As the news came in of the death of Bin Laden, print and television media around the world rushed to report the story, millions of people sent each other text messages as others took the news globally on Twitter — setting a new record for sustained use of the service — and in many cities, from New York to Boise, Idaho, to Athens, Georgia, people took to the streets in spontaneous celebration. Political leaders from different nations quickly issued statements expressing their relief, satisfaction, and approval that he was brought to justice.

In response to this, and to temper public enthusiasms, policy experts have taken pains to make clear that that because Al Qaeda is now decentralized, his death won’t have a major impact in our fight against them.| MORE ›

Update 5/12/11 00:05: Statement by former President George W. Bush:| MORE ›

The Pakistani army says it has killed more than 1,000 Taliban in the Swat Valley already.| MORE ›

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia historically has played a major role in the development of jihadism. Key pillars of the Saudi state — oil, Wahhabism (a conservative form of Sunni Islam) and the strength of tribal norms — were instrumental in facilitating the rise of Islamist extremism and terrorism around the world prior to 9/11.| MORE ›

An Iraqi living in Denmark may have recruited suicide bombers for terrorist organizations in Iraq:

Danish intelligence agency PET suspects a 42-year-old Iraqi man living in Denmark of being the chief Northern European recruiter for suicide bombers for Iraq, Danish newspaper Politiken said Sunday.| MORE ›

In talks with U.S. lawmakers with Fox News, General David Petraeus said Pakistan’s civilian government has two weeks to deal with the Taliban. If it does not get its act together beforehand, it will probably fall.| MORE ›

I’m growing increasingly concerned about the war in Libya. Truth be told, there’s little doubt in my mind that it’s time for Colonel Khadaffi to go. He truly is, as Reagan once succinctly put it, a “mad dog.” He has supported terrorists in the past and will undoubtedly do so again – if allowed to. On the other hand, the ‘rebels’ don’t exactly seem secular and democratic.| MORE ›

The Pakistani army continued its offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley (or tribal region) on Friday:

Pakistan’s army, which launched its assault last month, said Thursday that its troops had advanced to within four miles (six kilometers) of Mingora and urged people to flee.| MORE ›

NationalTerrorAlert.com reports that ‘a top Islamic terror suspect accused in a plot to crash a hijacked plane into Singapore has been arrested in neighboring Malaysia after escaping a high-security Singaporean jail last year.’

Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from jail in 2008 (by wiggling out a toilet window).| MORE ›

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri insisted for six long years that he had no ties whatsoever to terrorist organization Al Qaeda. Today, however, word came out that he had reached a deal with the federal government and admitted to being an agent for the organization behind 9/11.| MORE ›

Pakistani troops continue to fight Taliban in Bajur. Earlier Wednesday they succeeded in taking back a key town in the district.

“We have taken control of Dagar town and an operation by the ground forces is under way,” a senior military officer told AFP.| MORE ›