Vigilance in these post-bin Laden days

It was disturbing to read Alvin Bessent's opinion piece "The post-bin Laden era" [Opinion, May 4]. Nevertheless, it provides great insight into his kind of thinking and the thinking of like-minded men of the left who just can't wait to plunge us back into the policy choices that got us into his so-called era of fear.

Bin Laden is not more than a few days gone, and Bessent would have America abandon the procedures and protocols that kept us relatively safe these last 10 years. We cannot reasonably expect that al-Qaida operatives will now stand down, nor should we minimize the harm so-called lone wolves may still inflict on us. Better to heed the advice of America's blue-collar types and people like former Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who warns that America should remain vigilant and make sure you know what's going on around you. Because if we let our guard down at this time, it could mean trouble, and we can't let that happen again.

Thank God President Barack Obama stuck with the anti-terrorist policies initiated and implemented by his predecessor, rather than listening to many of those close to him who believe as Bessent does.

Tom Kiley, Levittown
 

Should the news media be reporting every detail of bin Laden's capture? Do these details compromise national security and subsequent military maneuvers? Is it necessary for all to know that this monster was unarmed when he was taken down by elite forces? Was that fact supposed to evoke sympathy that an unarmed man was killed?

I believe it is necessary for the media to use censorship and discretion when it comes to reporting the facts of this capture. I hope the public is more interested in knowing why Pakistan was harboring bin Laden for the past five years.

Beth Rose Feuerstein, Long Beach
 

President Obama earned a great deal of respect from Americans after it was announced that Osama bin Laden was killed. The operation was hailed as nearly flawless. However, afterward the administration has been in chaos.

The director of the CIA and several official spokesmen all offered different versions of the proceedings.

Now, after we were told that planning had been ongoing since August, the photographs of bin Laden will not be released. This, after news reports indicating the administration was about to decide to show them to the public. Surely, in the eight months of preparation, someone must have contemplated releasing these pictures. At least one would hope so.

Terence Kane, Long Beach
 

With regard to the photographs and death of Osama bin Laden, perhaps a little historical perspective is in order.

In 1946, after a monumental yearlong trial at Nuremberg, American military authorities executed by hanging several of Nazi Germany's major leaders. Before their execution, they were given their last meal, allowed to meet with relatives and a chaplain, and then taken out into the courtyard of the prison to the gallows and hanged. Their bodies were then taken back into the prison, photographed clothed and nude, and loaded into a truck.

From there, the bodies were taken to the infamous Dachau concentration camp for cremation. The remains were scattered in a river in Munich. To my knowledge, these Nazi war criminals were not given Christian or religious burial rites, and the pictures of the corpses were never released to the general public at the time.

Jeffrey S. Gaab, Farmingdale

Editor's note: The writer is a history professor at Farmingdale State College.