The "war on terror" was made to order for the post-Cold War era, and enthusiasts such as then Vice-President Dick Cheney noticed this immediately, before any wars were launched. Within five days of the 9/11 attacks, Cheney was on television proclaiming that the war against terrorism was "a long term proposition," the "kind of work that will take years."

Indeed it has, and with U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan killing civilians and generating more hatred weekly, a cycle of violence is perpetuated that can go on for many years to come.

Of course, this was not inevitable. Ironically, the killing of bin Laden confirms what the left has maintained since 2001: that the occupation of Afghanistan was not necessary or justified in order to go after bin Laden. The killing of bin Laden was mainly an intelligence operation – the U.S. did not have to invade or occupy Pakistan in order to carry it out. The same would have been true while he was in Afghanistan.

And now that he is gone, calls in Afghanistan for the U.S. to leave are already intensifying; and they are picking up in the U.S. as well.

Since bin Laden is now dead, we will never know what he was thinking when he planned the 9/11 attacks. But as someone who was Washington's ally during the Cold War, he could easily have understood how these attacks would likely lead to a "war on terror" that would strengthen his movement. Despite being criminally insane, bin Laden knew his enemy.

Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, in Washington, D.C.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn