks on our homeland" but it may bring those families some closure, Nielsen said.
He called for the War on Terror to continue and the country to "redouble its resolve."
In contrast, Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad found little to celebrate in the news.
"It's hard for me to cheer the death of anyone," he said.
A former Marine who served in Iraq and a prominent Yolo County Republican, Rexroad conceded the world would be a safer place with bin Laden's passing. But his death neither restores the world to pre-9/11-safety nor undoes 10 years worth of war that have cost thousands of American lives, he said.
"Revenge can be a very dangerous thing," he said.
He referred to the War on Terror as a "net loss" for the United States.
"In Woodland, I can tell you that there's several families that have lost loved ones in the military who would gladly, gladly rather have their family member back" than have Osama dead, he said.