As Capitol Hill responds to the death of Osama bin Laden, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell tells National Review Online that Republicans remain steadfast in their commitment to the war on terrorism.

“We are going to be preaching that we are exuberant but cautious,” McConnell replies when asked about his message to the conference.

“This is a very important moment, significant in many ways, but our joy over his demise needs not to have us conclude that they are not still going to try to hit us,” McConnell says. “In the short term, you could argue that this might even give them even more incentive to hit us.”

McConnell swats away the idea that troops should be called home. “We should not assume that this is over, any more than the Iraq War ended with the capture of Saddam Hussein,” he says.

McConnell heard the news about bin Laden via a phone call from Vice President Biden around 10:00 p.m. Sunday. Was the conversation solemn or upbeat? “I was pleased,” he smiles.