bin Laden is gone...

I have questions.

1. How do people celebrate death? 
    I understand who he was and what he did. I understand that this is likely what had to happen. I'm not arguing with any of that. But cheering? A party atmosphere? Actually celebrating the execution/murder/death of a human being? Which brings me to...

2. Have you noticed how young the people are who have gathered at both the White House and Ground Zero? 
    These are people who would have been in grade school during 9/11. What's that about? Is this just an excuse for a bunch of college kids and "young people" to get together for a big ol' televised party? Is it an effort to "be a part of history"? Is this reaction due to these folks having been raised with bin Laden as their bogeyman? Those of us who are a little older, who were actual adults for 9/11, don't seem to be reacting with this party behavior. Is the difference that we remember the feeling of that day more and so are more conflicted and thoughtful and reflective now while this younger group doesn't really remember that and is instead responding to the death of their childhood bogeyman?

3. Are people really surprised that he was found in a mansion rather than a dirty cave somewhere?
    I mean really, are people surprised by this? I find that I am not even a little surprised. If they do an "inside the house where bin Laden hid and was killed" feature, I will so be watching it. Because I want to see how he was living. He rejected the wealth of his family and part of his problem with the U.S. was the vast (and mindless) luxury. So how did he spend his last years, in spartan conditions in a veritable fortress or in relative luxury in a well-appointed and highly protected mansion? Inquiring minds....

4. What will the backlash look like?
    How bad will it be? How soon will it begin? Where will it be focused? He's a martyr now, I find it highly unlikely that his supporters will simply allow this to be.

5. You don't really think the troops are coming home now, right?
    One of the people interviewed tonight on CNN (a person on the street, not an "expert") actually said that the war on terror is now over and our troops can return home. The President even said it in his speech: the war on terror is not over. In case anyone missed it, that means the wars are not over, the troops are not on their way home. Get a grip. bin Laden or no bin Laden, we are so entrenched at this point that leaving is a long process. We cannot just up and go. Seriously. Even if the President did announce later today that the troops are returning, the logistics of getting that many people back to the States is nightmarish in scope. And he's not going to announce such a thing later today.

6. What will be produced as proof?
    People are going to want proof. Something more than the President saying "no, seriously, it was him." The word at the moment is that bin Laden has already been laid to rest at sea. Though I sure wouldn't want him brought here and though I agree with the idea of not giving his followers a grave at which to enshrine and worship him, proof is going to be necessary. What will it be? Pictures? Video? And when will it be produced?

7. What's going to happen with Pakistan?
    It's really, really difficult to believe that no one knew where he was living. He was in a well-protected mansion in the middle of a military town. His was the biggest house on the block. So... who knew? When did they know? What will be the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan moving forward?