Bin Laden - Betting on the Euro

An interesting detail in the dramatic action by US special forces which eliminated Osama Bin Laden, living in an affluent township an hour's drive from Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

It seems that terrorist N 1, bet on the Euro as source of emergency cash. According to sources from the US Senate, special forces found Osama "had around 500 euros and two phones (numbers) stitched into his clothing".

It would be curious to know if Osama chose the Euro over the US dollar, that usually dominates trade in the Middle East, because of idealogical or practical foreign exchange considerations.

Still if we look away from the amusing details, the story of tracking and eliminating Bin Laden, is important and historic for many reasons. While it has huge symbolic importance for the American people, along with the millions victims of terrorism and religious hatred and violence worldwide, it also sets in motion a bigger change in the region.

No expert seriously believe that Pakistan did not tolerate if not shelter Bin Laden on its territory. Such double game has backfired now, and US foreign policy is not very likely to tolerate it.

On the other hand, the already fragile situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan could quickly escalate and flare up into another bloody conflict. As if this is not enough, we have Pakistan's nuclear arsenal of 50 or so warheads thrown into the mix.

As it has been widely acknowledged, the US has won a battle but is still away from winning the wider war on militant Islamism.