Local int'l security expert weighs in

A local international security expert joined Good Day Wisconsin on Tuesday morning to share his thoughts on the death of Osama bin Laden.

Jason Brozek is an assistant professor of government at Lawrence University in Appleton. He researches and writes and issues of war and international security.

He says he would characterize the nation's reaction to bin Laden's death as surprise.

"I think there was a widely-held assumption, mine, too, if I'm being honest, a widely-held assumption that Osama bin Laden had already died of kidney failure, of incidental violence," said Brozek.

"But we hadn't heard from him in a few years. And I think there was a widely-held assumption that he was already dead. So I think, I think there was some shocked surprise at the announcement. And it wasn't clear on Sunday night what the announcement was going to be exactly."

As far as answering any doubts over whether the body was really bin Laden, Brozek says conspiracy theorists will always look for theories wherever they can find them.

"I think over the next few days, we're going to see more information released by the Obama administration. I wouldn't be surprised at all, if in the next couple of days, we see pictures of Osama bin Laden's body. I'm not convinced that that's going to change any conspiracy theorists' minds. And I'm not sure that they necessarily rely on facts or information to form those theories."

Brozek also says he wouldn't be surprised if we do not see any retaliatory attacks against the U.S. He says the popularity of bin Laden had declined over the past few years.

When asked how he thinks bin Laden's death will affect U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, Brozek said, "it may provide political cover for an end strategy in Afghanistan.  If the president wanted to start making movements to get out of Afghanistan, this would provide the political cover to do it."

As far as the 2012 presidential election, Brozek says he doesn't think bin Laden's death will play a big role.  "I think it will have minor consequences," he said, "primarily, that's going to be a race about the economy and jobs, and I don't think Osama bin Laden's death is going to change that."

Brozek also believes this will silence critics who say President Obama is not strong enough on foreign policy and national security.