Bin Laden dead, a mission accomplished

Justice has been done. Enough said.

Yet it's worth taking a moment to appreciate the sheer triumph contained in the news -- out of the blue -- that Osama bin Laden has been slain by American forces in Pakistan.

Nearly 10 years ago, after the 9/11 attacks, it was common wisdom that there would be many more, but since then al-Qaida has mounted none of significance on American soil.

And while the focus for too long had shifted to the costly sideshow in Iraq -- the pursuit of which contributed to the mess in Afghanistan -- behind the scenes, the hunt for bin Laden continued unabated.

Persistence paid off. The dispatch of this evil megalomaniac to his overdue martyrdom will not end the war against al-Qaida.

Yet it's a gigantic blow against a vicious enemy. And it puts other al-Qaida leaders on notice that, even though they aren't strapping on any explosive vests, they too have volunteered for a suicide mission, for no one is beyond the reach of our wrath.

There may be further attacks by al-Qaida. And no doubt new leaders will spring up to replace the one whose death was so long in coming. But ultimately all of them are destined to fail, for al-Qaida's mission is as futile as it is quixotic.

Death should never be a reason for joy. But justice, at least, is worth celebrating.