Osama bin Laden’s ignominious death was his proper send-off, former New York governor George Pataki tells National Review Online. “We brought bin Laden to justice in the right way,” Pataki says — that is, without a civilian trial.

“Can you imagine Osama bin Laden being brought back to lower Manhattan for a trial?” Pataki asks. “It would have been a catastrophe — as would have been a trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.” Any such proceeding would have been a “propaganda opportunity” for the terrorists, Pataki affirms.

If anything, bin Laden’s downfall vindicates the George W. Bush administration’s approach to the War on Terror. “There’s no question that the enhanced interrogations President Bush and his administration used legally and constitutionally prevented attacks and saved lives,” Pataki argues. “It would not be surprising to me that some of the intelligence obtained from that period helped in some way to achieve what was accomplished yesterday. But it also points out the insanity of even thinking about civilian trials for mass-murdering terrorists.”

Pataki heard the news of bin Laden’s demise on his farm in upstate New York. His daughter, who walked the World Trade Center’s smoldering remains with him on 9/11, was with him — in a fitting coincidence.

Like Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Penn.), Pataki is eager to learn what exactly Pakistan knew about bin Laden’s location. “The whole world knew that Osama bin Laden had to be brought to justice,” Pataki says. “And yet here he is in a strange military compound — not hiding in a cave in Waziristan, but living close to the Pakistani capital. It makes you wonder if some of our so-called allies are really providing us help to root out violent terrorism — help that we should feel entitled to.”

The former governor is also reluctant to declare victory. “I certainly think it’s a milestone but it’s nowhere near the end. We see things like the Muslim Brotherhood gaining far greater influence in Egypt and Hamas reaching an accord with the P.L.O. And we know that those who have attacked us before and want to do so again are still out there.”

Still, Pataki never doubted he would see Lady Justice dispense with bin Laden in his lifetime. “This is America. When we set our mind to something, we’re going to get it done. It’s a credit to the resolute nature of the American people, that through two presidents, two administrations, the effort to kill this criminal never wavered.”

And he admits, “I just hope we show that same dedication going forward.”