Osama Bin Laden killed

[werr]

As I hadn't seen any news for a while, Honey just told me that he had been in fact killed and that is confirmed. So I looked for more information and found this article on the official White House web site.

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.

Can he, Obama, be any more hypocritical? Does he seriously expect that after all this time people are just going to believe all that bullshit he says? Wait, he does. And what's worse. People do believe him. Not so many anymore, but they still do.

Obama watches online.
Interesting hobby, if you ask me.

But back on topic. Now that Osama's dead, what happens? Are we to expect his followers to quiet down, or seek revenge? They are not known for their peaceful nature and according to this piece of news, they have already sworn revenge for their chief's death.

Whatever the case, it seems that after almost a decade, one of the most wanted terrorists is dead. And what? What did that achieve? So far, unless I am greatly mistaken, nothing good.

[Honeymixer]

Basically, it sends a message:

"If you attack the United States of America, we will hunt you down and kill you! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not someday soon ... maybe a few years from now ... actually maybe ten years from now ... and maybe we'll kill random people who didn't really have anything to do with you ... probably those random people will be within a thousand mile radius or so of where we think you most likely probably are ... of course, we'll also make up some lame-ass excuses along the way to explain killing all those random people and invading those other countries and stuff ... we may also alienate our own allies if they don't immediately jump to do our bidding no matter how ridiculous and nonsensical it may be ... BUT WE WILL KILL YOU (and a lot of others including our own soldiers) ... EVENTUALLY!!!"

[Furgeson]

100% agree with Honey =)

Well, the US sure as hell fulfilled their promise to get Osama dead or alive. Poor man...Now the world is celebrating his death, and he's more a symbol of America's power and how it's the world superhero and can rid the lovely blessed homeland of terrorism, blah blah blah.
Isn't it just so sad that people can actually have a reason to be happy for someone else's death?

[Ryu]

Wow, this is a controversial topic. What happened to just holding hands and singing Kumbaya? 

First of all, I don't blame Obama. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was either kill Bin Laden at the most opportune moment, or never kill him at all.

If the US captured Bin Laden alive, what could the military do with him? Pakistan sure as heck didn't want him, but neither did the people of the US. Americans don't want Bin Laden to be brought onto America soil, so he would probably go to...Guantanamo Bay. Where we would either torture him for more info, imprison him for life, or try him. And the only place he could be tried would be at Guantanamo because US citizens don't want to allow Bin Laden the benefits of the United States Judicial System by trying him in the States. So, he would be tried at Guantanamo Bay, convicted of terrorism, murder, etc., and sentenced...to capital punishment. What? So, hold on -- we would be keeping Bin Laden alive, bringing him to Cuba, and then sentencing him to death? And while all this formal stuff happens, the people of the USA would be kicking up a fuss about how Bin Laden could be captured and returned to freedom by his comrades. Not to mention the resources that would go into Bin Laden's security...
And about Bin Laden's avengers...

Well, terrorists are terrorists. They will commit their crimes even if we didn't expect them to. I see your point, though, about how they might be enraged and encouraged to mete out revenge. But it's true that by finally killing Osama Bin Laden, the US morale will rise. And don't we all feel safer if the "Big Bad Guy" is gone? Who cares about logic telling us that terrorism won't stop with Bin Laden's death?

But, yes, what Honey says is also true. XD I love the way you said it, too. The US is now gaining the attention of countries who admire our determination, but we're also further antagonizing our enemies. It's a vicious circle.

Bottom line...
the US is hypocritical
Obama is hypocritical
humans are hypocritical
my post is probably hypocritical (sorry)

I, in no way, morally agree to what my country's military did to the man, a fellow human being (especially since the discovery that Bin Laden was unarmed), but I can hardly see any other option. It's hard to make the right decision, and I respect President Obama and the military's actions. I'm scared of the terrorists' revenge, but not much more than lots of knowledgeable people already are.
And I sure as heck don't believe that we should be celebrating and glorifying the killing of someone, not even a terrorist.

[Furgeson]

My reactions when I heard the news right before going to bed.

"Osama's dead!"
ME: "What?! Obama's dead?! Who assassinated him?" <--Mixed emotions here XD
"No, Osama's dead!"
ME: "Oh...Well, finally. How long did that just take us? 100,000 years? He probably just died of stroke anyway."

(I keep hearing/seeing "Obama" when someone says/types "Osama" >.<)

Well, it's obvious that you can't blame Obama. Nobody really wants Osa (Wait, Osa? That would be a great name to add "-chan" on the end of! OK, getting sidetracked here XD) alive, living in a freaking mansion. There's this funny justice going on in people's head - besides, majority rules here in the blessed land of the fab U.S.A. He's a politician, did you expect him to say "YES, OSA-CHAN SHOULD HAVE LIVED! It's wrong to glorify the killings of terrorists, and it was a pointless mission. In fact, the whole Iraq war thing was pointless, and the government system is wrong! Don't elect me in 2012! DON'T!!!"

[Ryu]

 
Yeah, the Osama-Obama thing is a running joke. I get caught by that a lot, too. 

Pure. Win. That's exactly it.
I never wanna be a politician.

[werr]

Three people out of a couple of dozen daily active staff? I think I am impressed.

I think you guys all focus on the wrong thing. You are all fixated too far in the time line. Everything, as in the whole Irak and Osama business, with the attack on 9/11. That, and starting from there, is when things should have been done in a different way, not now. Now is too late. No matter what anyone does or says, first, the past can't be changed, and second, things are way too complicated and intertwined now to be simply, if not peacefully, resolved.

Ryu, no one really expected Osama to be captured alive. That was simply out of the question.

No Lily, I don't want nor expect Obama to say that, but every good liar should know when to start letting a bit of the truth show, when to start letting the farce become a little more transparent and stop trying so hard to fool people with grand words. True, that's why he is there, that's why all politicians are what they are, to be an entity that manipulates it's own people, but honestly, that speech was so corny, I was almost laughing.

And really, whether Osama is killed or not, whether his body was thrown into the ocean to avoid creating a tomb that may turn into a place for adoration and peregrination... I don't particularly care for any of that. Has any of you an idea of the statistics of the people who have died so far in the war on both sides?
US troops - ~4400.
Iraqis - over 100 000.
Those are, obviously, estimates (though maybe the US does keep good track of their own), but no matter how vague or uncertain, the difference in numbers is quite noticeable. Also, keep in mind that the Americans killed are all trained soldiers who get paid to kill and to die, while more than two thirds, or even up to 90% (According to the Classified Iraq war logs on Wikileaks, out of the 105 000 Iraqis who have died between 2004 and 2009, between 66 000 and 92 000 are civilians, depending on the source.)

I ask this. Is it not obvious who's more at fault here? Is it not more than obvious that this war was never about hunting down a terrorist (and really, who starts three wars over something like that), but for the sole purpose of profiting? Yes it is. Everyone knows that, but things still continue the way they have been.
Now what? Osama is dead, so what excuse will they give in order to continue with the occupation? I am thinking of half a dozen and I am sure they have ten times the amount.

[icewing]

gAH. him again. =_=

i really don't know if this is good or not...

i mean...it's great that he's dead and NO MORE KILLING from him again. (:

BUT.

it's wrong to jump for joy and scream "OMFG HE'S DEAD!! W00000000000000000000000T!! }:3"

[Ryu]

Well, it takes two to tango. The US is not entirely at fault, but neither are the Iraqis.
And there is always an ulterior motive when it comes to the government.

And there was actually an option of capturing Osama alive, according to what the US has recently announced. If it is to be believed, the SEALs sent in were ordered to only shoot-to-kill if Osama showed signs of resistance. However, if Osama had immediately surrendered, he was to be taken from that fort ALIVE. After that, who knows? But it's now fact that the US government had plans for Osama Bin Laden's capture.



And well said, icewing. 

[Candyness]

I ask this. Is it not obvious who's more at fault here? Is it not more than obvious that this war was never about hunting down a terrorist (and really, who starts three wars over something like that), but for the sole purpose of profiting? Yes it is. Everyone knows that, but things still continue the way they have been.
Now what? Osama is dead, so what excuse will they give in order to continue with the occupation? I am thinking of half a dozen and I am sure they have ten times the amount.

That's not exactly true. Several people in the States (I think), saw Osama bin Laden as a symbol of terrorism. Killing him meant not only killing the most wanted terrorist, but also destroying terrorism as well. Of course after Osama's capture, Americans are more afraid that there will be more attacks against them due to revenge. But as the States have shown, if anyone dares to threaten their national security, they will hunt them down. The glorification of Osama's death gives the people a sense of strength, that America has the power to do anything they want.

Of course, I completely agree that the USA focusing so much on the military and war is meaningless (this goes for any country really). 50 years from now, they will think, "Wow, what we did back then was really stupid and sad, why did we do it?"

It's like the Japanese internment camps that took place in North America nearly 70 years ago. It was the same then during World War II, people only cared about their own security at the expense of others. Even though the Japanese who lived in the States or Canada were legal citizens, they were viewed as a threat in the public eye, despite the fact that they have never done any harm and posed no threat.

Now is no different. People only care about their own safety and the only way to feel comfort is through the abolition others, hence the death of Osama. Of course, that is merely one of the several public-approved reasons that are used to justify the useless wars. Until the people and the government stop seeing themselves as the good guys and realize that there are no good or bad guys in this world, the war goes on.

[Catriona]

When Obama announces Osama's death, that makes Obama MUCH MORE POPULAR which will help him to win the next presidential election. (since the economy didn't improve much under Obama. Can't blame the man though. He is caught between Congress and military-industry)

Osama's death can be used as an excuse for the U.S. to pull out undesirable places in the Middle East. This will also bring benefits to Obama.

It is a great tradition of the U.S. to go to war with other nations for barely any justified reasons except to enrich themselves. The U.S. has removed many national leaders in coups because the U.S. doesn't like them. (Iran, Guatemala, Iraq, attempts in Cuba, and other places I can't remember >_>)

[Ryu]

>.>
I feel obligated to defend my country's intentions, but I can't.
'cuz it's all true.

[Darselo]

A bit late on this, but...

Everything, as in the whole Irak and Osama business, with the attack on 9/11. That, and starting from there, is when things should have been done in a different way, not now. Now is too late. No matter what anyone does or says, first, the past can't be changed, and second, things are way too complicated and intertwined now to be simply, if not peacefully, resolved.

Exactly. Sending hordes of troops out to fight enemies hiding in the shadows was such a stupid move. And there are plenty of examples in history* to back me up on that. My opinion is that the operation to capture/kill Osama was carried out well. It was careful, quiet, small and involved minimal contact with civilians. And it was 10 years too late. =.= But that's how everything should have been done. Instead, we've got ourselves stuck in some pretty tight spots in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sigh. I hate politics and politicians on both sides. Somehow it's turned into an ongoing battle for power as opposed to a group of people trying to run the country fairly and well. Ah, for the good ol' days before imperialism, when we started sticking our noses in other peoples' business.

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHTKyVJv8k
XD

[Furgeson]

Besides talking politics, there are hardly any posts here about appreciation for the servicemen and women (this is to the Americans obviously XD) and our navy seals. Even if it's corny, it's absolutely true. Why NOT thank them?

(And please, politician speeches are never original. It's a bit cruel to laugh at a situation like this T.T)

[Shiki]

LOL all I know is that the neighbour living around the same area as Osama was just twitting it live. Now that we all know his dead...There's only one thing that bothers me. Who is the soldier that shot him~? I want to know! How does he feel for killing the world's most wanted terrorist? :D

My English teacher was saying how it sounds like those movie where they send the top soldiers of the entire army to carry out an operation. Those guys just get in and kills everybody without getting hit. XD

Did you all know that this actual event will be recorded in every single history textbook that will be published and used in schools? We usually don't think about those things but they are all recorded and passed down to generations and generations. /rolls around