Ind. Congressman Says bin Laden Death Opportunity for Change in Military Focus

A U.S. official says Osama bin Laden died firing at the Navy SEALs who stormed his compound.

A little more than a month before the Al Qaeda leader's death, the Congressional Research Service released a report estimating that U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last decade have cost about $1.3 trillion.

Congressman Todd Rokita (R-Indianapolis) sits on the House's budget committee. Rokita acknowledges that while bin Laden's death is a victory in the war on terror; it's also an opportunity for the United States to recognize another national security threat - its own debt.

"I see this as a silver lining as a breakthrough to the military industrial complex about how we really need to effectively fight the war on terrorism in the 21st century in a way that is economical and lets us live within our means," he said.

Rokita said more money should be going to support special ops campaigns...like the one that brought down bin Laden...and less on wars that drag on for years at a time and hurt the nation's economy.

"I think it might be more efficient and cheaper in the long run than sending brigades and units and boots on the ground all over the world."

Meanwhile, Congressman Tim Johnson (R- Urbana) released a statement, saying he looks forward to peace in the Middle East, and U.S. troops returning home from the region.