Bin Laden is Dead

[Jedi Master Carr]

Every station is reporting the U.S. has finally killed Osama Bin Laden. First good riddance. I am glad we killed the bastard. I think we have his body. Wow this is a major development, although it took forever.

[Anna Fernandez]

MAJOR news. Incredible. Watching the news now.

[Xavier Synik]

Very big news. Not really surprising that he seems to have been in Pakistan and in a major city no less.

It's unfortunate that he will continue to live on as a martyr to Islamic extremist however.

[Morgan Evanar]

About damn time.

[Rutabaga]

Definitely a historic day. Coming 8 years to the day after Bush did his silly "Mission Accomplished" fly-in. I love the irony.

I just hope this means we can start bringing our troops home.

[CMJ]

Freaking awesome.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Obama just won the White House in 2012

[Hawkins Grime]

There goes that bounty I've been trying to collect... Who's next on the list?

[Jedi Master Carr]

Gaddafi is still out there.

[Rutabaga]

Rumor has it that Bin Laden took a bullet to the head...let's find out who fired it and buy that person a drink.

Oh, hell, buy the whole damn unit a drink.

[Morgan Evanar]

Gaddafi is still out there.Gaddafi is actually a head of state and I fail to see how this relates?

Except for being insane, awful people.

[General Gideon Vasher]

The soldier who fired that bullet should never pay for a drink again.

[Rutabaga]

The soldier who fired that bullet should never pay for a drink again.

Thanks to you, I have just spit all over my computer. Thank you for that.

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

Gaddafi is still out there.Gaddafi is actually a head of state and I fail to see how this relates?

Except for being insane, awful people.

Well it was a joke to the previous post by Hawkins. He is almost on the most wanted list. Not sure who the actual # 2 is.

[CMJ]

If the dude that got him pays a cent in tax for the rest of his life the IRS can blow me.

[Jedi Master Carr]

If the dude that got him pays a cent in tax for the rest of his life the IRS can blow me.

I agree along with the multitude of medals he is bound to get.

[Darth Turbogeek]

If the dude that got him pays a cent in tax for the rest of his life the IRS can blow me.


NO, it'll be Michelle Obama who will blow him.

[CMJ]

If the dude that got him pays a cent in tax for the rest of his life the IRS can blow me.


NO, it'll be Michelle Obama who will blow him.

I'm talking about the solider who got the kill shot dude. :lol

[Darth Turbogeek]

If the dude that got him pays a cent in tax for the rest of his life the IRS can blow me.


NO, it'll be Michelle Obama who will blow him.

I'm talking about the solider who got the kill shot dude. :lol

Well yes, that's who I was talking about too, I'm quite sure getting blown by the Presidents wife would be an amazing reward :D

[CMJ]

Apparently May 1st 1945 was when Hitler's demise was announced. Irony.

[Crusader]

Congrats on killing Bin Laden. I hope this ends the era of top terrorists so that we can keep with 2011's trend of removing dictators.

This could be the beginning of a decade of peace but most likely it wont make a difference in Afghanistan.

[Yog]

http://i.imgur.com/KDssc.jpg

Hey Trump, you got a Birth Certificate AND a Death Certificate in the same week! :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Does this actually change anything? :huh:

[Yog]

Does this actually change anything? :huh:
As far as Al Quaida's operations goes, it might not mean that much as Zawahiri has been the functional leader for a couple years now. But Bin Laden was the spiritual leader and the voice of propaganda, so this is a major morale blow to that organisation, and to all terrorist symphatizers. Potentially, it could lead to some kind of integral disintegration of Al Quaida, or kill off recruitment. Plus, the whole "..and you still have not captured or killed Bin Laden" can be laid to rest, finally. Bin Laden has been thumbing the nose at the world and America for years, but not any more.

All those families who lost someone during 9/11 or otherwise, directly or indirectly because of Bin Laden, can now get some consolation and peace.


Edit - btw Pakistan has some serious explaining to do. How in the hell was the most wanted terrorist in the world able to live in a mansion just 35 miles outside of Islamabad the Pakistan capitol, on a large plot of land. A giant armed compound surrounded by a wall and barbed wire, and just 800 meters from the Pakistan Military Academy, unless he was given some kind of sanctuary by ISI? You'd think it would be noticed.

Also, I hope whoever tipped US about Bin Laden's location receive a ridiculous amount of money in bounties, as promised, and a new identity.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Does this actually change anything? :huh:

Yes, just slightly. He's o longer a recruiting tool or a mastermind or the mjor funder. They can no longer point to him as a symbol, as a dead man his power vanishes. He now is a symbol of the USA WILL get you and you will die alone without Allah or God and you get no reward.

[Yog]

apparently, Bin Laden has now been burried at sea.

[Darth Turbogeek]

apparently, Bin Laden has now been burried at sea.


Probably the best place - just throw his body out of a plane.

[Park Kraken]

News of this announcement made my night at work. The next few months will be dangerous as the terroist organizations will probably launch a wide range of attacks to try and prove that they're still in the game, but after that we could see a decrease as loyal followers lose heart and faith that they will be able to prevail in the end.

I'm a little anxious to hear reactions in Moscow to this excellent news.

[Dasquian Belargic]

An interesting blog on this...


7 questions after the death of bin Laden

Editor's Note: Dr. James M. Lindsay is a Senior Vice President at the Council on Foreign Relations (where he blogs), co-author of "America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy" and a former director for global issues and multilateral affairs at the National Security Council.

By James M. Lindsay – Special to CNN

Americans are cheering the surprising news that U.S. Special Forces have killed Osama bin Laden. The successful military operation is a tribute to the skill of U.S. Special Forces, the perseverance of intelligence professionals who have hunted bin Laden for more than a decade and the nerve of a president to order a military strike that could have failed spectacularly.

The strike on bin Laden’s compound also raises lots of questions. Here are seven:

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/02/7-questions-on-the-death-of-bin-laden/?hpt=T2

[Figrin D'an]

Interesting how they finally caught up to him. Sounds like the CIA and JSOC were prepping for this for several months, with the primary intelligence going back to last August.

Let's hope Ayman al-Zawahiri is next.

[Crusader]

It seems like killing Bin Laden might be just the tip of the iceberg here since US forces recovered CDs, DVDs and Harddisks from Bin Laden's Compound.

Depending on how well Bin Laden has still been informed and how much information he stored on those discs this operation could become less than a symbol but more the opportunity to blow Al Qaida wide open.

If they recovered only a fraction of data on sleeper cells in western countries and Pakistan this could be big.

[Atreyu]

Someone posted this at TFN for a laugh:

REAL ESTATE NOTICE:
For sale: Suburban compound with "mansion" with minimal aesthetic appeal. Three stories. No pool, telephone or internet service. Previous owner is deceased due to recent home invasion. Some damage to property due to recent helicopter accident. Great fixer upper. Contact Al Queda Real Estate Inc. A bargain at 2 million rupees.

Location: Abbotobad, Pakistan.

:lol

[Liam Jinn]

Someone posted this at TFN for a laugh:

REAL ESTATE NOTICE:
For sale: Suburban compound with "mansion" with minimal aesthetic appeal. Three stories. No pool, telephone or internet service. Previous owner is deceased due to recent home invasion. Some damage to property due to recent helicopter accident. Great fixer upper. Contact Al Queda Real Estate Inc. A bargain at 2 million rupees.

Location: Abbotobad, Pakistan.

:lol


That was one of the skits on the Daily Show last night.

[Atreyu]

It's only taken 3 days but the jokes are coming in thick and fast.

One I like:

Say what you want about bin Laden, he stood 100% behind his wife.

But my favourite is this:

... talk Abbottabad place to hide.

:lol

[Morgan Evanar]

Actually this might change a lot. There are consistent reports of a huge possible intelligence windfall from the raid.

[Droo]

They really ought to release the pictures.

[Crusader]

I am kind of glad that they did not. I know that I could not resist to take a look.

[Droo]

I don't want them to realise the images for the sake of morbid curiosity. I'm the last person to look at pictures like that.

[Darth Turbogeek]

They really ought to release the pictures.

No we shouldnt. It makes it easier to find out utter moronic conspiracy idiots and then to avoid said people.

[Crusader]

DT is right and even if they released them people would say that they are photoshoped.

[Droo]

On what grounds should they not release the images? A breach of security? Really?

It's a man with a couple of bullet holes in his face. Unless every picture on record includes servicemen doing the Lynndie then I can't imagine what kind of security breach it could involve. I'm not advocating conspiracy theories one way or another, but really, there's no reason to withhold the evidence.

[Atreyu]

I believe the primary concern is that showing the images will only further incite more terrorist acts, kind of like how the images of Saddam's sons caused a spike in bombings etc. in Iraq when they were released.

Although there is the conspiracy theory that the pics will show Osama with bullet holes in the back of his head, suggesting he surrendered but was then promptly executed.

[Darth Turbogeek]

On what grounds should they not release the images? A breach of security? Really?

It's a man with a couple of bullet holes in his face. Unless every picture on record includes servicemen doing the Lynndie then I can't imagine what kind of security breach it could involve. I'm not advocating conspiracy theories one way or another, but really, there's no reason to withhold the evidence.

And I frankly dont give a shit. Which is exactly what anyone should be like as well. Evidence? Well do you really think Obama is going to announce Bin Laden's death unless the USA is 100% positive? Do you really think the USA risked a huge diplomatic incident and the clear remains that wa sup to now a secret stealth helicopter over anything less?

I'm sorry but having the photos released just to tickle a curiousity ignores the raw facts that basically make it plain Bin Laden is dead and the USA went through a lot of trouble to do it. The USA might be run by cretins and liars but on this one they aint lying.

And frankly if he was shot in the back of the head, well that's exactly what he had a coming. There was never going to be a trial. He was simply going to be shot and I completely understand that sediment.

He died a violent death and his body was thrown away. That's the end of it, pictures or video serve no purpose.

[Crusader]

WOW I completly agree with DT on this one.

BTW I like the detail on the stealth helicopter ;)

This explains why they could move in and out without being detected before the Pakistani goverment could detect them.

[Morgan Evanar]

WOW I completly agree with DT on this one.

BTW I like the detail on the stealth helicopter ;)

This explains why they could move in and out without being detected before the Pakistani goverment could detect them.They also flew in super-low, which is a standard radar evasion tactic. I'm sure they already combined radar diffusing paint and other neato bits we won't hear about for another 40 years.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Interesting article from the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/04/bin-laden-death-no-endgame




Blinded by the thirst for vengeance, the United States targets and kills another enemy. Its citizens celebrate. And functionaries of the George W Bush period tell us that what it proves is torture at Guantánamo worked, after all. Europe applauds. Vassals elsewhere (including Pakistan's president) congratulate the US on mission accomplished.

This is slightly bizarre, given that Bin Laden had apparently been in a safe house near the Pakistan military academy for six years. Nobody believes this could have happened without the knowledge of senior intelligence officials. A meeting with one such person in 2006, which I recounted in my last book on Pakistan, confirmed that Bin Laden was in the country and being kept safe. The person concerned told me the Americans only wanted Bin Laden dead, but that it was in Pakistan's interest to keep him alive. In his words: "Why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?" – a reference to the billions in aid and weaponry being supplied to the army. At the time I wasn't sure whether my informant was fantasising to amuse or misinform me; he was obviously telling the truth.

Pakistan is in the grip of a fierce debate, its politico-military establishment damned whatever the case. If they admit they were in the know, they stand condemned within their own ranks. There is a great deal of dissension among junior officers and soldiers unhappy about border missions in which they are forced to target their own people. If it turns out that the US didn't even bother to inform the Pakistanis that helicopters were on the way to clip Bin Laden, they stand exposed as leaders who permit the country's sovereignty to be violated at will.

The departing CIA chief Leon Panetta has said the decision was made early not to tell Pakistan so as not to compromise the operation. But stories are changing rapidly, and nothing can be taken at face value. As WikiLeaks revealed, there was a US-Pakistan agreement, that while the latter would tolerate drone attacks they would be forced to denounce them because of public anger. On the other hand, given that within the CIA the ISI is referred to as a terrorist organisation, there may have been anxiety about leaks. The helicopters that entered Pakistan airspace would have been cleared as part of routine reconnaissance, though in the past Pakistani radar has been jammed to facilitate raids. This time it was not.

Reliable sources in Pakistan are insistent that the army had no prior knowledge of this raid. Since there is absolutely no way Pakistan could have come out of this looking good, the ISI, had it known, would undoubtedly have attempted a pre-emptive move as this event will almost certainly affect future US aid. If the Pakistani army or intelligence were involved they could have easily moved the final showdown to a less embarrassing location – the mountains in Waziristan, for instance. Furthermore it has handed both India and Afghanistan a major opportunity to settle scores in the propaganda wars.

In reality, Bin Laden's death changes nothing, except perhaps to ensure that, economy permitting, Barack Obama is re-elected. The occupation of Iraq, the Af-Pak war and Nato's Libyan adventure look set to continue. Israel-Palestine is stalemated, though the despotisms in the Arab world that Obama has denounced are under pressure – except the worst of them all, Saudi Arabia.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban leaders will be relieved that they can no longer be tarred with the Bin Laden brush, but his killing does not change the situation there one bit. The insurgents might not be in a position to take Kabul, (they never could even during the Russian occupation) but elsewhere they control a great deal. The US cannot win this war. The sooner it gets out, the better. Until it does, it will remain dependent on Pakistan, the ally Americans love to hate.

[Peter McCoy]

They dressed up as Wally (Waldo to you lot on the other side of the pond) and just blended in, waiting for the right moment.

[Mu Satach]

And in a related note: Scammer's are hard at work.

http://www.nationalterroralert.com/2011/05/03/fbi-%E2%80%94-malicious-software-features-osama-bin-laden-links-to-ensnare-unsuspecting-computer-users/


The FBI today warns computer users to exercise caution when they receive e-mails that purport to show photos or videos of Osama bin Laden’s recent death. This content could be a virus that could damage your computer. This malicious software, or “malware,” can embed itself in computers and spread to users’ contact lists, thereby infecting the systems of associates, friends, and family members. These viruses are often programmed to steal your personally identifiable information.

[Atreyu]

Osama bin Laden: Terrorist ... and building code violator:


Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad home breached council regulations

PERHAPS Osama bin Laden could have been captured earlier had the building inspectors in his neighbourhood been more alert.

Plans obtained by The Australian for the original building which served as his home and hideout for as long as five years, show a neat two-storey home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a kitchen on the ground floor.

The second floor boasts another four bedrooms with walk in robes, four bathrooms and an open terrace.

Files describe the house at number three, Garga Cantonment as "pukka", with flush toilets, a drainage system and reinforced steel structures.
But the sprawling compound, which has become a mecca for media and curious onlookers and a security nightmare for an overwhelmed Abbottabad police force, is now a three-storey building complete with guesthouse, cattle yard and 5.5 metre walls.

It is the third floor - with its shielded balcony and grilled windows which is believed to have harboured the al-Qaida chief and his family.

Neighbours say they knew the imposing compound defied the local building regulations of the cantonment - an area owned and policed by the military - but inspectors rarely bother to check that homes comply once approvals have been granted.

"There are many rules and regulations," says Asif Amir Khan, Abbottabad Cantonment Boards chief executive as he produces a thick book of bylaws dating back to 1924.

The plans for the building bear the stamp of the local architect - "Muhammad Yunis, ex-designer Ministry of Defence".

It also names the owner as Muhammad Arshad, one of four men slain by US Navy Seals on Monday and since alleged to be bin Ladens most trusted courier, the Kuwaiti born Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti.

Arshad and his brother Tariq were the faces of the household. The two men were described by neighbours as always courteous, and by the local tailors and grocers as good customers.

They were even known to have gifted a few rabbits to a family around the corner from their property.

Who wouldn't want them as neighbours?

[Crusader]

Al-Qaida wants revenge for the death of their leader... that's all the confirmation I needed.

[Rutabaga]

On a lighter note, I couldn't help but giggle at Slate's version of Barack Obama's Facebook feed for the last week:

http://www.slate.com/id/2293118/

[CMJ]

Forgive me if this was already posted.

http://www.galacticempiretimes.com/2011/05/09/galaxy/outer-rim/obi-wan-kenobi-is-killed.html

[Atreyu]

Forgive me if this was already posted.

http://www.galacticempiretimes.com/2011/05/09/galaxy/outer-rim/obi-wan-kenobi-is-killed.html
:lol

I love the comments underneath as well.

[Mu Satach]

The comments are gold. :lol :lol :lol

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13370919


Osama Bin Laden 'was not assassinated' - Eric Holder

US Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the raid on Osama Bin Laden's hideout in which the al-Qaeda leader was killed was "not an assassination".

Mr Holder told the BBC the operation was a "kill or capture mission" and that Bin Laden's surrender would have been accepted if offered

I thought it had previously been announced that they were just going in to kill him? :huh I mean he was unarmed right??

[Tom Harriman]

There's a distinction between "just going in to kill him" and "assassination", I think - particularly in the mindset of the United States. And it's something they really need to jump on and emphasise really quickly, before history starts remembering things a particular way.

It may be a matter of semantics, but generally speaking people think of assassins in a negative light, and look more positively on the victims: especially in America, where you've got the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations ingrained in their culture. The US doesn't want to turn Bin Laden into a martyr, so it's important for them to emphasise that this wasn't an immoral, underhanded act; they want to portray the soldiers as brave heroes, and not as history's next John Wilkes Booth.

It's the same as arguing that killing someone in a war isn't murder, effectively.

[Darth Turbogeek]

You know what? They could have just as simply said they shot him like a rabid dog and no one would care. In fact given Bin Laden had deliberatly put himself outside of any justice system there's is a great deal to suggest no one broke a single law shooting him so why are the USA caring about schemantics in this case? The people who would be riled up are riled up - nothing can prevent that, the rest of the world are just glad he's gone, there would never have been trial and he admitted to targeting innocent lives in horrible, horrible ways. He's one of the very few for who justice was execution as he certainly wasnt going to spend the rest of his life in GITMO or a SuperMax

So lets call it as it is - he was executed and there never was going to be a trial on Earth

What trial he does have - He's meeting his Maker and I bet that's not going well.

[Sanis Prent]

I'm about as against us going in and killing somebody who isn't resisting as anybody else, but the cynical part of me can't see an outcome where we capture him and he gets life in prison, so I guess he was going to have to pay for this shit in blood one way or another.

[Figrin D'an]

To be perfectly pragmatic about it, any potential capture/trial for him, even a military tribunal, would have been an absolute fiasco in terms of media coverage, a nightmare to handle from a security perspective, and would only serve to make him even more a rallying cry for his followers than his death already has. The White House will play semantics on this because they have to, but honestly, there was never any other tenable outcome. Everyone clued in prior the operation knew that if Bin Laden was actually in the compound, he was going to be a corpse when was over.