Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Obama Announces Death of Osama bin Laden

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Twenty-five minutes before midnight on Sunday night, President Obama made an announcement that the American people had waited almost ten years to hear.

“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-Qaida and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children,” Obama said.

Osama bin Laden has been the world’s most-wanted terrorist since more than 3,000 people were killed in al-Qaida’s attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

Mr. Obama said he was briefed last August on a possible lead to bin Laden’s location. He said the terrorist leader had been hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The president said he authorized a mission last week to “get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.”

Mr. Obama said a small team of Americans Sunday carried out the operation on the compound.

“After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body,” Obama said.

The president acknowledged that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against the United States, and he warned Americans to remain vigilant.

“I have made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9-11, that our war is not against Islam, because bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al-Qaida has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.”

Mr. Obama said counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead U.S. forces to bin Laden. He said he called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to notify him of bin Laden’s death. The president said Pakistani officials agreed that this was a “good and historic day” for both nations.

Mr. Obama also called former President George W. Bush, who was president on September 11, 2001, and who launched the U.S. war on terror. In a written statement, Mr. Bush called bin Laden’s killing a “momentous achievement” and a “victory for America.” He said “No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”

Osama bin Laden was born March 10, 1957 to a wealthy family in Saudi Arabia.

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, bin Laden joined the Afghan mujahedin Islamic fighters. Several years later, he used his wealth to form his own militia force, later called al-Qaida, Arabic for “the base.”

In 1996, bin Laden declared a holy war against the United States, which he accused of looting the natural resources of Muslim nations and helping Islam’s enemies.

While hiding in Sudan, bin Laden is said to have plotted attacks on the U.S. military in Somalia and Saudi Arabia. He also orchestrated the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Within weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States led a coalition that overthrew Afghanistan’s Taliban government, which had refused to turn bin Laden over to the U.S.

For almost ten years, U.S. soldiers and intelligence officers combed the mountainous area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, trying to find bin Laden.

Shortly before President Obama announced that bin Laden had been killed, a jubilant crowd gathered outside the White House, chanting, cheering and singing.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has put its embassies on alert and warned Americans of possible al-Qaida reprisal attacks.

[VOA]

65 COMMENTS

  1. Why didnt you capture him the way Sadam was and show him to the world and then give him time to esculpate himselft.And after justice to prevail.

  2. Obama has delivered on one of his campaign promises and this definately assures him of re elections next year just like the capture of Saddam Hussain delivered the re election of George W Bush. In Zambia we will definately re elect Mr Banda as he is delivering on many of his campain promises.

  3. Why bury him fews hours after his death. Should have shown him to us so that we pay a ‘last des respect’. Otherwise, pipo will think its a fake death just like they think about Gadafi’s son’s death. Bin Laden,you had your days and will meet on judgement day

  4. You can run but you can’t hide into days world justiced has been done ,we don’t to be shown his body for what?

  5. Chickens being counted before hatching time is precarious at best. bin Laden, according to a news person living in Kabul on al Jazzeera, has been, for years, grooming a “hundred” replacements in the event of his death. And extremist groups have revenge as a way of life. It would be prudent for all the allied forces in Afghanistan and Iraq to exert all due caution and tighten security. Three cheers for the team that brought this criminal to final justice.

  6. I also wanted his body to be shown now these guys are saying that his body has been disposed off at sea.Damn Americans.

    • Mushota I like your thoughts but yesterday was disappointed with your remarks purportedly supporting sata. I know you are free to express your thots but Sata’s past leaves much to be desired. A lion will remain a lion even if it is tamed. Am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that Sata is not a presidential material. The past is there to show. If he succeeds in this year’s election, you will agree with me later.

    • Another confirmation that you still live in a fantasy world.Wake up and smell the cofee.Anyway you are one man that will never cease to amaze me.Good luck.

  7. OBAMA KILLED A WRONG PERSON,IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE GEORGE W BUSH BECAUSE IT OF HIM WHO MASTER MINDED THE SEPTEMBER 9/11 ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON. JUSTICE WILL ONLY BE DONE WHEN BUSY IS BROUGHT TO BOOK.THIS DEATH OF OSAMA HAS BEEN FAKED AS OSAMA DIED LONG TIME AGO DURING THE TORA BORA BOMBING BY THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH FORCES.OBAMA PLEASE STOP LYING TO THE WORLD.MAY OSAMA SOUL REST IN PEACE .

  8. I will not believe until I see his dead body. They can’t tell me there was no one with a camera (even a phone with camera) when they were taking his body for burial. Show us the picrures of him lying dead otherwise don’t be surprised when he shows up on TV with more threats. Please we need pictures as proof.

  9. They disposed of the evidence at sea, so no investigation can be had on the body, if it’s really Osama or a dummy from CIA/Mossad/Illuminati/United-Nations etc.

  10. again a cover up when did he die again was it 2001 or 2011 or between katwishi for someone who was on a dialysis machine form early 2000 he has been well 

  11. MUSHOTA LIVES IN A CELLAR UNDER THE WHITE MAN’S HOUSE.
    SHE HAS TO LIVE A DEPRIVED LIFE WITH NO NEWSPAPERS AND HER INTERNET SET TO ONLY LOAD GRZ OWNED ZAMBIAN BLOGS.

    SHE STRUGGLES TO UNDERSTAND HER SICKNESS AND NEEDS TO DAILY WRITE A DAIRY LIKE ANNE FRANK IN HOPE OF ONE DAY THE POLICE READING HER TORTURES BY THE WHITE HANDS.

    THE PHOTO SHE USES IS A ZIMBABWE MODEL CALLED SIRENI….MUSHOTA IS PROBABLY 50 YEARS OLD AND WITH A GREY HAIRED AFRO

  12. December 26, 2001, Fox News reported that bin Laden died from complications from a lung infection. (google it) Now Obama, aka Bush in Black Face,? who has just announced his run for re-election, tells the world that US forces killed him and buried him at sea. Very convenient.

  13. December 26, 2001, Fox News reported that bin Laden died from complications from a lung infection. (google it) Now Obama, aka Bush in Black Face,? who has just announced his run for re-election, tells the world that US forces killed him and buried him at sea. Very convenient.

  14. The war will never end. Bin Laden was a Martyr to many of his people. USA has a lot of enemies worldwide and the list just keeps on increasing. Why did it take the yankies 10 years to fish out someone in a country where there is more open space than infrastructure. Whatever the case, its more points for America’s Zebra president.

  15. Last week Henry Kissinger called for an invasion of Libya. Now, how the hell could they do that if ‘the works’ weren’t complete in Afghanistan? This announcement of Obama? that Osama was killed gave them the green light to start the total invasion of Libya. I hope I am so wrong but this smells like the start of war to me.Get ready now people, there’s some serious thing going to hit the fan.

  16. @7 Zambian
    Bet the next thing that they’re gonna say that they are not going to release any more pictures of Osama for fear of retaliation from his supporters , stating national security issues and public safety . Which will be a bunch of bullshyt , and give people more doubts about? how and when this guy died..

  17. #16 you are next, better start distributing your wealth, Americans are not a joke, they are cleaning up all people who think like you- delusional.

  18. Just been reading about Osama bin laden. What a cruel man, and good riddance. I find it extremely odd that Osama was buried at sea,..now there is no way for anybody in the world to independently verify that it was really him. They must prove it was him that was killed. The world must verify this, not just the usa or there will always be doubt, that he has died. What an evil human being he was, I think after USA and Great Britain when we are through Libya we ought to visit and do something about Pakstani. Thanks

  19. #30 Mushota
    The 9/11 terrorist attack on America which left almost 3,000 people dead was an “inside job”.Around 75 top professors and leading scientists believe the attacks were puppeteered by war mongers in the White House to justify the invasion and the occupation of oil-rich Arab countries.

  20. Am nt suprised but proof must be shown to the worlf the way they did to savimbi and sadam by America. but be mindful dat you have stepped on the time bom, mwalatuletelela ba mambala

  21. You americanos killed my double and u are celebrating that I am no more. What would I be doing in a luxurious residence. I sleep in tents and mountains with my men. Let the party begin….Lets boogey

  22. SADC leaders must adopt somber reflections on the demise of Bin Laden. USA must not replicate other Bin Ladens in Africa. Suspected Cold War operatives in SADC are Savimbi, Dhlakama & Sata. A Saudi official described Bin Laden as a blood-thirsty violent man. A trait shared by Savimbi, Dhlakama & Sata in SADC region. Many people were killed in Angola & Mozambique to the pleasure of white regimes. Sata’s lust for violence is typical of Dhlakama’s mindset. Bin Laden planned terrorism globally; Dhlakama inflicted terror in Zambia & Zimbabwe; Sata is a Tanzanian with trails of violence in Zambia. Mwanawasa sacked Chitala based on solid intelligent data. How come Sata embraces Chitala into P?. Sata’s support by Denmark, Taiwan & Catholic Priests is worth scrutiny by SADC Security Wing.

  23. Everything about the Bin Laden myth has been fake.So why worry about illustrating the comic book story of his “death” with fake image?

  24. Why was he buried so fast atleast they should have shown us the pics for us to believe. As the situ is I am a douting Thomas

  25. The killing is the best news ever for the world this year. The Arab Awakening has disappeared from the international screens at least temporarily.The Royal Weeding is now gone. Americans we salute you for the big KILL. I will take a bottle of champagne to night in celebrating the big KILL. Hell is where Laden is now!

  26. The DNA test has just been released and it confirms that real Osama Bin laden is dead. The British were preparing for the royal wedding while the Americans were preparing to hunt and kill the deadly terrorist master minder osama bin laden. Why has it happened immediately after the royal wedding celebration?

  27. i was lucky to have seen a picture of the dead osama about 4am gmt on euronews shortly after obama made his national address.. i am sure from the pictures have seen the last 10yrs of osama’s videos, it was him although it looked as though he lost his eyes and part of the forehead obviously from multiple gunshot wounds..the guy is dead and the world is a better place without him. on the hasty burial something was said about culture issues and mind some people out there r very upset…better to close the case immediately…

  28. Now you Obama should stop harrassing Gaddaffi and interfering in sovereign states just because they don’t have a strong enough army to fight you.

  29. Yeah#41 The might is right philosophy. We have seen it works only on Third World nations. Noone invaded China after Tianamen cos China would have whacked them. Africa wake up and strengthen your armies! Or jus form a United States.

  30. The Black Eyed Peas in their song, “Where is the love?” describe the CIA as the biggest terrorist group in the world, the CIA has been responsible for many terrorist acts all over the world. It definately dwarfs all the terrorist activivies of everyone else. Western powers are the biggest terrorists in the world. Millions of Africans have died at the hands of these terrorists. Africans open your eyes and see! The French helped in the Rwandes Genocide. The CIA killed Lumumba, Sankara, Kwame Nkruma etc!

  31. China cannot match USA in military mighty. Infact the Chinese are just copycats in whatever they do. They do not have ideas of their own. They mostly copy from Japan, UK and USA.  

  32. No justice has been served. Osama wanted to die a martyr and so he has (that is if he is really dead). Savimbi and Sadam were paraded after their demises and why not Osama? The best way for justice to have taken place was to capture him alive, lock him up and throw away the key. Death is the easiest way out. He is a saint now just like all the suicide bombers he inspired … We have not won, he has won because we have killed him and not got him alive.

  33. Good evening
    Well, at least the news about Osama Bin Laden can take our minds off the silly, pompous Royal Wedding.

  34. China may copy technology but they make it their own unlike we Africans. Chinese military might is not kids play. Ask the US when they tried to overfly Chinese airspace with a spy plane in the 90s.The US wouldn’t dare invade China unless they want to commit suicide.

  35. 9/11 was an inside job, Osama was a scapegoat, people are willingly blind and ignorant, but in the words of Paul,
    1st Corinthians 14:38 But? if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

  36. What we’re seeing now is a terrorist attack on the minds of people to believe a lie. People don’t like Obama, but now they’re singing his praises? which will get him elected again.

  37. The yanks are nothing but world bullies. The Americans I know would 100% have shown pictures to the world. Bin laden died ages ago in the torra borra mountains. He was just too quiet for too long and any footage released was old. So in summary the Americans are lying which is nothing new! They said Sadam had weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq. Thousands upon thousands of innocent where killed you know how it is! Know the TRUTH don’t be fooled by propaganda. Oh by the way George W. Bush has the lowest I.Q of any president that has governed the US of A. May peace and love prevail.

  38. BACK AT HOME

    The assassination of Osama bin laden is a loudest message to Michael Sata, Wynter Kabimba and Frank Bwalya who have pledged terror against Zambians after losing this year’s election again. Osama bin laden started his terror by objecting the Saudi Government then terror against the people.I have no doubt that Zambian services will circumcise these self pledged Zambian terrorists after elections.Remember Alice Lenshina Sata was following as a sect member was riddled with bullets in her head with some inserted through her womanhood. That is what made sata turn to UNIP. Mushala like his brother Simbwende another terrorist was pursued and riddled with 27 bullets in his head. I wait to see the aftermath of the Sata, Wynter Kabimba and Frank Bwalya teeror cost.

  39. The best way to kill him would have been with a nail cutter, chip by chip until he is just a heap of stuff. atleast over more than the ten years its taken to find him.

  40. This is an injustice from a country that claims to uphold the rights and freedoms of individuals. As usual the United States has murdered another human being with impunity. If this was a US citizen gunned down by a foreign country on US soil, there would have been a problem. But ONLY Americans are equal before the law and every one else is a lesser being. We have never been provided with court tested incontrovertible evidence that Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. What if he was a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur claiming things he did not do? It is reported that he was shot in the head, ‘hiding behind a woman.’ A 6 ft+ man cannot hide behind a 4 ft+ woman. Hence his head was exposed. If he was armed, how could he hide ‘behind a woman?’ So he was shot in cold blood.

  41. It is quite unbelievable how gullible most of the people are. If you really know how politics work in the US, and you are also able to tie that to Prophecy, you would not fall for this make face, make believe announcement of Osama’s death. Media is a controlling tool for masses. We are fed what the controllers of this world and its economies want us to believe. Please watch Fahrenheit 9 11. Also study the book of Revelation. Most World leaders are in cahoots with the devil, and are being used to achieve his ends. You wonder the connection with Osama’s death? Watch this documentary.

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