Obama Gives Order, Bin Laden Is Killed: White House Time Line
EmailABC's Jake Tapper, Sunlen Miller and Tahman Bradley report: Tensions were thick in the White House Situation Room after two choppers full of Navy SEALS left Afghanistan to storm a Pakistani compound and kill Osama bin Laden.
The President wasn’t 100% certain bin Laden was in the compound. No one was. The operation was a surgical raid by a small team designed to minimize collateral damage and pose as little risk as possible, to Pakistani civilians in the neighborhood, senior administration officials said.
The SEALS raided the compound. A firefight ensured. Bin Laden fired back, as did others in the compound.
After 40 minutes of fighting, bin Laden, two couriers, and one of bin Laden’s adult sons were killed, as was a woman used as a shield by one of the male members of al Qaeda. Two other women were injured.
During the raid one helicopter was lost due to mechanical failure. The aircraft was destroyed by the crew.
Carrying bin Laden’s dead body, the SEALS boarded the remaining helicopter to exit the compound.
White House national security staffers had been in the Situation Room since 1pm ET. At 2:00pm the President met with the Principals to review final preparations.
At 3:50pm the President was told bin Laden had been tentatively identified.
There was jubilation in the White House once the helicopter returned to Afghanistan.
At 7:01 pm President Obama was told there was a “high probability” bin Laden was dead.
“The death of Osama Bin Laden marks the single greatest victory in the US-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda,” an official said.
The operation had been in the works for years. Since 9/11, the CIA gathered leads on those in bin Laden’s inner circle, including personal couriers. During interrogations and questioning, various detainees flagged individuals who may have been providing support to OBL and Zawahiri. One courier in particularly was identified by detainees as one of the few al Qaeda couriers who had bin Laden’s trust. He was identified as a “protégé” of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and a trusted assistant of Abu Faraj al –Libbi, the former #3 of al Qaeda, who was captured in 2005. There were even indications the courier may have been living with bin Laden.
In 2007, intelligence officers discovered his identity. In 2009, intelligence officials identified areas in Pakistan where the courier and his brother operate – but they were still unable to pinpoint precisely where.
In August 2010 came a big break. Intelligence identified a compound that aroused their suspicion – eight times larger than other homes in the area, built in 2005, on a property valued at $1 million. But access to the compound was severely restricted, with elaborate security and 12 to 18 foot walls topped with barbed wire. Incongruently, the compound has no phone service or televisions. The main building had few windows and a seven foot wall for privacy. Residents burned their trash.
Intelligence officials concluded that unit was “custom built” to hide someone. A third family was identified as living there – and the size and makeup matched the bin Laden family members most likely with him. The location and design of compound were consistent with what experts expected his hideout might look like. Their final conculsion: there was a strong probability that this was bin Laden’s hideout.
While he publicly downplayed the importance of capturing or killing bin Laden, on June 2, 2009 President Obama had signed a memo to the director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, stating “in order to ensure that we have expanded every effort, I direct you to provide me within 30 days a detailed operation plan for locating and bringing to justice Usama Bin Ladin…”
Beginning in September of 2010 the CIA began to work with the president on a set of assessments that led him to believe that in fact it was possible that bin Laden may be located at that compound. The president was was told it contained “a key al Qaeda facilitator appeared to be harboring a high-value target.”
The president directed action to be taken “as soon as he concluded that the intelligence case was sufficient.”
By mid February, though a series of “intensive” meetings at the White House and with the president, administration officials determined there was a “sound intelligence basis” for pursuing this “in an aggressive way” developing course of action in pursuit of bin Laden at this location. By the middle of March the president began a series of national security meetings that he chaired to pursue again the intelligence that had been developed and a course of action.
The president chaired no fewer than five national security council meetings on this topic – on March 14th, March 29th, April 12th, April 19th and April 28th.
“When a case had been made that this was a critical target we began to prepare this mission in conjunction with the US military,” a senior administration official said.
At 8:20am on Friday, April 29th in the Diplomatic Room, President Obama met with National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, White House chief of staff William Daley, White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan and deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough and gave the order for the operation.
Officials said only a very small group of people knew about the operation beforehand. “That was for one reason and one reason alone, we believed that it was essential to the security of the operation and our personal,” an official said. “Only a very small group of people inside our own government knew about this operation in advanced.” Shortly after the raid, U.S. officials contacted senior Pakistani officials to brief them on the results of the raid. They also contacted a number of close partners and allies in the world.
Officials say the administration is ensuring bin Laden’s body is being “handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition.”
“In the wake of this operation there may be a heighted threat to the homeland and to U.S. systems and facilities abroad,” an official cautioned. “Al Qaeda operatives and sympathizers may try to respond violently to avenge Bin Laden’s death and other terrorist leaders may try to accelerate their efforts to strike the United States. But the United States is taking every possible precaution to protect Americans here at home and overseas.”
Asked if U.S. officials are hearing of specific threats against specific targets, the officials said, “no.”
The State Dept. has sent guidance to embassies worldwide and a travel advisory has been issued for Pakistan.
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THANK YOU troops;Thank You Intelligence Community and Thank you President OBAMA!
Posted by: Fred | May 2, 2011, 1:52 am 1:52 am
Job well done.
Posted by: Neotipper | May 2, 2011, 1:56 am 1:56 am
Thank you Navy Seals. This is justice. No amount of parading around a terrorist to this city or that city for civil trials, then military trials, is going to raise the hopes of Americans like this one single act has. Let the remaining terrorists have a session with the Navy Seals.
Posted by: EPU | May 2, 2011, 1:57 am 1:57 am
Happy to hear a good news
Posted by: Rahman | May 2, 2011, 1:59 am 1:59 am
Our Military and our President-Both the best in the World! God Bless.
Posted by: sherriww | May 2, 2011, 2:07 am 2:07 am
What four words did President Bush most likely say when he was given the news?? “Send me his head”
Posted by: dailyrealist | May 2, 2011, 2:12 am 2:12 am
Ha, what a joke! The White House in trying to position itself to make this a political victory for Obama. This a victory for Bush, Petraeus, McChrystal, SOF and Coalition Forces…despite Obama’s administration. Obama would have withdrawn from the region without OBL to meet his political objectives for the 2012 campaign. I really hope he doesn’t insult Coalition Forces by trying to claim a political victory. That would really be an insult to the fallen. But then again, I expect nothing less from a President that has sacrificed nothing to uphold the values that made Our Country great.
I am sure that he held five meeting to determine how the public would react if OBL was captured/killed…I can hear it now:
“Would that be a win for Republicans? Uh, no sir, I think we can spin it in our direction if hold a few more meetings. Ok, great…is there any way we can get him before I go on Oprah…I would love to announce it there!…Well we can decide over a round of golf”
Posted by: Daniel | May 2, 2011, 2:16 am 2:16 am
It was a wel planned and timely operation.kudos to the american’s navy seal.thanks to president obama too.GOD bless nigeria nd peace to the world.
Posted by: Afam chiekwe | May 2, 2011, 2:18 am 2:18 am
It was a wel planned and timely operation.kudos to the american’s navy seal.thanks to president obama too.GOD bless nigeria nd peace to the world.
Posted by: Afam chiekwe | May 2, 2011, 2:19 am 2:19 am
…is there enough time for Petraeus to run for President?
Posted by: Daniel | May 2, 2011, 2:19 am 2:19 am
I don’t think this action will stop terrorism, only justice will, other wise you are kidding your selves, I do not support terrorism, infact i condemn it,but remember what is the root cause of terrorism, (Injustice is the majic word)
HIL
Posted by: Hilalh | May 2, 2011, 2:25 am 2:25 am
“Ha, what a joke! …This a victory for Bush, Petraeus, McChrystal, SOF and Coalition Forces…despite Obama’s administration.” Afam chiekwe
Whatever, men. WHATEVER! You forgot to add your intellectual heroes, Palin and Trump in your brilliant list. All of you, simpletons and cluless!!!
Posted by: E_In_Houston,TX | May 2, 2011, 2:40 am 2:40 am
A big win for the good guys. A major win for the Commander in Chief, Barack Obama, his national security team, the military team that trained for and did the job and the pakistani authorities.
Conservatives have every right to show sour grapes to today, the 1st amendment to the Constitution guarantees them this right. And it also guarantees me the right to laugh in the face of their lack of patriotism and lack of love of country.
This is a big moment, we should all enjoy it. But surely the right will try hard to find a way so that we can not totally enjoy and revel in it. *Cough” FOX *Cough*
Posted by: bonncaruso | May 2, 2011, 2:56 am 2:56 am
Have we not learned that true credit goes to accurate Intel and also to our dedicated troops? Sarah Palin could have played Obama’s role.
Posted by: lila | May 2, 2011, 3:14 am 3:14 am
4 words President Bush say when he heard the news: “Two years too late.
In response to:
“What four words did President Bush most likely say when he was given the news?? “Send me his head”
Posted by: Joe Keenan | May 2, 2011, 3:30 am 3:30 am
So his body was buried at sea huh,let the conspiracy theories begin.
Posted by: brad | May 2, 2011, 3:37 am 3:37 am
Thank you Obama but not thanks for the stimulus that screwed our future. Wipe out about 10,000 more of those s&*t bags over there and I’ll vote for you.
Posted by: Chief | May 2, 2011, 3:38 am 3:38 am
“Officials say the administration is ensuring bin Laden’s body is being “handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition.””
You mean beheaded on video and then mutilated and hung from a bridge?
Posted by: wondering | May 2, 2011, 3:47 am 3:47 am
What a load of crap! What a ‘wag the dog’! People in the intelligence agency community have known that Osama Bin Laden has been dead for 8 to 9 years. Benazir Bhutto, the late Prime Minister of Pakistan, casually told of his demise by assassination years ago as well. People should watch the movie ‘Wag the Dog’ if they have not already just to understand the type of crap that our government is trying to sell here. Absolutely amazing!! Obama gave the go ahead to go after someone that was dead already(he is just so dreamy! I want to touch the hem of his garment!) — oh, but the DNA matches which I am sure it does — it matches anything they want it to match! — ROFLMAO!!! Soooo many people already know that OBL has been dead for a long time too — the reaction in so many who know this is going to be a sight to see in the next few days!! lolololol!! But folks I will warn you — to me this means two things: first, that they are trying to bolster Obama’s sagging ratings because he is about to take the country into a path(s) that will make him very seriously disliked and no longer trusted and he has been more than a bit handicapped with his very dismal approval ratings. second, they are prepping Americans for false flag terror attacks in the U.S. which will obviously culminate in nuked cities at some point, for that is the Al CIAduh plan, so that they can turn their big brother control grid on a very intense micro-managing level. And you thought TSA agents sticking their hands down your pants was bad, just wait! ha!…. hooray Osama bin laden is dead! ROFLMAO! Go gettem Obama! I don’t think they can top this one but I have hope!! lol
Posted by: W. Wallace | May 2, 2011, 3:52 am 3:52 am
Can we all just rejoice that justice has been done? We should be happy about this, not recoiling in fear that this may help one political party or political leader. Damnit, were all Americans when it comes down to it. I served in the marines for my country, for all of you – democrat or republican. Democrats and republicans died in those towers. This is a great day for all Americans. Don’t spin this anymore.
Posted by: Andy | May 2, 2011, 4:37 am 4:37 am
Either way, it’s a victory for a America and the rest of the world. And I know the Obama fanatics really want to place the win on his shoulders, let’s face it, it’s the men and women who put their lives on the line that made this possible. They were the ones searching for OBL way before Obama was sworn into office. They were the ones who found OBL, Obama just told them when to fire.
Posted by: justsayin | May 2, 2011, 4:46 am 4:46 am
I don’t understand the timeline. Every news source had reported this all happened days ago, then Obama gets on air and says he ordered the attack today….. Something doesn’t add up here!
Posted by: Kristin | May 2, 2011, 4:53 am 4:53 am
I honestly don’t think former President Bush was exactly happy about Bin Laden being killed because, if you remember Bush used to work for the Bin Ladens. This was the only reason he never really went after Bin Laden because he was friends with the family. After he left office he knew that he could not stop President Obama from going after this terrorist. THANK YOU President Obama for getting rid of Bin Laden. At least you did not run and hide from this terrorist like our former President did.
Posted by: Chacooe | May 2, 2011, 4:53 am 4:53 am
t
h
thank you troops,get and kill bin laden
from uganda
Posted by: mugisha | May 2, 2011, 4:55 am 4:55 am
Islamic burial at sea doesn’t add up either nor does the quick disposal of the body…so any investigation is pretty much ruled out. Talk about transparency problems………..why did they get rid of the supposed body so quick and why at sea (islam doesn’t like sea burials and they are only ok in certain instances.)
Posted by: Football | May 2, 2011, 5:05 am 5:05 am
A Mayday situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Examples of “grave and imminent danger” in which a Mayday call would be appropriate include fire, explosion or sinking.
Our troops responded to Bin Landen’s 911 with the above reply. It was his May Day May Day May Day.
The world is now a better place.
Posted by: Cheri Faline | May 2, 2011, 5:41 am 5:41 am
So now we can get out of Afghanistan quickly since that IS the reason we were given for invading another country, right? Wrong. They’ve found other reasons to stay and spend money we can’t afford to spend overseas on weapons and war. It wouldn’t surprise me if they decided to invade Pakistan next.
Posted by: jan | May 2, 2011, 6:40 am 6:40 am
Oh! So it took an order from Obama to get this guy? Figures.
Posted by: LongT | May 2, 2011, 6:40 am 6:40 am
Congratulations from Spain!
Well done!
Posted by: roberto | May 2, 2011, 6:43 am 6:43 am
Enter the conspiracists.
Posted by: LongT | May 2, 2011, 6:45 am 6:45 am
Thanks to all who made this happen, including the President.
Shame on those of you who feel the need to make childish comments about Bush.
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 2, 2011, 6:49 am 6:49 am
FOOTBALL, 5:05:02 AM, Said: “Islamic burial at sea doesn’t add up either nor does the quick disposal of the body… so any investigation is pretty much ruled out. Talk about transparency problems………..why did they get rid of the supposed body so quick and why at sea (islam doesn’t like sea burials and they are only ok in certain instances.)”
======================================
The people who planned this out had to think about EVERYTHING. Not just the military operation, but the response of the world and specifically the response of the Islamic world. There exist a tight-rope of managing religious and cultural emotions and sensitivities in an operation like this, so that the capture of disposition of Bin Laden’s did not result in him becoming a martyr.
If Osama Bin Laden’s body were brought back to the USA, it would have created an uproar in the Islamic world. If it were left in Pakistan or Afghanistan, his burial site would have been turned into a martyr’s shrine. Disposing of the body at sea immediately, and announcing that he was provided with a proper Islamic burial for such a disposition of the body, resolved both of these issues.
You can tell that the planners of this operation weren’t the same people that planned the invasion of Iraq, when after we entered Baghdad, the question became, “What now?”… LOL!… The folks actually used their brains and thought this thing through…all the way to what needed to be done with the body AFTER we got Bin Laden.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | May 2, 2011, 7:00 am 7:00 am
Bin Laden’s killing could not have occurred without Guantanamo. Facts are facts. A detained gave up his trusted courier’s “Nome de jour”. Also, Pakistan is a big problem. A forty foot high walled compound in a major city? The Mumbai attacks came from Pakistan. A.Q.Khan the nuclear scientist who proliferated the “Islam” bomb, the I.S.I. & the creation and continued support of the Taliban, all point to real problems with Pakistan. India has reasons to be concerned. Anyway Kudos to all. Obama, Bush, Cheney, the military, & the intelligence community.
Posted by: pauldia | May 2, 2011, 7:07 am 7:07 am
georgie_bushie: “You can tell that the planners of this operation weren’t the same people that planned the invasion of Iraq, when after we entered Baghdad, the question became, “What now?”… LOL!… The folks actually used their brains and thought this thing through…all the way to what needed to be done with the body AFTER we got Bin Laden.”
What did you do during the war, Georgie?
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 2, 2011, 7:10 am 7:10 am
SIGMONDE, 7:10:41 AM: “What did you do during the war, Georgie?”
=====================================
LOL!…well, you know, I split my time between Washington D.C. and my ranch in Texas.
Honestly though, all I’d like to say is that I spent some time in northern Iraq (Mosul) at the start of the war and in Baghdad about 3 years later.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | May 2, 2011, 7:15 am 7:15 am
This is neither here nor there but do you guys check your articles before you poste them?
“That was for one reason and one reason alone, we believed that it was essential to the security of the operation and our personal,” an official said. “Only a very small group of people inside our own government knew about this operation in advanced.”
PERSONAL? IN ADVANCED?
Come on, ABC.
Posted by: Jane Kashtel | May 2, 2011, 7:18 am 7:18 am
“Honestly though, all I’d like to say is that I spent some time in northern Iraq (Mosul) at the start of the war and in Baghdad about 3 years later.”
I’m sure there are lots of people that would like to say that. Lots of people would also like to say they won the lotto, too..
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 2, 2011, 7:19 am 7:19 am
U.S. 1
Pakistan Government 0
(I guess payments from Al Quaida to Pakistan will be stopping now, ehh? So then, can we stop U.S. payments to Pakistan also? It’s much more effective just to give the money to political cronies here at home. /)
Posted by: Dave | May 2, 2011, 7:26 am 7:26 am
While I disagree with most of your policies Mr. President you deserve the utmost praise for this. Well done !!
Posted by: hkdakota | May 2, 2011, 7:28 am 7:28 am
We should publicly feed his body to stray dogs.
Posted by: John Kantor | May 2, 2011, 7:32 am 7:32 am
Now Donald Duck Trump will be asking for Bin Laden’s
death certificate! LOL !!!!
Posted by: spacerook1 | May 2, 2011, 7:34 am 7:34 am
This will need to be proven, a body, something other than praise me I am running for president in 2012????go figure
Posted by: anna snipes | May 2, 2011, 7:41 am 7:41 am
So, when are we going to bring our troops home. We cannot afford the wars.
Posted by: deanbob | May 2, 2011, 7:46 am 7:46 am
Spacerook1 (7:48 AM); That comment was for the guy who was congradulating Obama and Pakistani intel.
Posted by: LongT | May 2, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am
All the credit goes to the CIA for finding him and to the SEALS for killing him!
Obama just authorized what Bush already had in place…
Posted by: Kate | May 2, 2011, 8:54 am 8:54 am
thank you President Obama!, thank you to the brave men who took Bin Laden Out!, and thanks to the great intelligence gathering. Obviously, some people still have the need to bash the President, how sad. This is a great victory for the country as a whole! Leave your petty grievances at home.
Posted by: MiketheElectrician | May 2, 2011, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Shame on you who will not give credit to this president. As I have said before no matter what he does you criticize. Well he killed Osama, somehthng no one has been able to do. It’s not political….Elections are more than a year and a half away. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND THE BRAVE TROOPS. While Trump was going after birth certificate and school records the president was doing REAL IMPORTANT STUFF! Get it?
Posted by: Barb | May 2, 2011, 9:09 am 9:09 am
Thank You President Bush for Waterboarding KSM.
Thank You KSM for giving up Osama’s trusted courier.
Thank You Intelligence Agencies for following the lead and finding Bin Laden.
Thank You Navy Seals for doing your job so professionally.
Thank You President Obama for allowing the operation to go forward.
It’s a Great Day today!
Now, on to Lump Head, al-Zawahiri.
Posted by: Noz | May 2, 2011, 9:18 am 9:18 am
I want pictures…last time I checked, DNA testing, if rushed, takes a couple of weeks. It isn’t an overnight thing… Burial at sea in accordance to Islamic practices??? Hmmm. Something stinks here, although it is a good idea…and sprinkle some pig’s blood for good measure before shoving him over the side.
The poster who said the intelligence community has long though OBL has been dead for years? Videos keep showing up on Aljazeera…even though they do look dated. But, his family DIDN’T behave as if he WERE dead.
Benazir Bhutto was probably assasinated with the help of Al-Qaeda, because General Musharif was taking money from both sides of the fence; half his military was pro-Taliban. He was right in saying that Pakistan was on the verge of civil war and that the U.S. did not understand all the internal dynamics of his country to prevent destabilization of Western friendly authorities. Now, let Pakistan choose sides, and live with the consequences.
Posted by: missmacintx | May 2, 2011, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Ding, Dong, the terrorist is dead! Finally, finally, finally! Thanks to our brave Navy Seals, who carried out the mission that our president put as a top priority on his agenda.
Justice for the 9/11 victims has been served.
What does Mr. Trump have to say about that? I think his platform of destroying the credibility of Obama has been squashed. It started under Bush and ended under Obama. Can we now say “Mission Accomplished”?
Posted by: carole | May 2, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
What a bunch of cynics! He’s dead. So now do you want us to get on to the important stuff The President alluded to Saturday Evening? Specifically, did we fake the moon landing, what really hppened at Roswell and while we’re at it, how about the second shooter on the grassy knoll?
Posted by: Paul | May 2, 2011, 9:41 am 9:41 am
Like him or Loathe him, Obama showed real guts on this one and deserves full credit. As do the brave Navy Seals involved
Posted by: shel | May 2, 2011, 9:41 am 9:41 am
for those of you that are praising Bush for this I will remind you that Bush dismantled the Bin Laden desk at CIA and said that he was no longer the “main target” back in 2006…
THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE!!!
Posted by: Don | May 2, 2011, 9:41 am 9:41 am
Bin Ladens body was handled in an appropriate manner……his body was thrown overboard to feed to sharks.
Posted by: Don | May 2, 2011, 9:45 am 9:45 am
“I don’t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.”
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
“I am truly not that concerned about him.”
- G.W. Bush, repsonding to a question about bin Laden’s whereabout¬¬¬s,
3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02)
“And if we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act, and we will take them out. We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” – Barack Obama (2008 debate)
Just saying….
Posted by: Rascal7 | May 2, 2011, 9:50 am 9:50 am
GOD BLESS OUR NAVY SEALS******
Now onto getting our TROOPS HOME
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Proud to be living in
AMERICA
Posted by: Ruth | May 2, 2011, 9:56 am 9:56 am
“for those of you that are praising Bush for this I will remind you that Bush dismantled the Bin Laden desk at CIA and said that he was no longer the “main target” back in 2006…” – Don
Rightfully so Donnie.
Bin Laden was no longer the main target back then.
Truth be told al-Zawahiri is more radical and an actual bigger threat.
Osama was the “Rock Star” Figure Head of Al Qaeda.
He wasn’t the planner or an operations guy.
Lump Head is the one to worry about.
Regardless, if Prez Bushie hadn’t done the Waterboard Thing-ma-bob we wouldn’t have had the intelligence to find Bin Laden. It took courage to make that decision so throw some props Bushie’s way too.
Posted by: Noz | May 2, 2011, 10:04 am 10:04 am
Is it so much to ask for proof? Not saying I don’t believe it’s true, but it’s possible to fake something like this to make yourself look better. His approval ratings WERE going down the tubes. Where are the pictures? We as American Citizens, after all we’ve been through, deserve that much, don’t we? Don’t be so gullible and just take everyone’s word for it. Even if it is the President.
Posted by: Ashley | May 2, 2011, 10:05 am 10:05 am
ABC News needs to spell check.
Posted by: Lauren | May 2, 2011, 10:06 am 10:06 am
If Osama Bin Laden’s body were brought back to the USA, it would have created an uproar in the Islamic world. If it were left in Pakistan or Afghanistan, his burial site would have been turned into a martyr’s shrine. Disposing of the body at sea immediately, and announcing that he was provided with a proper Islamic burial for such a disposition of the body, resolved both of these issues.
—————————————-
Who cares if there is an uproar because wwe brought the body back here. The radical muslim extremists that followed and admired him are not all of a sudden going to see our actions as respectable and decide to love us and stop attacking us. I am not saying we should have dragged him through the streets but we should have been able to bring him here like we did for Saddam and prove to the american people that he is captured and then kill him here. Lastly, Obama can take all the credit he wants for this but he is been in office all this time and Bin Laden is sitting in his obnoxious mansion with no security knowing that this country under Obama was going to take its sweet time getting around to him. If it was not for infomation gathered at Gitmo (which he wanted to close!!) then this would not have happened. The president should kiss the feet of those awesome navy seals for making him look good. The Obama zombies needed a reason to praise him because everything else is going so badly right now.
Posted by: Melissa | May 2, 2011, 10:07 am 10:07 am
While I vehemently disagree with his social and fiscal policies, I applaud our Commander In Chief for achieving something for which our country has been yearning for years.
The demise of Osama Bin Laden. Well done, Mr. President!
Also kudos to whichever of our forces did the deed. I’ve heard it’s Seals with help from the CIA but that’s early, and quite possibly, inaccurate data. No matter. Those kind of folks don’t expect accolades, nor will they get any except behind closed doors. Don’t expect to see them on the next talk show, flaunting their accomplishments like an athlete or actor or politician. NOT their style. They do what they do because they love our country and hate anyone who wants us dead, not for any kind of celebrity.
There are SO many of their types that you NEVER hear about unless they do something stupid. As I said, they just do what they do. TRUE Americans.
I don’t believe in an afterlife but I told a co-worker upon hearing that news, “If there is an afterlife, I hope he’s where he deserves to be.” Whether that’s with Allah or someplace else is not my concern. I’m just glad that he’s no longer here to be a force of evil.
Posted by: Gus | May 2, 2011, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Obama vindicates Bush.
Posted by: what667 | May 2, 2011, 10:17 am 10:17 am
It is very hard to give Obama any credit in this.
Senator Obama wanted to close Gitmo and end the wars and the hunt for Osama.
Senator Obama was playing those anti war liberals like the tools they are.
Posted by: Kate | May 2, 2011, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Not gonna get into the usual “dem” vs “rep” or “bush” vs. “obama”. One less evil wackadoodle is walking the earth today. So for right now, I going to accept that he’s dead and say “Bravo” to the brave men and women of our armed forces who made this popular.
Posted by: Eliza | May 2, 2011, 10:21 am 10:21 am
his burial site would have been turned into a martyr’s shrine.
__________________________
And what’s wrong with that?
As I said in another thread.
We could have mummified the guy and put him in a shrine in that soon to be Ground Zero Mosque or maybe the UN building. We then could have kept tabs on who visited the memorial, there would not be any doubt we got the guy and the best thing is he would have served as a Dead Human Shield for New York City. The site would quickly become a holy site for Radical Muslims and they would then never nuke the city.
Another opportunity lost due to weak minds which don’t think
Out-o-da-Box.
Posted by: Noz | May 2, 2011, 10:24 am 10:24 am
This reporting is so confusing. Your article says he approved the operation at 8:20am on Friday, April 29th in the Diplomatic Room. But we hear he was killed on Monday April 25th (two days prior to the release of the birth certificate last Wednesday).
Posted by: Nancy | May 2, 2011, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Now Donald Duck Trump will be asking for Bin Laden’s
death certificate! LOL !!!!
POSTED BY: SPACEROOK1 | MAY 2, 2011 7:34:32 AM
——-
Don’t laugh, I’ve heard at least 3 different stories about the circumstances of his death so far.
Posted by: Ehrbum | May 2, 2011, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Facts…
After several days of buildup, during which time our troops were first moving towards Tora Bora, then surrounding a network of caves there, then waiting for the order to go in… and waiting… And then the order came in: to pull back, and let the Afghan troops go in. Bush deliberately backed off and refused to let the military seal the Pakistani border.
“I don’t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.”
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
Also, don’t forget that the Bush administration knew of a planned attack on the US two months before the attack and basically ignored it. Two days after the attack, he let Bin Laden family members (who were here in the US) leave.
Bush had nothing to do with the capture and death of Bin Laden.
Posted by: JAZ | May 2, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
So the Bush administration had nothing to do with the capture and death of Bin Laden?? Really. So all that attacking Iraq and Afghanistan and reducing where the Taliban could hide, and force him and others out had nothing to do with it. The intelligence tracking started in 2007 .. during the Bush administration.
To be fair Obama had little to do with it either. He is a glory hound, and wanted nothing more than to increase his PR. Bush was right, it wasn’t important. Osama was in a hidey-hold and had become irrelevant. It was the CIA and the brave men of the US armed forces that did this, Obama was just a figurehead at the top, picking options THEY give him and THEY carried out. He put our soldiers in harms way for no reason other than his personal glory, he could just has easily have bombed the crap out of that place and been done with it. Collateral damage didn’t seem to important for the many drone missions he has carried out so far.
Obama is an egomaniac, i.e. his using the words ‘I have been planning’ in his speech. When did he plan it, during his golf outings and trip to Hawaii??
Posted by: JohnF | May 2, 2011, 11:40 am 11:40 am
That passes for a $1M mansion in Pakistan? Looks like a collection of ramshackled buildings.
Posted by: John Jay VI | May 2, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
yes ladies and gentlemen, this is how obama won his second term as president before the official kick off of the 2012 presidential campaign. You get public enemy number one! Now the only hope republicans have is winning control over the house and senate or either of them. 2012 election is over already! you heard it here first from mad dog mulligan.
Posted by: mad dog mulligan | May 2, 2011, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
An operation well executed. Well done, Mr. President!
Posted by: teddymaniac | May 2, 2011, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Chacooe
Your comments are preposterous!
Posted by: Lorenem | May 2, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
“The SEALS raided the compound. A firefight ensured. Bin Laden fired back, as did others in the compound.”
Hey, your Freudian slip is showing! (ensued)
Posted by: Wow | May 2, 2011, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Obama’s gift to the WORLD!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Mr. President. You have most certainly earned your Nobel Peace Prize!
Posted by: Barbara | May 2, 2011, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Oh I shudder to think of the bravery it took for our president to do his part in this mission. To say….”yes”.
Oooh the chills that run down my back just thinking of such bravery…
Posted by: Kate | May 2, 2011, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Where are bin laden’s wife and son who were supposedly killed in this attack?
I have seen no pictures or comments from any of the Islamic new agencies. Shouldn’t they have been buried with some kind of ceremony within 24 hours per the Islamic law?
Posted by: djjackson | May 2, 2011, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
“I don’t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.”
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02″
I see that Bush bluffed you, too.
No one in our military, CIA, or Intelligence organizations slacked off in the pursuit of bin Laden at any time..
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 3, 2011, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
“The SEALS raided the compound. A firefight ensured. Bin Laden fired back, as did others in the compound. ”
According to the White House presser, Obama was unarmed (and probably in his jammies asleep with his wife.)
That he “fired back” is Obama spin, to cover the fact that this was a “kill only” mission. If bin Ladens wife was shot in the leg for resisting, why wasn’t bin Laden?
My guess it was a “kill only” order so as to enhance Obama’s poll ratings.
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 3, 2011, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
As much as I like Reagan, Reagan and Bush Sr were the ones who helped put Bin Laden into a position of power during the Afghan war with the Soviet Union.
Thank God for Obama, who is a true Christian and Citizen of the United States!
Posted by: Richard | May 3, 2011, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
The White House has video of what happened in Osama’s bedroom. It is reported there were 10 women and children in the room, and no security guards at the home. The spin is making everyone dizzy. “he was armed”, “he wasn’t armed”..etc.
Play the video so Americans can see what went down and if this was a “capture or kill” mission ordered or a “kill only” mission ordered by Obama.
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 3, 2011, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
donald triumph should also thank President Obama!!!! why is he mum?
Posted by: ken | May 8, 2011, 7:21 am 7:21 am
While it may be good news that he’s dead, Terrorism won’t stop. won’t get any better. Once again, people will be afraid of air travel. For a country seeking economic recovery, this is something we don’t need.
Posted by: Glenn Morelock | May 12, 2011, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
Wanted facts about that. I wrote it off as yet another cost, but I am going to consider it once more.
Posted by: Marin Sedita | September 3, 2011, 7:08 am 7:08 am
It’s hard to search out educated people on this topic, but you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
Posted by: liz | November 22, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm