Bin Laden as a Symbol

Today's news:
"Bin Laden var selve symbolet på terror.
USA-korrespondent Alf Ole Ask mener dette er en viktig seier for Obama."
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article4109119.ece

"Ti år etter terrorangrepet på World Trade Center har USA funnet og drept Osama bin Laden." It is interesting that USA did it. Not some person, not some group - but the nation. It is a fight between nation and terror. In semiotics it is called metonymy. When a part stands for the whole. Bin Laden stands for terror. This is very symbolic fight. It would be not so great if it was just some military troop against some specific person. No. It is USA against terror. And USA has won this fight. This is how we create history, this is how we create myths.

"Viktig seier for USA.

USA-korrespondenten sier dette er så viktig for amerikanerne nettopp fordi bin Laden er selvet symbolet på terror". It is important because it is symbolic. A fight between good and evil. That's why it's so important for Americans. But isn't it a bit scary that we let the symbols so easily rule us? do we have right to celebrate already?

and some practical implications: "Obama sliter på meningsmålingene for tiden. Han trengte en slik seier etter rot rundt fødselsattesten hans og kritikk rundt økonomien i USA. Dette er en god dag for Obama." If you have problems in your own country, it is always good to find some external enemy and fight against him. And see - we win! All Americans can unite in celebration and forget about internal problems. So practical...Does it work like math logic, proportionally? more internal troubles -> more external enemies.