Osama bin Laden, hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, has been killed, President Obama announced tonight.
The president called the killing of bin Laden the "most significant achievement to date" in the effort to defeat al Qaeda.
"Justice has been done," Obama said.
The details:
Long believed to be hiding in caves, bin Laden was tracked down in a costly, custom-built hideout not far from a Pakistani military academy. The stunning news of his death prompted relief and euphoria outside the White House and around the globe, yet also fears of terrorist reprisals against the United States and its allies.
"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House.
The military operation took mere minutes, and there were no U.S. casualties.
U.S. helicopters ferried troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, into the compound identified by the CIA as bin Laden's hideout — and back out again in less than 40 minutes. Bin Laden was shot in the head, officials said, after he and his bodyguards resisted the assault.
Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida. U.S. officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured.
The U.S. official who disclosed the burial at sea said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. Obama said the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial.
Cue the happy throngs of rejoicing!
The man who staked much of his Presidency on battling bin Laden, George W. Bush, has finally seen resolution:
Former President George W. Bush, whose entire presidency was defined by the September 11th attacks, said in a statement tonight that President Obama called him to inform him of the news of bin Laden’s death.
Bush called the operation a “momentous achievement” that “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.”
“I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude,” the former president said in a statement. “The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”
I'll have more analysis on this as more details come out, but at the moment, I think it's safe to say that this is a HUGE development in the war on terror. Not only is it chopping the head off of our enemy, but it's a gigantic blow to their morale, as well. The fact that bin Laden was able to hide and avoid American and international forces was a source of hope and inspiration for jihadists everywhere; now that hope has been destroyed. It is also a major signal that America still has the guts to fight through to victory on a long-term objective, something that bin Laden himself questioned on more than one occasion.
I don't think most wars end with the enemy's leadership being captured or killed, but the fact that that has happened just adds even more significance to these events.
While it disgusts me to see President Obama try to take credit for this success -- despite him and all the other Democrats' constant badgering, heckling, and insulting George W. Bush about it over the years -- we must give credit where credit is due and remember that he did continue the military operations that George W. Bush started and fought so hard for. So, kudos to you, Mr. President.
I just find it intellectually dishonest how he is constantly whining about how he 'inherited' a bad economy, but wants to be the sole champion of this huge success.
Oh well, don't trifle a liberal with facts.
The bottom line is that Osama bin Laden is gone, and we got him. It wouldn't have happened at all without the thousands of dedicated, hard-working, brave, and heroic men and women in the U.S. (and international) military and intelligence services. To them, my hat is off, my gratitude is profound, and in them my pride is unlimited.
More to come as details and analysis unfold.
No comments:
Post a Comment