Viewpoint by Anatol Lieven
Professor of War Studies, King's College London

The death of Osama Bin Laden is a triumph for the United States, which may considerably reduce the terrorist threat to the US and the West.

the main significance of this US success lies in its potential impact on the war in Afghanistan.

the end to what is widely seen in the Muslim world - and especially Pakistan - as the illegal occupation of a Muslim country should diminish the appeal of militancy in Pakistan and the Pakistani diaspora, and reduce terrorist recruitment.

Operationally, these groups will be wholly unaffected by Bin Laden's death. On the one hand, they were not under his control. On the other, they were already dedicated to attacking the West, and any additional anger caused by his death will only be one more factor amidst a plethora of real or perceived reasons their supporters have to attack the West.

The killing of Bin Laden should reduce greatly the sting of talking with the Afghan Taliban, and the ability of the Republican opposition in the US to portray this as "weakness" or "treachery" on the part of the Obama administration.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13266128