Weekly Calistoga - 'Local congressman sounds off on bin Laden killing'

California 1st District Congressman Mike Thompson (D.-St. Helena) joined a worldwide chorus commenting on the death of Osama bin Laden, a chief architect of terrorist activities worldwide at the hands of a group of U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan late Sunday.

“The impact of bin Laden's death cannot be overstated,” Thompson said. “For over two decades, bin Laden and his terrorist network have brought death and destruction to communities around the world. This is a defining moment in our nation's history and, I hope, a turning point in the ongoing war on terrorism.”

Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, a model for a variety of smaller terrorist organizations, was the self-professed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001.

Bin Laden's death marked an end to the search for the world's most infamous terrorist nearly a decade after the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil by foreign interests.

“While our fight against terror is far from over, I am hopeful that bin Laden's death will bring us one step closer to peace,” Thompson said.

His sympathizers have characterized bin Laden's murder as an assassination, according to reports from a host of media outlets.

Thompson represents California's 1st Congressional District, which includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and portions of Sonoma and Yolo counties. He is also a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.