Bin Laden's Death is 'Defining Moment'

By Jim Garamone  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - A senior national security official today provided insight into the decision process leading to the raid by U.S. special operations forces that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan yesterday. John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security, called the attack a defining moment in the war against the terror group that killed 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001. Americans from the Defense Department and the CIA worked together to cut off "the head of the snake known as al-Qaida," he said during a White House news conference today. "It is going to have, I think, very important reverberations throughout the area, on the al-Qaida network in that area," he said. "This is something that we've been after for 15 years. It goes back before 9/11." Soon after taking office, President Barack Obama ordered the CIA and DOD to find and kill or capture bin Laden. Last year, intelligence indicated the terrorist was holed up in a million dollar compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, –- a well-off suburb of the capital city of Islamabad. Months of relentless examination strengthened that conclusion. The president polled all members of his national security team on whether they felt the intelligence on bin Laden was valid, Brennan said. "That's what he does," Brennan said of Obama's decision-making process. "He goes around the room, and he wants to hear people's views." Intelligence seldom is a sure thing, Brennan said. Often, he explained, evidence is circumstantial and analysts build a case for one action or another. In this case -- a unilateral attack well inside a friendly nation -- a risk of making the wrong decision exists. "That's what the president wanted to know -– as well as the different ... courses of action," Brennan said. "So this was debated across the board, and the president wanted to make sure at the end that he had the views of all the principals." On April 29, the president made the decision to go after the al-Qaida leader. The CIA analysts were confident bin Laden was in the compound, Brennan said, and there were many supporters of launching the raid. "But the president had to look at all the different scenarios, all the different contingencies that are out there," he said. "What would have been the downside if, in fact, it wasn't bin Laden? What would have happened if a helicopter went down? So he decided that this is so important to the security of the American people that he was going to go forward with this." Brennan said questions remain about how bin Laden could have stayed at the compound as long as he did. "People have been referring to this as 'hiding in plain sight,'" he said. "Clearly, this was something that was considered as a possibility. Pakistan is a large country. We are looking right now at how he was able to hold out there for so long, and whether or not there was any type of support system within Pakistan that allowed him to stay there." U.S. officials are talking with the Pakistanis and will pursue all leads on what type of support system and benefactors that bin Laden might have had in the nation. "I think it's inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for an extended period of time," Brennan said. "I am not going to speculate about what type of support he might have had on an official basis inside of Pakistan."

Related Sites: Special Report: The Demise of Osama bin Laden

President Obama on killing of Bin Laden

Monday, May 2, 2011 Good afternoon, Last night, President Obama announced that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden,  leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people.  He made clear that even though Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice, Americans  should remember the spirit of unity in the days after 9/11 as we continue to secure our nation  and work for a safe and prosperous future. If you haven’t yet seen President Obama’s remarks, you can watch them here and read the  full transcript below: Full Transcript of the President’s Remarks on Osama bin Laden Good evening. Tonight, 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 Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent  men, women, and children. It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst  attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our  national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the  Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon;  the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic  citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction. And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world.   The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their  mother or their father.  Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace.   Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered  our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each  other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from,  what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American  family. We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed  this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by  al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war  on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the  globe.  And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our  allies. Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our  counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted  terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the  Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And  around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda  terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot. Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan.   Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its  affiliates across the world. And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the  killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued  our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed  on a possible lead to bin Laden.  It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this  thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more  information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound  deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence  to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. 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. For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to  plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the  most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to  pursue attacks against us.  We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad. As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with  Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against  Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.  Indeed,  al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.  So his  demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew  where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our  counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound  where he was hiding.  Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the  Pakistani people. Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani  counterparts .They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it  is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates. The American people did not choose this fight.  It came to our shores, and started with the  senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we  know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief,  have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service  member who’s been gravely wounded. So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security  being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in  defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who  we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to  al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done. Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve  worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know  their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of  justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the  professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.  And they are part of a  generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day. Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your  loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another  attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at  times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and  the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded  that  America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the  pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our  commitment  to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because  of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr iTunes

Sailor Steps Up to Challenge

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker  Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011 - Deployments often afford service members an opportunity to experience situations and perform duties outside of their comfort zone. One person who has broadened his skill set during his tour in Afghanistan is Navy Seaman James Q. Beheler. Navy Seaman James Q. Beheler, a corpsman with the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Kunar province, puts a bandage on an Afghan boy's leg at Zagrano Bando School, April 14, 2011. Beheler noticed the boy was wearing a makeshift bandage after being bitten by a dog the previous day, and he changed the boy's bandage to help in preventing infection. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker  As an active-duty sailor from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., with only two years in the service, the hospitalman experienced a lot in his seven months with the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team. As a corpsman, Beheler works with a forward surgical team operating a Level 2 care facility at Forward Operating Base Wright in Afghanistan's Kunar province. The Roanoke, Va., native said he was prepared for many of things he has seen at the facility, and for others, he was not. "It's been real busy at times," Beheler said. "When we've got operations going on in our area, many casualties will come in through our [facility]. They'll use anyone with medical experience to help, and I really wasn't prepared for that. I'm used to seeing things in the field, not seeing things in a clinical setting. That took some getting used to." Beheler, who received an Army Commendation Medal with Valor for saving the life of a fellow provincial reconstruction team member who suffered a gunshot wound, said being on patrols still is the most challenging aspect of his job. "When you're out doing missions, we are that medical asset," Beheler said. "I know that I can fight my way to you, treat you and fight my way back with you. There's only one medical corpsman on the crew, so you better know what you're doing." Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lynn Redman of San Antonio, nurse practitioner with the team, said she's impressed with Beheler's performance and that she is so confident in the work he does, she would trust him to treat one of her children. "He's handled everything very concisely," Redman said. "He's consistent. He's bottom-line. I don't have to wonder about him. He is my lowest-ranking corpsman, but he is a hard-charger. He's very knowledgeable. He should have been a doctor." Beheler said one of the best things he's experienced has been the people he works with and the friends he made within the unit. Army Sgt. Patrick Johnson of Worcester, Mass., said Beheler is a good medic and a great listener and learner, and that this experience will help Beheler in the future. "He's been a delightful subordinate," Johnson said. "He's quick to listen, learn and volunteer, and that is at the core of being a great corpsman. He's going to leave here with so much knowledge. He's also become a close, personal friend of mine. I'm proud to have met and known him." Beheler said his teammates are great to work with and have made his experience rewarding. "I couldn't have asked for any better people to work with," Beheler said. "There are three corpsmen and one Army medic. We all have our little specialty. We work really, really well together. There's a mutual respect there that has a lot to do with it, too. We actually care about one another."

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Bin Laden Buried at Sea, Official Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - Osama bin Laden received a Muslim ceremony as he was buried at sea, a senior defense official said here today.

The religious rites were performed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea, the official said, speaking on background, and occurred within 24 hours of the terrorist leader's death.

"Preparations for at-sea [burial] began at 1:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and were completed at 2 a.m.," the official said.

The burial followed traditional Muslim burial customs, the official said, and bin Laden's body was washed and placed in a white sheet.

"The body was placed in a weighted bag. A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker," the official added.

Afterward, Bin Laden's body was placed onto a flat board, which was then elevated upward on one side and the body slid off into the sea.

The deceased terrorist was buried at sea because no country would accept bin Laden's remains, a senior defense official said.

CIA and Defense Department officials are sure it was the body of bin Laden. CIA specialists compared photos of the body with known photos of bin Laden and said with 95-percent certainty it was the terrorist leader, a senior intelligence official said.

In addition, the intelligence official said, bin Laden's wife identified the al-Qaida leader by name while the strike team was still in the compound.

CIA and other specialists in the intelligence community "performed the initial DNA analysis matching a virtually 100-percent DNA match of the body against the DNA of several of bin Laden's family members," the official added.
 

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U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

There were several women and children at the compound,

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 8:23 PM By Jim Garamone  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - The plan to attack the compound of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was the result of relentless intelligence work and operational professionalism, White House officials, speaking on background, said this morning. The operation was the culmination of years of careful and highly advanced intelligence work, officials said, as officers from the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency worked as a team to analyze and pinpoint the Pakistani compound where bin Laden was killed. Once the intelligence pointed precisely to the compound in Abbottabad –- a town 35 miles north of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad –- the work on the mission began between the intelligence and military communities. "In the end, it was the matchless skill and courage of these Americans that secured this triumph for our country and the world," one official said. A small team conducted the helicopter raid on the compound. An official called it a complex operation, noting that the compound was a virtual fortress -– built in 2006 with high walls, razor wire and other defense features. Its suburban location and proximity to Islamabad complicated the operation, the official said. "The men who executed this mission accepted this risk, practiced to minimize those risks, and understood the importance of the target to the national security of the United States," he said. "This operation was a surgical raid by a small team designed to minimize collateral damage and to pose as little risk as possible to noncombatants on the compound or to Pakistani civilians in the neighborhood." U.S. helicopters delivered the team to the compound, and the team was on the ground for less than 40 minutes, an official said. They did not encounter any local authorities. In addition to bin Laden, three adult males were killed in the raid. "There were several women and children at the compound," the official said. "One woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant. Two other women were injured." One of the U.S. helicopters was lost at the compound due to mechanical failure. The crew destroyed it on the ground, and the assault force and crew members boarded the remaining aircraft to leave, an official said. "There's also no doubt that the death of Osama bin Laden marks the single greatest victory in the U.S.-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida," the official said. "It is a major and essential step in bringing about al-Qaida's eventual destruction." Though the organization's terrorists still are dangerous and al-Qaida may not fragment immediately, an official said, "the loss of bin Laden puts the group on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse." The United States did not share any intelligence on the raid with any other country, the official said. "We believed it was essential to the security of the operation and our personnel," he said. "In fact, only a very small group of people inside our own government knew of this operation in advance." Shortly after the raid, he added, U.S. officials contacted senior Pakistani leaders and told them about the raid and its results. "Since 9/11, the United States has made it clear to Pakistan that we would pursue bin Laden wherever he might be," the official said. "Pakistan has long understood that we are at war with al-Qaida. The United States had a legal and moral obligation to act on the information it had."

Related Articles: Task Force Assesses Likely Impact of bin Laden's Death  Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'  U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

"We definitely expect and anticipate retaliatory attacks,"

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 5:01 PM

By Karen Parrish of 

American Forces Press Service FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011 - News of Osama bin Laden's death raced through the tents and plywood buildings that make up the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team here this morning. Within minutes of the president's televised announcement brigade leaders met this morning in their daily battle update briefing, and soldiers checked in by cell phone with buddies on other parts of the base: "OK, just wanted to be sure you heard." Task Force Currahee is on its second deployment to Afghanistan, responsible for counterinsurgency operations in Paktika province. Soldiers here smiled as they discussed the death of the terrorist responsible for murdering nearly 3,000 Americans and other nations' citizens in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Army Maj. Rob Born, brigade operations officer, said bin Laden's death won't require the task force to change its operations significantly. "The assessment was in many ways, he was more of a symbolic, moral and figurative leader than he was involved in the command and control of day-to-day operations," Born said. "I think we will find out whether or not that hypothesis was true, and what the impact is." He said the task force will analyze the effects of the al-Qaida leader's death within its area of operation over the coming days and weeks. "We definitely expect and anticipate retaliatory attacks," he said. "[But] if they're hasty and not well planned, it's not going to work out well for the insurgents." Born said bin Laden's death is a validation of the nation's efforts to combat terrorism. "I think it's a tremendous achievement," he said. "It shows that persistence and attention to detail, agility, flexibility, working together with special operations forces and the intelligence community – it pays off." The positive demonstrations outside the White House and in New York City during Obama's announcement were encouraging, Born said. "It just shows that the American public is really engaged in what's going on, and they take pride in the achievements of their armed forces," he said. "That really was the best thing that I saw." Army Capt. David McKim, the brigade's assistant intelligence officer, termed bin Laden's death an example of how his profession operates. "That's truly how it does work for us," he said. "Things don't happen instantly, sometimes. A lot of our successes take time to build." He said for his shop, the mission in Regional Command East remains finding the enemy in Paktika and protecting the soldiers and population. Enemy forces the task force faces in Paktika are not necessarily closely linked to al-Qaida, McKim said, though many in Regional Command South are. Insurgents in Paktika are likely to respond to bin Laden's death in one of two ways, McKim said: their morale could suffer, or their activities could increase in retaliation. The al-Qaida leader's death comes at a time when I think everybody had given up," he said. "They thought, 'He's either dead, or we're not going to find him.' But that's how things work in our business – you don't know when." The fact that the military did find bin Laden "gives you that justification that yes, we are doing the right things," McKim said. In the overall counterinsurgency campaign, McKim said, bin Laden's death is a powerful counter to enemy propaganda, which claimed America would never capture him. There is no likely successor to bin Laden who will have the same stature, McKim said. "He was tall, he spoke very eloquently, ... [he had] power, influence, money," the intelligence officer said. "Granted, there are lots of other bad guys out there that will try to take his place." Other insurgents may now think twice about attacking U.S. and coalition forces, he said. "I think this is definitely a good thing," McKim said.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division  Related Articles: Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'  U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

Obama thanked Pakistan for its help in the operation

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 11:53 AM

By Jim Garamone 

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - "Justice has been done," said President Barack Obama in announcing the death of Osama bin Laden in a U.S. military operation in Pakistan.

An American counterintelligence and counterterrorism team killed bin Laden during a firefight near Islamabad, the president said during a short statement from the White House late Sunday night.

"Tonight 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," the president said.

The attack ends a manhunt of almost 10 years. Bin Laden and his henchmen planned and executed the attacks of September 11, 2001, that killed 3,000 innocent Americans in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Obama thanked "the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome."

"We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country," he said. "They're a part of the generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day."

He said Americans also were united to protect the nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice.

"Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we've made great strides in that effort," the president said. "We've disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense."

Soon after 9/11, American forces removed the Taliban government that had given bin Laden and al-Qaida safe haven and support. Around the globe, U.S. personnel worked with allies to capture or kill scores of al-Qaida terrorists.

"Yet, Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan," Obama said. "Meanwhile, al-Qaida continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world."

Shortly after taking office in 2009, Obama directed CIA Director Leon Panetta to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of the U.S. war against al Qaida.

"Then last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden," Obama said. "It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground."

Obama met with the national security team as more information came in. The al-Qaida leader was hiding in a compound inside Pakistan, and last week he ordered the strike.

"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," he said. "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."

While his death marks the most significant achievement to date in America's effort to defeat al-Qaida, it does not mean the end of U.S. efforts.

"There's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us," the president said. "We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad."

The president stressed again that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam.

"I've 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," Obama said. "Indeed, al-Qaida has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."

Obama thanked Pakistan for its help in the operation. It's important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding," the president said. "Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people."

Obama spoke with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and all agreed that this is a good and historic day for both nations. "Going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al-Qaida and its affiliates," he said.

"The American people did not choose this fight," the president said. "It came to our shores and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as commander in chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who's been gravely wounded."

But Americans will not tolerate being threatened, Obama said. "We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies," he said. "We will be true to the values that make us who we are."

Obama spoke to those who lost loved ones on 9/11, telling them that the country has never wavered in its determination to bring bin laden to justice.

"Tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed," he said. "Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people."

The war is not over, he said, "but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

"Let us remember that we can do these things, not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."