The death of Osama bin Laden is a major symbolic victory in the war on terror. Not since the defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq has the U.S. been able to celebrate such a clear success against the terrorist enemy. This achievement will provide closure for the many lives lost on (and tremendous sacrifices made since) September 11, 2001, an event whose ten-year anniversary arrives in just four months.

There is an important difference between symbolic and material victories, however. Nearly four years transpired between the symbolic victory of Saddam Hussein’s capture in Iraq and the material victory of the Iraq surge.  As a result of Saddam’s capture, the morale of the U.S.-led coalition increased. Yet violence spiraled upwards in the following years. Only the change in strategy under the surge policy reduced the attacks and threat from al Qaeda in Iraq.