Rep. Roskam: Terror Threat Is Not Over
BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. (WBBM) -- An Illinois congressman Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat, but that doesn't mean we can allow ourselves to become complacent.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Regine Schlesinger reports, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) says the killing of bin Laden sends a critical message.
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"It's a good day for freedom. A despicable individual, Osama bin Laden, was brought to justice," Roskam said.
But he warns that doesn't mean the terrorist threat is over.
"The nature of the shadow that bin Laden has cast over us for the past decade really can't be overestimated, so the removal of that is incredibly significant," Roskam said. "But that means that we've got to remain on our guard, and aware that there are forces in the world that wish us harm, and we need to attend to those."
He said his greatest concern isn't the kind of organized conspiracy that one might have expected from al-Qaeda in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001.
"The type of operation that concerns me is the rogue operation – you know, the person who's kind of freelancing on their own based on an ideology, and takes the initiative on their own," Roskam said.
Roskam says he is relieved bin Laden was killed rather than taken alive.
"Being captured alive would have created a lot of drama and consternation about the trial and so forth, and I think we're much better off being able to turn a page," Roskam said.
He says we shouldn't waste any more energy on bin Laden.
