Military members say it's a step forward in the War on Terror, but there's a long way to go
CAMP GRAYLING, MI -- Members of the Military say justice has been served and the death of Osama bin Laden is an important step in the global fight against terror.
Right now, more than 600 Michigan National Guard troops are serving in Afghanistan. Several hundred troops trained at Camp Grayling as they prepared to go overseas.
One of the men who helped train those troops for the war on terror isn't ready to claim victory just yet.
"This may be a big change for Al Qaeda, it may not be," said Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gardiner.
The 10-year military mission to capture Osama bin Laden has come to an end. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gardiner says the Al Qaeda leader's death is a win for America
"We’re glad to see him go, but we don't anticipate, we're not going to make the assumption that they're going to fall apart because he is gone," said Lt. Col. Gardiner.
Gaylord Police Officer and Army Reserve Joe Marsiglia agrees. He toured Afghanistan in 2008.
“Al Qaeda still remains a threat, they're not going to go away just because we chopped off the head of the snake, so to speak," said Officer Marsiglia.
But both men believe the missions success is a boost to morale for those on the front lines.
"It does set a statement for terrorism and Al Qaeda and terrorists throughout the world that we're not going to take it lying down," said Captain Frank Laurence, who served in Afghanistan in 2008.
Captain Laurence says Bin Laden's death has significance. It's closure for the families of those who lost their lives on September 11th and a sense of reward for the six-thousand American men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“A lot of soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, etc, a lot of people died trying to apprehend Osama bin Laden. We took the man down and we are not backing down from this fight," said Laurence.
And right now, that's the common thought. Terrorism is not going to be tolerated.
