Fighting terror

Sunday evening as many Americans were preparing to start another workweek, news broke that the President would address the nation. A short time later we would learn that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, was killed.

Early Monday morning local time, a highly skilled group counterterrorism troops known as Navy SEAL Team Six flew by helicopters to bin Laden's elaborate compound in Pakistan. While reports say the goal was to bring the terrorist back alive, the unit, facing hostile fire, was forced to kill the al-Qaida leader.

While the death of bin Laden is an important step in the war on terror, it is by no means the last. Intelligence teams are now poring over items, such as discs and hard drives, found in bin Laden's compound that might contain clues as to who the leader's No. 2 man is and what terror plots may be in the works.

Osama bin Laden's demise will not bring back the more than 3,000 people who lost their lives on that September day. But there is reason to celebrate the incredible work by Navy SEAL Team Six, the thousands of other troops who have spent years in the fight against terror, and our intelligence team around the globe. Thanks in part to these individuals, America has remained safe from acts of terrorism for nearly 10 years.

As millions around the country take part in today's National Day of Prayer, we should continue to keep each of our military and intelligence heroes, as well as their family members, in prayer. We owe these individuals a debt of gratitude beyond what we could ever repay, but we can pray for their safety and that of the United States.