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Killing of Osama bin Laden

Coordinates: 34°11′16″N 73°14′33″E / 34.18778°N 73.24250°E / 34.18778; 73.24250
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Killing of Osama bin Laden is located in Pakistan
Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Islamabad
Islamabad
class=notpageimage|
Map showing Abbottabad (in green), where bin Laden was killed, and the Pakistani capital of Islamabad (in red). Abbottabad is 32 miles (51 km) north of Islamabad.

The death of Osama bin Laden was reported on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at approximately 10:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time.[1] U.S. military forces shot and killed Osama bin Laden after a 40-minute firefight in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and then seized his body.[2][3][4][5] U.S. President Barack Obama publicly reported on May 1, 2011, that bin Laden had been killed by a small special operations team. The operation was carried out by Joint Special Operations Command forces in Pakistan working with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

After careful monitoring of a compound suspected to be bin Laden's Pakistani residence, U.S. military forces were sent across the border of Afghanistan to launch the attack.[6] Pakistani officials confirmed that bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by the U.S. military.[7]

The body was recovered by the U.S. military and was in its possession.[6][8] ABC News has reported that the body has been identified by DNA testing.[6] However, Reuters reports that DNA test results will be available in the next few days and that bin Laden's body was identified using facial recognition techniques.[9] According to a U.S. official on May 2, bin Laden's body was handled in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition,[10] and was buried at sea soon after death, in accordance with Islamic tradition.[11][12][13]

Locating Osama bin Laden

American intelligence officials located the whereabouts of bin Laden by tracking one of his couriers. This followed up to 8 months of intelligence gathering. Information was also collected from Guantanamo Bay detainees, who gave intelligence officers the courier's pseudonym. The compound in Abbottabad was located in August 2010. U.S. officials then used satellite images to determine the residents of the mansion. Built in 2005, the million-dollar mansion was roughly eight times larger than other houses in the area. The residents burned their trash, unlike their neighbors, who simply threw it out. The compound had no Internet or phone service connections.[14] The mansion had "extraordinary" security measures including 12 to 18 feet (3.7 to 5.5 m) walls surrounding it.[15] This home, U.S. intelligence analysts concluded, was "custom built to hide someone of significance."[14]

President Obama began meeting his security advisers on March 14, 2011, in a series of five security meetings.[16] The president made the decision to undertake the operation at 8:20 a.m. on April 29.[17] The U.S. helicopters carrying the SEALs took off from the Ghazi air base in northwest Pakistan.[18]

Raid

The raid was carried out jointly by 20–25 helicopter-borne United States Navy SEALs under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command in cooperation with the CIA. While the operation was conducted entirely by the U.S. forces,[19] as per Pakistan foreign ministry, Pakistan ISI officials were also present at the time of operation,[20] and have called it a joint operation.[21] It has been reported that as a result of one of bin Laden guard opening fire from the rooftop, one of the four helicopters used by the U.S. anti-terror forces crashed[18]. However statements by U.S. government sources have suggested that the helicopter was destroyed by the forces themselves after it broke down owing to mechanical failure[22]. The SEALs stormed the compound and engaged bin Laden and his men in a firefight.[23] The raid lasted about 40 minutes. Three other male adults present at the compound were also reportedly killed in the operation, including an adult son of bin Laden.[24] Bin Laden was shot in the head.[[Category:Articles with unsourced statements from May Template:2011]][citation needed] The helicopter they used to breach the mansion walls suffered a mechanical breakdown and couldn’t fly the soldiers out. The Seals burned the helicopter and had to carry out bin Laden’s body on foot.[18]

The other two males were reported to be couriers for bin Laden. A woman was also reported killed in the operation; according to an unnamed U.S. official, one of the adult males tried to use her as a human shield. This contradicts President Obama's assertion that no civilians were killed.[25] Two other women were injured.[26] Karachi's Geo News described a helicopter crash and "heavy firing" on the evening of May 1 "near the PMA (Pakistan Military Academy) Kakul Road"[27]. The helicopter crash incident was in fact destruction of a US helicopter by the special forces themselves when the helicopter broke down due to mechanical failures as the team was departing the compound. The team then used another aircraft to depart from the compound. This also helps in confirming the fact that at least 2 helicopters were involved in the operations. [28]

The raid was carried out without the knowledge or consent of the Pakistani authorities[29].

Timeline (ET)

Timeline of the operation which resulted in the death of bin Laden:[30]

April 29
8:20 am
Obama authorizes operation
May 2
3:30 pm
Operation commences

Aftermath

An unnamed Pakistani government official confirmed to Agence France-Presse on May 2 that bin Laden was killed in the operation.[31] The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan issued a statement on May 2 denying that bin Laden had been killed.[32]

Bin Laden's body was buried at sea less than a day after his death; a short time between death and burial is an aspect of Islamic tradition. A burial at sea also leaves no definitive location, thus preventing a burial site from becoming a "terrorist shrine."[33]

Presidential address

President Obama's address

Late in the evening of May 1, 2011, major American news organizations were informed that the president would give an important speech on an undisclosed subject. Rumors spread wildly about the subject,[34] until it was revealed that Obama was to announce the death of Osama bin Laden. At 11:30 p.m. EDT (May 2, 2011, 3:30 UTC), President Barack Obama confirmed this and said that bin Laden had been killed by "a small team of Americans".[35] He explained how the killing of bin Laden was achieved after following up on a lead from August 2010, what his role was in the series of events, and what the death of bin Laden meant on a symbolic and practical level.

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.

— President Barack Obama, May 1, 2011[36]

Date of death in unofficial announcements

On May 1, shortly before the official announcement, George Stephanopoulos on ABC News reported that Osama bin Laden was "likely killed in northwest Pakistan several days ago." Brian Ross elaborated, "That's right. Several days ago there was an attack. Most recently there have been killed about 20 to 25 suspected al-Qaeda figures, and according to one intelligence source he was among those killed. This was several days ago. It is likely they have done a DNA match at this time, before they would make such an announcement."[37]

Reactions

Americans reacting to the death of Osama bin Laden in front of the White House.

United States

Within minutes of the official announcement, crowds gathered spontaneously outside the White House, Ground Zero, the Pentagon and in New York's Times Square to celebrate.[4] In Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit with a large Muslim and Arab population, a small crowd gathered outside the City Hall in celebration, many of them being of Middle Eastern descent.[38] From the beginning to the end of Obama's speech, 4,000 tweets per second were sent on Twitter.[39] Fans attending a nationally-televised Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park initiated U-S-A! cheers in response to the news.[40]

Former President George W. Bush said that "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."[41] The event was also applauded by other Republican leaders, including former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and Senator John McCain.[42] Former President Bill Clinton described it as "a profoundly important moment for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children."[43] New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that he hoped the death of bin Laden "would comfort those who lost loved ones" in the September 11, 2001 attacks.[44] Former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice characterized the news as "Absolutely thrilling", adding that she was "overwhelmed with gratitude and continue[s] to be amazed at what our military has achieved."[45]

Pakistan

Following the death of bin Laden, President Asif Ali Zardari convened emergency talks with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and security chiefs in Islamabad.[46] Some in Pakistan reacted with shock at the illegal incursion and extrajudicial killing by alien forces in their sovereign territory[47].

International

  •  Afghanistan – President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai speaking on the death of bin Laden has said “It’s wonderful. It’s great news,” elaborating that bin Laden has "been one of the key enemies of humanity, civilization, and it’s really been a major problem for the human race."[48]
  •  Australia – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said "Osama bin Laden declared war on innocent people and today he has paid the price for that declaration,"[49] Julia Gillard welcomed news of bin Laden's death, saying it was "a small measure of justice",[50] but warns that the "War on Terror is not over", and "must be continued".[51]
  •  Canada – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that the death of Osama bin Laden "secures a sense of justice for the families of the 24 Canadians murdered" (on September 11, 2001) and said that "Canada receives the news of the death of Osama bin Laden with sober satisfaction."[52]
  •  European Union – the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek said, "We have woken up in a more secure world."[53]
  •  France - French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said on state radio that bin Laden's death is a "victory for all democracies fighting the abominable scourge of terrorism." He went on to say, "France, the United States and European states work closely together to fight terrorism, so I'm overjoyed at the news."[54]
  •  Germany – German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said, "That a stop could be put to this terrorist's bloody trade is good news for all free-living and free-thinking people in the world."[55]
  •  India – Minister for Home Affairs P. Chidambaram said that Osama bin Laden hiding "deep inside" Pakistan was a matter of grave concern for India and showed that "many of the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, including the controllers and the handlers of the terrorists who actually carried out the attack, continue to be sheltered in Pakistan." He also called on Pakistan to arrest them.[56]
  •  Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that bin Laden's death was a "resounding triumph for democratic nations fighting terrorism."[57]
  •  Kenya – Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said "It's a major achievement in the war against terrorism."[58]
  •  Malaysia – Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he hopes that the death of bin Laden would help bring universal peace and harmony.[59]
  •  New Zealand – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that "the world is a safer place without Osama bin Laden", but "bin Laden's death may not mean an end to terrorism".[60]
  •  Netherlands – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte praises the courage and the determination that people showed during the mission. He futher says that this is a major blow to the Al-Queda network. He has presented his compliments to President Obama but also said this is not the end of terrorism.[61]
  •  Norway – Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the death of Osama bin Laden "a break-through in the fight against terror," but insisted that the threat from al-Qaida remained.[62]
  •  Poland – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Justice may be done. Congratulations to Allies. We are pleased with the American people."[63]
  •  Philippines – The Philippine National Police described bin Laden's death as ""a victory for all peace loving citizens and a major blow to terrorists and terrorism." Authorities in the Philippines believe that there are people who are linked to bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and may commit a retaliation attack.[64]
  •  Russia – "Russia was among the first countries to face the dangers inherent in global terrorism, and unfortunately knows what al Qaeda is not from hearsay," the Kremlin said. "Retribution will inevitably reach all terrorists." [65]
  •  Singapore – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "the killing of Osama bin Laden [...] is a significant milestone in the struggle against international terrorism."[66]
  •  Sweden – Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wrote a tweet saying that "A world without Osama Bin Laden is a better world. His hatred was a threat to us all."[67]
  •  Turkey – President Abdullah Gul said that bin Laden's death "should teach a lesson that the leader of the world's most dangerous and sophisticated terrorist organization is captured this way."[55]
  •  United Kingdom – UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that bin Laden's death would "bring great relief" around the Western world.[57]
  •  Yemen – A Government official described Bin Laden' death as "a truly historic moment". "We welcome the news ... millions of people will sleep in peace tonight, Osama bin Laden was more of a symbolic figure, a spiritual leader for al Qaeda. But this is definitely a strong blow to the organization," said the official, who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to talk to the media." [57]

See also

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References

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  40. ^ Phillies crowd erupts in 'U-S-A' cheers, ESPN
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  65. ^ "World leaders react to news of bin Laden's death". edition.cnn.co.uk. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  66. ^ "Singapore says Osama's death is a significant milestone against terrorism" (in English). Singapore: MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  67. ^ "Carl Bildt on Twitter". May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
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