Peter Bergen : It was easier for the U.S. to kill bin Laden than to kill his followers . The Pentagon bombing is one instance in which bin Laden 's ideology may have played a role , he says . The majority of Americans reject bin Ladenism , but there are still some adherents , he says . Bergen : Like many of history 's most effective leaders , bin Laden told a simple story about the world that his followers around the globe found easy to grasp . Syrian politics is another arena in which bin Ladenism is active .
Peter Bergen : It was easier for the U.S. to kill bin Laden than to kill his followers . The Pentagon bombing is one instance in which bin Laden 's ideology may have played a role , he says . The majority of Americans reject bin Ladenism , but there are still some adherents , he says . Bergen : Syrian politics is another arena in which bin Ladenism is active .