Good news for the West: Bin Laden killed, ten years of searching for him are over

The world closes a ten-year circle after the killing of the most sought after terrorist on the planet, Osama Bin Laden, during the night of Sunday to Monday. Romania, which has since the very start been on the American side, could benefit from this episode.

Yesterday morning, at 5.40 Romanian time and 22:40 American time, President Barack Obama announced the end of the longest war of the last century. Ten years of searching for Osama Bin Laden have resulted in his being shot dead in the head, at close range, in a CIA operation coordinated by none other than its chief Leon Panetta.

Romania has been on the "side of the good guys" during these years and has won alongside its allies, following the demise of the most sought after terrorist on the planet.

What could Romania gain from the developments of the night of Sunday to Monday? Immediately after September 11th 2001, Romania, alongside most countries of the world, declared its support for the US. Unlike others, it followed through with concrete action. Romania has participated with troops and logistics in the Afghanistan war. Only 11 countries are now present in Afghanistan (the war started in 2001), with operations currently under NATO mandate. In 2003, when Iraq was invaded, in a war waged in the name of a better world, Romania had to suffer the opprobrium of France and discontent of other European countries for its support given to the Americans.

Romania spent tens of millions of dollars on these operations and expected some benefit, such as taking part in Iraq's reconstruction, which has yet to happen.

Mircea Geoană was foreign minister at the time when Romania decided to join the Afghanistan war, and 25 million dollars were allocated at the time for this operation. By 2009 the overall amount spent by Romania for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had exceeded 350 million dollars.

What does the former foreign minister think about these decisions?

"This is the triumph of justice. But high-level decisions are not always calculated short-term. Romania won by its participation in the decision-making in international organisations and won respectability. There is of course the regret that we are not involved in rebuilding Iraq, that Iraq's debt to us has not been recouped (over 1 billion dollars, excluding interest i.e.). But a decision such as the one we made was long-term, and did not target one specific interest. In this respect, we have gained credibility," says the former head of foreign affairs.