Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was slain Sunday in his luxury hideout in Pakistan in a firefight with U.S. forces, ending a manhunt that spanned a frustrating decade.
"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama declared late Sunday as crowds formed outside the White House to celebrate. Many sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "We Are the Champions."
Hundreds more waved American flags at ground zero in New York — where the twin towers that once stood as symbols of American economic power were brought down by bin Laden's hijackers 10 years ago.
Bin Laden, 54, was killed after a gunbattle with Navy SEALs and CIA paramilitary forces at a compound in the city of Abbottabad. He was shot in the left eye, NBC News' Savannah Guthrie reported citing an unnamed U.S. official.
In a background briefing with journalists, U.S. officials suggested that Bin Laden opened fire on the American forces before he was killed.
DNA Tests
The special operations forces were on the ground for less than 40 minutes and the operation was watched in real-time by CIA director Leon Panetta and other intelligence officials in a conference room at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., an official said on condition of anonymity.
The team returned to Afghanistan with bin Laden's body, U.S. officials said. NBC News reported that bin Laden was later buried at sea.
Islamic tradition calls for a body to be buried within 24 hours, but finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, a senior administration official said.
Two Obama administration officials told the Associated Press Monday that DNA evidence shows the body was bin Laden's, with 99.9 percent confidence.
Other U.S. officials said one of bin Laden's sons and two of his most trusted couriers also were killed, as was an unidentified woman who was used as a human shield.
'A kill operation'
Al Arabiya TV reported that two of bin Laden's wives and four of his children were also captured during the operation.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior U.S. security official told Reuters that Navy SEALs dropped by helicopter to the compound were under orders to not capture bin Laden.
"This was a kill operation," the official said.
Intelligence officials weren't certain that bin Laden would be at the site as there was "no smoking gun that put him there," NBC News reported. But Bin Laden was indeed holed up in a two-story house 100 yards from a Pakistani military academy when four helicopters carrying U.S. forces swooped in .
Bin Laden's guards opened fire on the commandos and his final hiding place was left in flames, witnesses said.
One of the choppers "inexplicably" stopped working during the operation and landed, sources told NBC News. The chopper was later destroyed by the U.S. team and the raid went forward.
U.S. officials said no Americans were hurt in the operation.
Abbottabad is home to three Pakistan army regiments and thousands of military personnel and is dotted with military buildings. BBC News described the army site as the country's equivalent to West Point.
The discovery that bin Laden was living in an army town in Pakistan raises pointed questions about how he managed to evade capture and even whether Pakistan's military and intelligence leadership knew of his whereabouts and sheltered him.
The news of bin Laden's death immediately raised concerns that reprisal attacks from al-Qaida and other Islamist extremist groups could follow soon.
"In the wake of this operation, there may be a heightened threat to the U.S. homeland," a U.S. official said. "The U.S. is taking every possible precaution. The State Department has sent advisories to embassies worldwide and has issued a travel ban for Pakistan."
Security ramped up in U.S.
Police in New York, site of the deadliest attack on Sept. 11, said they had already begun to "ramp up" security on their own.
Other local law enforcement agencies around the U.S. are adding extra security measures out of "an abundance of caution," according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The agency said the extra police were not a response to a specific threat and facilities would operate normally.
In Los Angeles, police said they were stepping up intelligence monitoring and in Philadelphia, a lieutenant said police were checking mosques and synagogues every hour.
'Momentous achievement'
Charles Wolf of New York, whose wife, Katherine, died on Sept, 11, 2001, rejoiced at the news, which he called "wonderful."
"I am really glad that man's evil is off this earth forever," Wolf said. "I am just very glad that they got him."
Former President George W. Bush said in a statement that he had personally been informed by Obama of the death of the terrorist leader whose attacks forever defined his eight years in office.
"This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001," the former president said.
"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
Obama echoed his predecessor, declaring that "the death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's struggle to defeat al-Qaida."
But he stressed that the effort against the organization continues. Al-Qaida remains in existence as an organization, presumably under the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri, 59, an Egyptian physician who is widely believed to have been bin Laden's No. 2.
"We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad," Obama said, while emphasizing that "the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday the killing of bin Laden is not the end of the war on terrorism and warned the network's members that the U.S. would be relentless in its pursuit of them.
Turning to deliver a direct message to bin Laden's followers, she vowed: "You cannot wait us out. You cannot defeat us but you can make the choice to abandon al-Qaida and participate in a peaceful political process."
'Affluent suburb'
Officials had long believed that bin Laden was hiding a mountainous region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In August, U.S. intelligence officials got a tip on his whereabouts, which led to the operation that culminated Sunday, Obama said.
By mid-February, information developed that made U.S. officials confident that the information was sound.
In mid-March, Obama headed five National Security Council meetings on the subject. Friday morning, he gave the final order to carry out the attack on a compound in what was described as an "affluent suburb" of Islamabad.
"The bottom line of our collection and analysis was that we had high confidence that the compound held a high-value terrorist target," a senior official said, with a "strong probability" that it was bin Laden.
"It is also noteworthy that the property is valued at approximately $1 million but has no telephone or Internet service connected to it," an administration official added.
Bin Laden's compound was huge and "extraordinarily unique," about eight times larger than other homes in the area, U.S. officials said.
Few windows of the three-story home faced the outside of the compound, and other intense security measures included 12- to 18-foot outer walls topped with barbed wire and internal walls that sectioned off different parts of the compound, officials said.
They said the compound was isolated by 12-foot walls, with access restricted by two security gates. Residents in the compound burned their trash, rather than leaving it for collection as did their neighbors, officials said.
The sound of at least two explosions rocked Abbottabad as the fighting raged.
"After midnight, a large number of commandos encircled the compound. Three helicopters were hovering overhead. All of a sudden there was firing toward the helicopters from the ground," said Nasir Khan, a resident of the town.
"There was intense firing and then I saw one of the helicopters crash," said Khan, who had watched the dramatic scene unfold from his rooftop.
Resident Sahibzada Salahuddin said he was asleep when explosions woke him.
"I was sleeping when all of a sudden there was a blast. It was followed by two more small blasts ... I opened the door and saw the entire compound was on fire," he said.
The role of Pakistan, with which Washington has had a difficult relationship for years, remained unclear. A senior Pakistani intelligence official told NBC News that Pakistani special forces took part in the operation, but senior U.S. and Pakistani officials said Pakistan was not informed of the attack in advance.
Pakistan's first official statement about the operation Monday said the death of bin Laden showed the resolve of Pakistan and the world to battle terrorism, and that it was "a major setback to terrorist organizations around the world."
"This operation was conducted by the U.S. forces in accordance with declared U.S. policy that Osama bin Laden will be eliminated in a direct action by the U.S. forces, wherever found in the world," the statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry statement said.
Critics have long accused elements of Pakistan's security establishment of protecting bin Laden, though Islamabad has always denied this.
Earlier, a senior adviser to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told NBC News that the politician was expected to make an "extremely positive" statement later Monday because bin Laden was "an enemy of the Pakistani people."
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, argued that the strike proved the real fight against terrorists was outside his country's borders.
"For years we have said that the fight against terrorism is not in Afghan villages and houses," Karzai said. "It is in safe havens, and today that was shown to be true."
He offered his appreciation to international and Afghan forces who have lost their lives in the nearly 10-year war in Afghanistan and expressed hope that bin Laden's death could mean the end of terrorism. But he said now is the time to stop assaults that endanger or harass Afghan civilians.
Karzai pledged, however, that Afghanistan stands ready to do its part to help fight terrorists and extremists.
"We are with you and we are your allies," he said, noting that many Afghans had died because of bin Laden's terror network.
'I'm completely numb'
Reaction to the news of bin Laden's death was swift.
Bonnie McEneaney, 57, whose husband, Eamon, died in the 9/11 attacks, said the death of bin Laden was "long overdue."
"It doesn't bring back all the wonderful people who were killed 10 years ago," McEneaney told msnbc.com by phone from her home in New Canaan, Conn.
"I'm completely numb. I'm stunned," she said.
"The first thought I had in my mind was that it didn't bring my son back," Jack Lynch, who lost his son, New York City firefighter Michael Francis Lynch, on Sept. 11, 2001, told msnbc.com.
"You cut the head off a snake, you'd think it would kill the snake. But someone will take his place," Lynch said. "But people like him still exist. The fact that he's gone is not going to stop terrorism."
Lynch, 75, is a retired transit worker. His family's charity, the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, has made grants to send dozens of students to college. He said he would not celebrate bin Laden's death.
"I understand that bin Laden was an evil person. He may have believed in what he was doing. I'm not going to judge him," Lynch said. "I'm sure some people will look at this and they'll be gratified that he's dead, but me personally, I'm going to leave his fate in God's hands."
U.S. officials who have been entrenched in the battle against al-Qaida for years were more jubilant.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama's opponent in the 2008 election, said he was "overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist."
"The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it," McCain said in a statement. "I hope the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done."
20 comments:
Obama killed Osama. Very nice. What the U.S. should do now is take out the entire Middle-East.
I think most people are excited about this because they think that if bin Laden is dead, the war is over. But how do you know when you've won this war? It's a terror war and no matter how much we fight, there will always be terrorists. I personally didn't lose any one in the 9/11 incident; I'm sure those people are relieved that justice was done but at the same time they know that his death won't bring their loved ones back. I don't think there's anything to celebrate, there will be more terrorists.
I think that it is goo that it was a kill operation. Back when bush sr. Was president we had bin ladin cornered, knew exactly where he was and didn't get him because of a politcal issue rumsfeld had and this time there was no way of letting him escape. If we had only gotten him then it would've saved alot of Americans lives, and I think that is the reason we are fighting this war because we don't know what will happen. If Rumsfeld had known that bin Ladin would've been the master mind behind one of the worst terrorist atacks in history, I think he would have given the ok to kill him, but he didn't know and now we are in a huge war because of it.
A lot of people are wondering if it is in fact morally just to rejoice in the death of another human being. Every person who is talking about the overdue justice that was done is obviously the majority. I feel like people are always going to be on opposing sides and my nationalism in the air around me forces oblate fist pumps. Now that it has taken us 10 years to kill a leader of an intangible force, what ever happens next should be of more concern than who was shot in the head.
Of course it is an exciting and impressive achievment that Obama bin Laden was finally found, that does not mean we have won our battle against al Qaeda. There are still people out there who want to hurt us. We can't let our guard down.
The killing of bin Laden is a huge step to finding peace in this world, however, the US is probably in it's most precaution stage because of the assassination that could anger bin laden's followers. For those families that have lost loved ones due to the tragedy of the plane crashes on September 11, this is proof o justice being served. Personally, I acknowledged the fact of bin laden being killed but did not celebrate like others may have. However, this does not mean that I do not believe in justice being served. With this huge first step at stopping the Al-Qaida the US cannot forget the big picture, the war is still not over, but the US has realized that and even securities are doing so without being told. Again, I would like to stress that the killing of bin laden is an accomplishment, for lack of better words, that we have been waiting for almost an entire decade.
Some people think it's a great thing that Osama bin Liden is dead. Justice has been made with this terrorist and he no longer exist to harm citizens from the United States. However, i think this is a dangerous thing because his followers might want to follow his steps and avenge because of his death.
This article is one of many which elaborates on the story that has been broadcasting throughout the media since the event happened. It is deffinatly an event that has made a huge impact on everyone in the US. Now, I cant say that this event has entirely impacted me because to me the death of Osama was going to happen sooner or later. In fact I believe that this death happening right now only gives a reason for more trouble to happen for the US. Osama had followers, who is to say they wont want to avenge his death? It is an honest concern. Yes, I see how his death may bring comfort to some, especially to those who lost someone in 9-11; though, like it says in this article, it doesnt bring them back, it doesnt change the fact 9-11 happened. It just opens up a new reason to have to worry about something else happening. The death of Osama just leaves us, the people of America, asking- What do we do now? What will happen next?
Although the rest of the country seems to be celebrating this assassination, I am wondering when as Americans we decided to go against international law and assassin leaders. I'm just curious as to what the purpose was. This is certainly not going to decrease terrorism; if anything, it will increase. I worry that the celebration of our country over Osama's death will only justify for more terrorist attacks.
This is most definitely a win for the U.S. Military (not Obama). It is sad so many people have been killed because of one horrible man. Thank goodness no Americans were hurt in this operation. I firmly believe that the Pakistani government knew where Bin Laden and they just weren't telling us. I hope America continues to watch security. I never thought an incidence like this would put us at risk, but I am glad we can trust our military! Amen to Bush! This is a huge moment for peace. Hopefully this is a statement to terrorists that America shouldn't be messed with. September 11 was the saddest day in my life and I will always remember the day. I realize the people who died can never come back, but I rejoice that that man will never harm again.
It's a relief he's gone. He was a huge symbol to the world, and taking that down is a relief. But just because he's gone doesn't mean his thought process and beliefs went with him. There're are still people out there who hate America, he wasn't the only one. It's great that the man who was basically the cause of 9/11 is dead and gone. Are we ready, then, to take on whoever or whatever takes his place?
I'm kind of surprised that our government took so long to act on the potential terrorist target. One would think they would initiate an op ASAP. Even if it wasn't bin Laden in the stronghold, there was intelligence to suggest the target was a high ranking terrorist. As for all the others who died in the fire-fight, it's pretty easy to think bin Laden kept them there as possible negotiation leverage or human shields...
10 years in hiding; Osama had a good run. Of all places they found him, too. Even though the mastermind behind everything is dead, I worry about the retaliation. Pakistan doesn't even reserve the right to be mad after all the help we've given them. We've searched every cave in the world looking for him, and he's in the one place we thought had someone looking.
There is really not much to post about because we already talked about this in class. I feel like I am probably going to talk about something that we already touched on in class but it's the only available one right now.
First off, I think it is kind of weird that they had a section on the DNA in this article, but it was just to prove that they did truly kill Bin Laden instead of some other civilian. It was also weird that he lived 100 yards away from a Pakistani Military Acadamy and was never found out. That just doesn't seem right to me. The only conclusion I can come up with is that their intelligence sucks really bad, or they were hiding him. This means one of two things, we need to cut ties them for their helping a highly wanted terrorist when they are supposedly our allies in the war on terrorists or that we should help them improve their intelligence so that problems like these do not happen again. I am personally leaning towards the first one though.
With the world being free of bin Laden, those seeking peace and justice from acts of terror ordered by him can take a breath. The horrors the people of the world have experienced due to bin Laden's orders have never been experienced before and being free of the most wanted man in the world will, hopefully, bring the world into a slightly better place. While the events of the past decades can not be undone, many of the victims families can have some piece of closure.
The reactions to Osama bin Laden's death have been very interesting so far. I did not expect people to go out and celebrate the way they did. Hopefully terrorist organizations are discouraged by this event and stop their extremist activities-although it's not likely. This is the most notable event of Obama's presidency so far as well as the greatest indicator of progress in the war on terror so far.
Osama's death is something that was necessary, i believe, but will definitely have repercussions. You can not just kill a main figure in an organization and come into another country unannounced and think you will get off scot-free. There will be possible attack and definite tension between the USA and Pakistan for at least the next few months if not years. Still, it is something that needed to be done to help better our safety and Pakistan's in the long run. We may never be able to fully leave Pakistan but, hopefully we can get to the point where minimal forces are needed and we do not have to look over our shoulders to see what is being plotted behind our backs.
I think this was a critical victory for the u.s. across all levels. we needed this militarily and morally. This was a boos for all americans. hopefully the families of the victims of 9/11 can find some peace. It is a better world with bin laded dead.
Finnally we caught the guy. Navy seal are pretty legit. Although lets not get to excited because terrorist are like roaches and there are plenty out there and the keep on coming. Also they deffently work indepently in the US. That is the scary part it seems now Osama was just a figure head really... Someone to put the blame on. Still justice has been done.
Nuke the Middle east. atleast Pakistan
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