American politics
Democracy in America
Osama bin Laden
The leader of al-Qaeda is dead
May 2nd 2011, 7:09 by R.M. | WASHINGTON, DC
"JUSTICE has been done." Thus Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, putting an end to a decade-long manhunt that had bedevilled America's intelligence agencies, and closing a wound left open for years after the attacks of September 11th. Though the terrorist leader's operational capabilities were substantially diminished as a result of America's war on terror, in a late-night address to the nation Mr Obama called Mr bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date" in that effort.
As the president explained, a group of American operatives killed Mr bin Laden and took possession of his body after a firefight at a heavily-secured compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottadad, about an hour north of Islamabad. The operation took less than 40 minutes and no Americans were harmed (though one of the team's two helicopters broke down and was destroyed). According to officials, others killed in the raid include a man who is believed to be Mr bin Laden's son and a woman who was used as a human shield.
Pakistani officials, who long denied Mr bin Laden's presence on their territory, were not informed of the mission ahead of time, a detail that is likely to exacerbate tensions with the country. While it is not surprising that Mr bin Laden was found in Pakistan, most believed he was hiding out somewhere in the remote tribal areas. That he was found in a relatively large city that is home to a Pakistani military base raises troubling questions about what the country's soldiers and spooks actually knew about his location.
In his speech, Mr Obama said he had asked Leon Panetta, the CIA director, to make finding and killing Mr Bin Laden a priority. Last August the Americans finally got a sniff of the al-Qaeda leader's whereabouts by tailing one his couriers. But it took months to firm up the intelligence and figure out who, exactly, was holed up in the $1m hill-top mansion with no phone or internet lines. Officials say the president became increasingly involved in discussions about Mr bin Laden over the past two months, chairing a series of national-security meetings. On Friday he gave the final order putting the operation in motion.
Though clearly satisfied with the day's events, Mr Obama made sure to caution that Mr bin Laden's death "does not mark the end of our effort." But by the time his speech was over, a spontaneous celebration was already taking shape outside the White House. Within the hour, hundreds of revelers were waving flags and singing patriotic anthems, exuding a mix of joy, pride and relief. In New York, a similar scene unfolded in Time Square.
In the coming days pundits and politicians will consider the implications of Mr bin Laden's death and how it will (or will not) affect American foreign policy, relations with Pakistan and the increasingly violent Arab spring. There will be a time to think about the nuance and complexity of this event, but for most Americans now is not it. In these early morning hours the country is basking in a moment of unadulterated celebration.
(Photo credit: AFP)
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One never wants to overstate the impact of one man but I think this is one case that is different. Osama had become such a symbol for the terrorism fight and the failure to catch him a silly symbol of US weakness that the only right response (for now!) is what the people in New York and Washington did - celebrate! My 2 pence worth - the biggest impact of this might be economic as the US gets it's confidence back - still number 1 for a decade or 2 longer than expected?!
Well, thank goodness it's over.
Best part of Bin Laden's death : it will swith away media's attention from the Royal Wedding.
Congratulations from Shanghai,China!
PS:
May you turn in your grave,Mr Bin Laden. And,no thanks!
I am fighting a completely undignified urge to point on the picture of Osama's dead body and exclaiming a very Nelson-esque:
HA-HA!
Why now?
This is not surprising. Timing is perfect for Obama to order Osama being killed. Make no mistakes that America had Osama on target all the time! They simply worried about millions of independent little al Qaeda looming after bin Laden's death, hesitating to kill him. With Jasmine revolutions, Middle East and North Africa are in turmoil. This is a perfect time. This also in part answers that "Obama is a muslim?" In addition, recent replacement of defense related portpolios should be related to this.
The question is;
"Will millions of little al Qaeda appear to avenge America?"
No one knows for now. Time will tell.
For those that think that is a turning point in the United States efforts fight against al-Qaeda, it is not. Al- Qaeda is not a top down organisation is had has no real impact on plain or supply. This is not like killing a leader of a nation but rather like killing a CEO and think that you distort the corporation. It does not work. The only think that will happen is a change in there short term policy.
That is not to say that is a big success but it more a big success in the department of moral for both sides.
To clarify the last comment it a shift in theirs declines and out increase.
"There will be a time to think about the nuance and complexity of this event, but for most Americans now is not it."
I should hope so. Time to celebrate, everyone! This is great news!
I have never wished death on a man, but I have wished them hell as their fate.
Obviously, most Americans are very pleased that bin Laden is history. However, credit must be given to U.S. intelligence and the American military, not to our "Community-Organizer-In-Chief" Obama. He deserves zero credit. Given the silver-tongued, narcissistic demagogue that he is, it is not surprising that he is claiming credit.
I have great pride in America and those who brought bin Laden to justice. My pride does not extend to Obama. The sooner his presidency ends, the better off that Americans and the United States will be.
It has been said:
“Jimmy Carter may be heading to #2 on the [list of] all-time worst presidents in American history, thanks to ‘O.’”
This is an understatement.
See, e.g., http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/barack-obama-is-a-lame-duck-... (see also the footnotes and comments beneath the article)
All terrorists who hurt innocent people should be hunted down.
Good that an example is made for people who may try to get away with murder.
Next, we will need to fix the system(s) which produce Bin Laden. Young adults tend to be rebelious when their parents try to teach them to follow their way. Maybe it is time for us not to teach other civilization/people to follow our way.
Avenge will coming soon.
sikko2 - If you're implying that the U.S. has known Osama's location for a long time but held off on taking action for fear of doing something that might be unpopular, all I have to say to you is:
Do you really think George Bush would leave the Presidency in January 2009, knowing where Osama Bin Laden is but unwilling to order his death simply for fear of angering jihadists?
Love Bush or hate him, but you gotta admit, the man didn't go out of his way to make choices that would defer to the opinions of terrorists.
For evidence, see: The Invasion of Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, the constant use of UAV missile strikes in Pakistan, the repeated affirmations of support for Israel, etc. etc. etc.
I wonder now if 'human rights' groups are going to scream against the ex-0juditiary assassination of Bin Laden.
Nah... this is reserved only to Israel when it goes after those who commit to destroy her.
Anyway, congratulations to Obama, US Navy, and CIA for a job well done! - Free people everywhere today are celebrating one more victory against Islamo-fascism, in the long battle that still rages. Godspeed!
cool
now Obama can re-candidate and win again the elections ;)
This leaves me feeling one part relief, nine parts hollow.
I do not feel as relieved as I thought I would - probably because I would rather have seen him arrested and tried in court.
It's intriguing he managed to live in a city, however secluded, rather than in a mountain cave where the cliché had him hiding.
I hope Osama was carrying the long form of his birth certificate so, you know, there was no mistake.
Word is they buried Osama at sea. Probably the best option in that it is going to spawn conspiracy theories out the wazoo, but in this case it could help. Is he alive or is he dead? Who knows? Kind of hard to have an undead martyr.
@Strait Forward
I am not a big fan of Israel's occupation and policy towards the palestinian lands, but I have never had nor seldom heard any major complaints on their kills on suspected terrorist leaders. It is when they kill innocent civilians during those raids when people react.
In the end, terrorists have never played by the rules and can only expect to be treated the same way back. Live by the sword and die by the sword and all that...