Breaking: apparently, Bin Laden is dead

[bjkeefe]

President Obama is supposed to speak from the White House shortly. Might want to turn on a teevee, if you have one nearby. Or surf over to your favorite news site.

(h/t: Twin)

[handle]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

President Obama is supposed to speak from the White House shortly. Might want to turn on a teevee, if you have one nearby. Or surf over to your favorite news site.

(h/t: Twin)

Here comes the "Obama had nothing to do with it" in 5 4 3......

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by handle

Here comes the "Obama had nothing to do with it" in 5 4 3......

Oh, totally. Wingnut spin on this is truly going to be something to behold.

[handle]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Oh, totally. Wingnut spin on this is truly going to be something to behold.

Awesome news, though. 'bout time!

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by handle

Awesome news, though. 'bout time!

It's a nice bit of symbolism, I suppose. It's undercut by it having taken a decade, and much more importantly, that we couldn't capture him alive and put his sorry ass on trial.

This is not to take away anything from those who did finally hunt him down, though. Full kudos to them.

[uncle ebeneezer]

Is Trump taking credit yet, or waiting until he sees the long form death certificate for himself?

Great news. Kudos to all the people who no doubt busted their asses for 9 years to make it happen.

[AemJeff]

Originally Posted by uncle ebeneezer

Is Trump taking credit yet, or waiting until he sees the long form death certificate for himself?

Great news. Kudos to all the people who no doubt busted their asses for 9 years to make it happen.

Nah, but he is making frowny faces cuz peoples was mean to him. Luckily our own intrepis Denville Steve is on the case!

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by uncle ebeneezer

Is Trump taking credit yet, or waiting until he sees the long form death certificate for himself?

Here is a screengrab of a tweet, courtesy of Jack Stuef's great liveblog:

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Here is a screengrab of a tweet, courtesy of Jack Stuef's great liveblog:

Also: "Memo to Trump."

[handle]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Also: "Memo to Trump."

Paaaaathetic!! This just might be a little bigger than Trump's crappy little show.

[operative]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

President Obama is supposed to speak from the White House shortly. Might want to turn on a teevee, if you have one nearby. Or surf over to your favorite news site.

(h/t: Twin)

Or pretty much any news site. A bit of good news.

[chiwhisoxx]

News is and has been fairly fluid on twitter, but there's some pretty heavy buzz now that he was killed an a mansion outside Islamabad. So assuming this might raise some questions about the Pakistani government...

[operative]

Originally Posted by chiwhisoxx

News is and has been fairly fluid on twitter, but there's some pretty heavy buzz now that he was killed an a mansion outside Islamabad. So assuming this might raise some questions about the Pakistani government...

Yeah, it'd certainly cause some questions about the notion that Bin Laden was hiding out in caves in the rugged border region.

[handle]

Originally Posted by chiwhisoxx

News is and has been fairly fluid on twitter, but there's some pretty heavy buzz now that he was killed an a mansion outside Islamabad. So assuming this might raise some questions about the Pakistani government...

Just heard pak intel assisted.

[chiwhisoxx]

Originally Posted by handle

Just heard pak intel assisted.

Just read that too. Maybe they baited him with the lure of a nice mansion with a jacuzzi and a billiards table?

[operative]

Originally Posted by chiwhisoxx

Just read that too. Maybe they baited him with the lure of a nice mansion with a jacuzzi and a billiards table?

Now that's an epic punk'd.

[handle]

Originally Posted by operative

Now that's an epic punk'd.

To catch a predator.

[operative]

Originally Posted by handle

To catch a predator.

*Bin Laden enters room*
*Cue Chris Hansen*
Chris Hansen: Not what you were expecting?
Bin Laden's jaw dropped.
Chris Hansen: Usually I would turn you over to the police...but not this time.
*Chris Hansen pulls out gun and shoots Bin Laden*

Next time on Dateline: To Catch a Terrorist, Chris Hansen kills Omar al Bashir.

[handle]

Originally Posted by operative

*Bin Laden enters room*
*Cue Chris Hansen*
Chris Hansen: Not what you were expecting?
Bin Laden's jaw dropped.
Chris Hansen: Usually I would turn you over to the police...but not this time.
*Chris Hansen pulls out gun and shoots Bin Laden*

Next time on Dateline: To Catch a Terrorist, Chris Hansen kills Omar al Bashir.

Lol! But don't ya have to offer him sweet tea first while you put in the laundry?

[AemJeff]

Originally Posted by handle

Just heard pak intel assisted.

That's how I'm hearing it.

[AemJeff]

Sorry to go all political so soon; but it's hard not to want to savor the irony. Today is the eighth anniversary of "Mission Accomplished!"

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by AemJeff

Sorry to go all political so soon; but it's hard not to want to savor the irony. Today is the eighth anniversary of "Mission Accomplished!"

Now THAT will cause wingnut fury for sure. I can hear it now: OBAMAR DELAYED THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A WEEK JUST TO GIVE BUSH A SLAP IN THE FACE.

[TwinSwords]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

President Obama is supposed to speak from the White House shortly. Might want to turn on a teevee, if you have one nearby. Or surf over to your favorite news site.

(h/t: Twin)

Three cheers for US forces and the Commander in Chief.

[handle]

Originally Posted by TwinSwords

Three cheers for US forces and the Commander in Chief.

Hip hip...

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by TwinSwords

Three cheers for US forces and the Commander in Chief.

And thanks to you for giving us the heads-up so we could catch the announcement live.

[bjkeefe]

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the chyron on every TV screen is saying something along the lines of "bin Laden's body is in US custody."

Try to imagine the diplomatic complications that will unwind from here on out, concerning the disposal of that body.

[AemJeff]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the chyron on every TV screen is saying something along the lines of "bin Laden's body is in US custody."

Try to imagine the diplomatic complications that will unwind from here on out, concerning the disposal of that body.

I'm betting they believe they have need to show the body. There was a similar issue, as I recall, when Saddam was killed.

[operative]

Originally Posted by AemJeff

I'm betting they believe they have need to show the body. There was a similar issue, as I recall, when Saddam was killed.

When Saddam's sons were killed, pictures of their bodies were made public in an effort to encourage the Iraqi people to unite in opposition to Saddam, knowing that he was really going to be out of power for good. I don't know if there will be any comparably compelling cause to show Bin Laden's body. Personally I have no interest in seeing it and I don't quite understand why anyone would want to do so. He's dead, good riddance, end of story for him.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by AemJeff

I'm betting they believe they have need to show the body. There was a similar issue, as I recall, when Saddam was killed.

I'm sure some people are wondering about that. The thought sure popped into my mind a while ago.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by AemJeff

I'm betting they believe they have need to show the body. There was a similar issue, as I recall, when Saddam was killed.

Just one tweet, but given that I only follow ~190 people, it's probably not that rare a sentiment:

dangerroom 'I'll wait for the Mujahideen to confirm this & will not believe until I see a pic of his dead body" - online jihadi http://wrd.tw/jn4O9d

(expanded link) <-- that's by B'head Spencer Ackerman, btw.

[handle]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

Just one tweet, but given that I only follow ~190 people, it's probably not that rare a sentiment:
(expanded link) <-- that's by B'head Spencer Ackerman, btw.

Hey, gotta make sure it's not andy dick in a santa suit.

I thought the speech was great, here's what happened, short and sweet.
Too bad he aint an american, that was pretty good stuff.

He should have plugged his youtube standup at the end though... live from the white house, I'll be here all week, and then probably a lot longer than some of you were hoping.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by handle

[...]

I thought the speech was great, here's what happened, short and sweet.
[...]

Agreed.

LOL @ the rest.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the chyron on every TV screen is saying something along the lines of "bin Laden's body is in US custody."

Try to imagine the diplomatic complications that will unwind from here on out, concerning the disposal of that body.

Several sources (ex: NYT, LAT/AP) are saying he was buried at sea.

NYT:

Muslim tradition requires burial within 24 hours, but by doing it at sea, American authorities presumably were trying to avoid creating a shrine for his followers.

LAT/AP:

Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, the official said. So the U.S. decided to bury him at sea.

The official, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters, did not immediately say where that occurred.

[Added] The Guardian has a brief look at the Muslim view of burial at sea.

[miceelf]

Wouldn't a shrine for his followers be kind of like a roach motel?

[rfrobison]

Best news I've heard in months. Hats off to the president, the intel people and the (I'm assuming) special forces who got him.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by rfrobison

Best news I've heard in months. Hats off to the president, the intel people and the (I'm assuming) special forces who got him.

It does seem to have been a special forces mission. Marc Ambinder's 140 char summary:

To summarize: 40 minute JSOC raid; two helos, one drone; 4 KIA, inc OBL; DevGru (Seal Team Six) did shooting; only cas was US helocopter

From other sources (e.g.), the one helicopter was forced to land due to mechanical failure. No one hurt, craft later destroyed by US forces on site.

[JonIrenicus]

I find this news incredibly cathartic.

Congratulations to the Seals, the president, all involved.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by JonIrenicus

I find this news incredibly cathartic.

I know exactly what you mean. Despite my earlier instinct to wave it off, the more I sit here, soaking in the moment, with the teevee on in the background (a rarity for me) while hopping around the Web ... yeah. Cathartic is spot-on.

Congratulations to the Seals, the president, all involved.

Indeed.

[bjkeefe]

Originally Posted by bjkeefe

I know exactly what you mean. Despite my earlier instinct to wave it off, the more I sit here, soaking in the moment, with the teevee on in the background (a rarity for me) while hopping around the Web ... yeah. Cathartic is spot-on.

Indeed.

Another of like mind:

I have no illusions that this will be the end of the war on terror, but it does not seem irrational to think that it could be the beginning of the end. Personally, I feel like a tumor was just removed from my brain—so present has the man been in my thoughts this last decade.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude and admiration for our troops…

--Sam Harris

[chiwhisoxx]

So long as we're politicizing this, CNN is now reporting that detainees from gitmo provided intelligence that led to ascertaining OBL's whereabouts.