Three Ways Bin Laden's Death Could Affect You

President Barack Obama  that Osama bin Laden is dead. U.S. special forces in Pakistan killed the al-Qaida leader, who spearheaded the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, launching a war on terror.

In his announcement, Obama said that bin Laden was killed during a fire fight as part of a U.S. military operation. But what does this historic turn of events in the fight against terror mean for South Bay residents?

Local security

Air travelers could face tighter security at major airports both locally and abroad as officials have reported that news of bin Laden's death could spark al-Qaida retaliation.

"There is no doubt al-Qaida will continue to pursue to make attacks against us," Obama said during his announcement.

Los Angeles International Airport Police Chief George R. Centeno said airport police are on alert.

"LAX is always on alert given that U.S. transportation systems are of interest to terrorist organizations," Centeno told City News Service. "While we don't have any direct threat as a result of recent events, we will continue to provide infrastructure protection and high visibility law enforcement and security protection to the many passengers who travel through the airport every day.

"We will continue to monitor global events and stay in contact with our federal partners as the situation evolves through the next 24 to 48 hours."

But other than at Los Angeles International Airport, it might be business as usual here in Southern California as no measures to increase security were immediately reported Sunday night.

"We have no operations set up at this time,'' said Deputy Jeff Gordon of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau in a statement. "We will deploy all resources and tactical responses necessary if warranted.''

Elections

Bin Laden's death could affect the local race for the 36th Congressional District seat—Democratic candidate Marcy Winograd has campaigned primarily on a platform for peace, as she has repeatedly said that she would vote against continued funding toward the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

She and candidate Steve Collett both have signed a commitment to vote against future funding for the wars.

Republicans Mike Gin and Kit Bobko, on the other hand, both have told Patch that they support the war in Afghanistan. Bobko also said he believed the key to Afghanistan was Pakistan, where bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces.

Active military

Despite bin Laden's death, U.S. troops won't immediately be withdrawn from Afghanistan. The threat of reprisals, according to Obama, is ever-present.

Bin Laden's "death does not mark the end of our effort," Obama said in his speech Sunday. "We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad."