Osama Bin Laden Killed by US Navy SEALS

**6.23am** It appears that the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden was live-tweeted by a local man who did not know what was going on. His tweets, along with their time stamp are at the end of this post.

9 years, 7 months and 20 days after the 2001 9/11 attacks, justice finally caught up to Osama Bin Laden. He was killed by an elite team of US Navy SEALS. See a previous tribute to the US Navy SEALS posted on this blog.

U.S. officials said the CIA tracked bin Laden to his location, then elite troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, flew to the hideout in four helicopters. Bin Laden was shot in the head in an ensuing firefight, these officials said, adding that he and his guards had resisted his attackers. U.S. personnel identified him by facial recognition, the official said, declining to say whether DNA analysis had also been used.

The U.S. team took custody of bin Laden's remains. A U.S. official later said bin Laden had been buried at sea and the remains were handled in accordance with Islamic practice, which calls for speedy burial.

The official, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters, said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. The official did not say where the body was buried.

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.”

Source: ABC News The Note

Commentary


I am very pleased that Osama Bin Laden no longer walks among us, and salute the US Navy SEALS on a fine accomplishment. 

Here are the tweets mentioned in the update:

ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar 

Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event). [3.58pm]

ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar 

Go away helicopter - before I take out my giant swatter :-/  [4.05pm]

ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar 

A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something nasty :-S  [4.09pm]

ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar 

@ 

@m0hcin all silent after the blast, but a friend heard it 6 km away too... the helicopter is gone too. [4.44pm]

ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar 

@ 

@m0hcin http://bit.ly/ljB6p6 seems like my giant swatter worked ! [4.46pm]