President Obama Addresses The Nation, Osama Ben Laden Is Dead

The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack on American soil is dead, U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night, almost 10 years after the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people.

Osama bin Laden -- the longtime leader of al Qaeda -- was killed by U.S. forces in a mansion outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

In an address to the nation late Sunday night, Obama called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda."

Up-to-the-minute updates on bin Laden | President's statement

"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama 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."
U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world were placed on high alert following the announcement of bin Laden's death, a senior U.S. official said, and the U.S. State Department should be sending out a new "worldwide caution" for Americans shortly. Some fear al Qaeda supporters may try to retaliate against U.S. citizens or U.S. institutions.

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Hundreds of people arrived at the White House late Sunday night and chanted, "USA! USA!" They then chanted, "Hey, hey, goodbye!" in reference to the demise of bin Laden and then spontaneously sang the national anthem.

"This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, in a statement issued Sunday night.

Osama bin Laden, the face of terror

The news brought some relief to the grieving family members of those killed on 9/11.

"This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones," Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said in a statement. "It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil."

In his speech, Obama reiterated that the United States is not at war with Islam.

Celebrations in front of the White House Video

"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."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, released a statement Monday morning welcoming the death of bin Laden.

iReport: Send us your reactions

"As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and Al Qaeda caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide," the statement said. "We also reiterate President Obama's clear statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."

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• the death of ben ladin
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[Socialbookmarkingful]

wowwww....

[TheCentralServices]

@adgw1423 Your country is delusional and therefore must be decommissioned.

You suffer from Manichaean paranoia, the wry notion that you are leading the forces of good against the empire of evil and the illusion that you are morally superior justifying you committing immoral acts. That is a very dangerous posture for the country that is the number one global power. ... The fact is you squandered your credibility, your legitimacy, and even respect for your people or your country.

[adgw1423]

@TheCentralServices Ching chong ching, suck my big American balls, commie

[TheCentralServices]

@invertballer12 Why nuke us? For what reason? We are your creditors not your enemies. We veto that in security council! Nuke is more powerful as threat, using it demonstrate weakness.

[invertballer12]

@TheCentralServices next operation: NUKE CHINA :D

[frankenstrat1vh]

@TheCentralServices eat my toe

[TuesdayMorningInSept]

'Tuesday Morning in September':

It is what 9/11 was to many, outside

the first ring at Ground Zero. It is

in reverence to those who perished,

and respectful to those who lost their

loved ones on that paradigm shifting

tragic day. It is the retrospection

that is needed for our time.

[TheCentralServices]

Ha, ha - you americans, very funny, very naive. Thank you very much for distracting yourself with silly war against terror, while we take over your country by taking over dollar and economy. Now party is over, now you our slaves - now you silence, now you learn Cantonese quick and work hard! Time is money and you owe us much more than you have!

我們要求您給所有土地正當的所有者。 當地美洲印第安人!

美國-歡迎到中國經濟帝國!

放棄所有希望!

[johnny2366]

@Toughguysdontdance12 blah fucking blah always crying about the U.S.but right there begging us.to help your sorry asses out when your piss poor military cant protect you...the U.S. has accomplished more in the 200 years it's been around than all the other countries that have been around for centuries combined.. I get how that can piss you off if you're from one of those other feeble ass nations..but that isnt the U.S. fault..thats your own shitty nations fault..stop crying about it

[Toughguysdontdance12]

USA government = Real terrorists, conspirators, true inventors of state terrorism, manipulators, killers, liars. Hipocrytes, you created the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (also known as School of the Americas), training camp for bloody dictators and CIA agents in charge of the destabilization of international governments and economies. Who would believe they are heroes? They are criminals and war makers! They are the cancer! Osama and the freedom shit are soap operas!!