State Senator, Brother Of 9/11 Victim 'Satisfied' By Death Of Bin Laden

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma state Sen. Andrew Rice -- whose brother was killed in the September 2001 terrorist attacks -- says he's content and satisfied with the death of Osama bin Laden.

Rice says he was watching TV with his wife when his mother called to tell him of a pending announcement. He says hearing the announcement of bin Laden's death was "surreal" and that a part of him never believed bin Laden would be caught.

Rice's brother David was in the second World Trade Center building to be hit by a hijacked airplane on Sept. 11, 2001. He telephoned his parents to say the scene was chaotic.

Andrew Rice says it appeared his brother was trying to make his way out of the building when it collapsed.

Rice said while this is certainly an emotional day for him and his family, American's have every right to want to celebrate the news and hopes bin Laden's death helps to changed the heated rhetoric in politics today.

"All Americans should feel proud, and this is really a time for Americans to think about our national spirit and maybe get away from the more devise politics we've had on both sides of the aisle," Rice said.

Rice said the death of his brother and the events of 9/11 impacted him so much that it was one of the biggest reasons he got into politics.

Rice said for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, he and his family will be at Ground Zero to honor his brother.