OSAMA BIN LADEN DEAD

[Coyote]

At most, what will happen is that in a unit's rec room somewhere there'll be a AKSU mounted above a fireplace or something, no plaque or anything, but people will know.

Well, if Osama was killed in a firefight with Special Forces guys (SEALs I hear), it is safe to assume there's at least one hard-core motherfucker who's sporting a shiny new Congressional Medal of Honor right now. Probably the whole team, but the shooter(s) and the mission leader, pretty certain.

[NecronLord]

As a layperson I wonder, how much will we be told about the operation itself and the organizations involved, beyond Obama's brief summing up?

In time there will be entire volumes and memoirs about this. In the short term, probably a reasonable amount, I expect.

[erik_t]

I wonder if Obama phoned him? There was certainly time for it.

Yes, but I don't have the link handy.

[Coyote]

As a layperson I wonder, how much will we be told about the operation itself and the organizations involved, beyond Obama's brief summing up?

In time there will be entire volumes and memoirs about this. In the short term, probably a reasonable amount, I expect.

And --sigh-- an action movie sometime within the next 5 years.

Probably involving Michael Bay... dammit. ( )

[atg]

As a layperson I wonder, how much will we be told about the operation itself and the organizations involved, beyond Obama's brief summing up?

In time there will be entire volumes and memoirs about this. In the short term, probably a reasonable amount, I expect.

And --sigh-- an action movie sometime within the next 5 years.

Probably involving Michael Bay... dammit. ( )

Just wait for the Call of Duty mod....

[FSTargetDrone]

I've also heard that at the Mets-Phillies game crowd chanted USA! USA! as news spread amongst them.

I don't think there were any other games on (Phillies/Mets are STILL tied) this late so this was probably one of the larger groups of people together in public this time at night in one place outside of the cities.

[MKSheppard]

Speculation is that the administration delayed the announcement for several reasons:

1.) DNA confirmation of the body and to get it out of Pakistan and to a secure US controlled area at Bagram AFB, Afghanistan.

2.) John Paul II Beautification

3.) Royal Wedding

The last two for obvious reasons -- Al Q is likely to try something in retaliation for us humilating them so publically; so it was good sense to wait for these high value events to be over before we did our victory lap -- OBL was going to stay dead either way.

[Pelranius]

Indeed. Though I don't know how much preparations or resources such sleeper cells would have.

Given how deep the SEALS went into Pakistan, I'd stay away from Pakistani cities for the next several months.

[Raj Ahten]

I knew we would get the bastard eventually. I can't wait for the details of the operation. Was the ISI involved? Did the CIA and military do it all on their own? Did anyone give up Bin Laden and why?

Anyways Navy SEALS now have official special forces bragging rights for awhile. Wonder how they got the nod for this op instead of other units. Maybe they were just on deck for ops this week.

[Patrick Degan]

You stay classy Fox.

You're asking the impossible from that crowd.

The FoxNoise website is displaying an inaccurate report that BinLaden was killed by a bomb last week. Expect it to be the kernel for a host of conspiracy theories the right will spin to try to diminish or discredit Obama's triumph.

[Meest]

The description of the compound is pretty funny, a huge house in a suburb no phone lines or internet, seems like he was pretty paranoid. Special forces took out human shields or one, said one was a female used as a human shield and one was dead others wounded, they went all out. One chopper had trouble so wonder how that affected their evac or timeline, still seems like almost picture perfect raid.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Keep in mind, if they got in and secured Obama's body, they got all the rest of his goodies, including any doccumentation on AQ that might be laying around.

[MKSheppard]

I know I said something about people who want to politicize this event...

But fuck it, Barry's earned this one:



(timeline is about right too)

[eion]

Rachel Maddow's twitter stream is glorious as always, "Finally someone with a snare drum has arrived! Now USA chants are syncopated!"

[Patrick Degan]

The transcript of tonight's statement from the East Room:

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON OSAMA BIN LADEN

East Room

11:35 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.

It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory — hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.

And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.

On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.

We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda — an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.

Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.

Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.

And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.

Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.

Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will — remain vigilant at home and abroad.

As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.

Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.

Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.

So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.

Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.

We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.

Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.

And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.

The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

[Zadius]

Keep in mind, if they got in and secured Obama's body, they got all the rest of his goodies, including any doccumentation on AQ that might be laying around.

Another reason they chose to go in on foot, I would guess. Hopefully, Zawahiri is next.

[Lonestar]

Who wants to take bets on how many senior AQ and Taliban types are hauling ass out of their hideyholes in every direction in toyota pickups this evening?

[Count Chocula]

Ding, dong, the dick is dead! Which old dick? Osama dick! Ding, dong, the AQ head is dead!

I'm happy for this development, and it makes my scenario #1 in the "I was worth 50 sheep" thread more plausible.

[SilverWingedSeraph]

Keep in mind, if they got in and secured Obama's body, they got all the rest of his goodies, including any doccumentation on AQ that might be laying around.

I wonder how many times I'll see people making that mistake or typo in the next few days.

[Cecelia5578]

To everyone trying to politicize this:

FUCK YOU.

Personally, to me Obama’s speech was...OK.

But to hell with whether it was the best speech ever given (tm) or just average.

Obama took a goddamn big risk -- he earned his pay 500 fucking percent -- because he took the EXTREME FUCKING BIG political risk of sending in a ground SOF team into Pakistan...especially right near Islamabad of all places after the Raymond Davis incident.

This could have ended up as Desert One II -- it was that risky politically. But he still signed off on the Kill Order. So mad fucking props to him for that.

While I was watching CNN (ugh, Geraldo on FNC at this time of night); I noticed that a spontaneous demonstration was occuring outside the WH while we waited for the speech with people waving our flag, shouting USA USA and singing the national anthem.

I've also heard that at the Mets-Phillies game crowd chanted USA! USA! as news spread amongst them.

Brings a tear to me eye.

That reminds me...I liked how Obama ended his speech with the closing line from the Pledge of Allegiance.

PS: Maybe we warned the royals? Notice how the Newlyweds were going to honeymoon in Jordan, and how they delayed that?

PPS: I’m surprised this didn’t leak. It shows we can keep secrecy when we feel like it.

Someone should look at Shep's posts from 2001-2005 on HPCA and here and try to find all the instances of him politicizing his
fav president's statements.

[Havok]

No one needs to point out Shep's hypocrisy to anyone here.

But ugh... time for more waves of ridiculous patriotism.

[MKSheppard]

Map of where he was:



This isn't him hiding out in the mountains, far beyond the reach of the Pakistani government's effective control. It was him hiding out in a fucking tourist trap town about 1-2 hours from the fucking Pakistani capital.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Keep in mind, if they got in and secured Obama's body, they got all the rest of his goodies, including any doccumentation on AQ that might be laying around.

I wonder how many times I'll see people making that mistake or typo in the next few days.

Oy, I was just correcting someone else for doing that. Its late.

[NecronLord]

Hey shep. Maybe you should change your avatar to this?

[Count Chocula]

No one needs to point out Shep's hypocrisy to anyone here.

Shep's been pretty consistent in his America-Fuck-Yeah-ism here, so take your hypocrisy slam and stick it up a Honda Shadow's tailpipe! That IS your ride, Hav, *I'm a smarmy asshole*?