TERRORISM: U.S. Kills Bin Laden in Intelligence-Driven Operation
David P. Dillard
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TERRORISM:
U.S. Kills Bin Laden in Intelligence-Driven Operation
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U.S. Kills Bin Laden in Intelligence-Driven Operation
May 2, 2011
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WWW.ARMY.MIL
http://www.army.mil/-news/2011/05/02/55816-
us-kills-bin-laden-in-intelligence-driven-operation/
A shorter URL for the above link:
"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama said in announcing the
death of Osama bin Laden in a U.S. military operation in Pakistan. 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."
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WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 -- An intelligence-driven U.S. operation in
Pakistan killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden yesterday, President
Barack Obama announced in a nationally televised address from the White
House late last night.
.
"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," he continued. "They took care to avoid
civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and
took custody of his body."
.
Obama noted that bin Laden had been al-Qaida's leader and symbol for more
than 20 years and continued to plot attacks against the United States and
its allies.
.
"The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in
our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaida, yet his death does not mark the
end of our effort," Obama said. "There is no doubt that al-Qaida will
continue to pursue attacks against us. We must, and we will, remain
vigilant at home and abroad."
.
The president revealed that shortly after taking office in January 2009,
he ordered CIA Director Leon E. Panetta to make bin Laden's death or
capture the top priority of the U.S. war against the al-Qaida terrorist
organization.
.
"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," he said.
.
The president said he met repeatedly with his national security team as
information developed indicating bin Laden was at a compound in Pakistan,
and that last week he determined enough information was available and
authorized the operation.
.
The president emphasized that the war against al-Qaida is not a war
against Islam.
.
"Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader," he said. "He was a mass murderer of
Muslims. 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."
.
Counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped in finding 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. Tonight, I called [Pakistani]
President [Asif Ali] 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-Qaida and its affiliates."
.
The president praised those who worked to find bin Laden and those who
carried out the operation that killed him.
.
"Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and
counterterrorism professionals who've worked tirelessly to achieve this
outcome," he said. "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," he continued,
"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."
.
Former President George W. Bush released a statement after he received a
call from Obama:
.
"Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American
forces killed Osama bin Laden the leader of the al Qaida network that
attacked America 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."
.
"This momentous achievement 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," Bush said. "The fight against terror goes on, but
tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it
takes, justice will be done."
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LINKS
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* Video: President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/
2011/05/01/president-obama-death-osama-bin-laden
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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* Transcript: Obama's remarks
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/
2011/05/02/remarks-president-osama-bin-laden
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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* Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63765
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* Army.mil: Middle East News
http://www.army.mil/news/middleeast
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* SLIDESHOW: Troops in Afghanistan watch news about Osama Bin Laden's
death
http://www.army.mil/-slideshows/2011/05/02/55811-troops-in-
afghanistan-watch-news- about-osama-bin-ladens-death/index.html
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW TERRORISM
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
The Commission closed on August 21, 2004. This site is archived.
http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch2.htm
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2.1 A DECLARATION OF WAR
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In February 1998, the 40-year-old Saudi exile Usama Bin Ladin and a
fugitive Egyptian physician, Ayman al Zawahiri, arranged from their Afghan
headquarters for an Arabic newspaper in London to publish what they termed
a fatwa issued in the name of a "World Islamic Front." A fatwa is normally
an interpretation of Islamic law by a respected Islamic authority, but
neither Bin Ladin, Zawahiri, nor the three others who signed this
statement were scholars of Islamic law. Claiming that America had declared
war against God and his messenger, they called for the murder of any
American, anywhere on earth, as the "individual duty for every Muslim who
can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it."1
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Three months later, when interviewed in Afghanistan by ABC-TV, Bin Ladin
enlarged on these themes.2 He claimed it was more important for Muslims to
kill Americans than to kill other infidels. "It is far better for anyone
to kill a single American soldier than to squander his efforts on other
activities," he said. Asked whether he approved of terrorism and of
attacks on civilians, he replied: "We believe that the worst thieves in
the world today and the worst terrorists are the Americans. Nothing could
stop you except perhaps retaliation in kind. We do not have to
differentiate between military or civilian. As far as we are concerned,
they are all targets."
.
Note: Islamic names often do not follow the Western practice of the
consistent use of surnames. Given the variety of names we mention, we
chose to refer to individuals by the last word in the names by which they
are known: Nawaf al Hazmi as Hazmi, for instance, omitting the article
"al" that would be part of their name in their own societies. We generally
make an exception for the more familiar English usage of "Bin" as part of
a last name, as in Bin Ladin. Further, there is no universally accepted
way to transliterate Arabic words and names into English. We have relied
on a mix of common sense, the sound of the name in Arabic, and common
usage in source materials, the press, or government documents. When we
quote from a source document, we use its transliteration, e.g ,"al Qida"
instead of al Qaeda.
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Though novel for its open endorsement of indiscriminate killing, Bin
Ladin's 1998 declaration was only the latest in the long series of his
public and private calls since 1992 that singled out the United States for
attack.
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In August 1996, Bin Ladin had issued his own self-styled fatwa calling on
Muslims to drive American soldiers out of Saudi Arabia. The long,
disjointed document condemned the Saudi monarchy for allowing the presence
of an army of infidels in a land with the sites most sacred to Islam, and
celebrated recent suicide bombings of American military facilities in the
Kingdom. It praised the 1983 suicide bombing in Beirut that killed 241
U.S. Marines, the 1992 bombing in Aden, and especially the 1993 firefight
in Somalia after which the United States "left the area carrying
disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you."3
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Bin Ladin said in his ABC interview that he and his followers had been
preparing in Somalia for another long struggle, like that against the
Soviets in Afghanistan, but "the United States rushed out of Somalia in
shame and disgrace." Citing the Soviet army's withdrawal from Afghanistan
as proof that a ragged army of dedicated Muslims could overcome a
superpower, he told the interviewer: "We are certain that we shall-with
the grace of Allah-prevail over the Americans." He went on to warn that
"If the present injustice continues . . . , it will inevitably move the
battle to American soil."4
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Plans to attack the United States were developed with unwavering
single-mindedness throughout the 1990s. Bin Ladin saw himself as called
"to follow in the footsteps of the Messenger and to communicate his
message to all nations,"5 and to serve as the rallying point and organizer
of a new kind of war to destroy America and bring the world to Islam.
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[Additional Topics Covered in This Document]
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2.2 BIN LADIN'S APPEAL IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD
Islam
Bin Ladin's Worldview
History and Political Context
Social and Economic Malaise
Bin Ladin's Historical Opportunity
2.3 THE RISE OF BIN LADIN AND AL QAEDA (1988-1992)
Bin Ladin Moves to Sudan
2.4 BUILDING AN ORGANIZATION, DECLARING WAR ON THE UNITED STATES
(1992-1996)
Attacks Known and Suspected
Sudan Becomes a Doubtful Haven
2.5 AL QAEDA'S RENEWAL IN AFGHANISTAN (1996-1998)
The Embassy Bombings
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U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON May 02, 2011 -
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
http://www.jcs.mil/newsarticle.aspx?ID=597
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An intelligence-driven U.S. operation in Pakistan killed al-Qaida leader
Osama bin Laden yesterday, President Barack Obama announced in a
nationally televised address from the White House late last night.
.
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, he continued. They took care to avoid civilian
casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took
custody of his body.
.
Obama noted that bin Laden had been al-Qaidas leader and symbol for more
than 20 years and continued to plot attacks against the United States and
its allies.
.
The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in
our nations effort to defeat al-Qaida, yet his death does not mark the end
of our effort, Obama said. There is no doubt that al-Qaida will continue
to pursue attacks against us. We must, and we will, remain vigilant at
home and abroad.
.
The president revealed that shortly after taking office in January 2009,
he ordered CIA Director Leon E. Panetta to make bin Ladens death or
capture the top priority of the U.S. war against the al-Qaida terrorist
organization.
.
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, he said.
The president said he met repeatedly with his national security team as
information developed indicating bin Laden was at a compound in Pakistan,
and that last week he determined enough information was available and
authorized the operation.
.
The president emphasized that the war against al-Qaida is not a war
against Islam.
.
Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, he said. He was a mass murderer of
Muslims. 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.
.
Counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped in finding 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. Tonight, I called [Pakistani]
President [Asif Ali] 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-Qaida and its affiliates.
.
The president praised those who worked to find bin Laden and those who
carried out the operation that killed him.
.
Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism
professionals whove worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome, he said.
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, he continued,
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.
.
Former President George W. Bush released a statement after he received a
call from Obama:
.
"Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American
forces killed Osama bin Laden the leader of the al Qaida network that
attacked America 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. This momentous
achievement 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.
.
The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an
unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
.
.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 02, 2011
Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Killing of Osama
bin Laden
Via Conference Call
12:03 A.M. EDT
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/02/press-briefing-
senior-administration-officials-killing-osama-bin-laden
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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MR. VIETOR: Thank you, everyone, for joining us, especially so late. We
wanted to get you on the line quickly with some senior administration
officials to talk about the operation today regarding Osama bin Laden.
And with that Ill turn it over to our first senior administration
official.
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks for joining us, everybody, at
this late hour. Its much appreciated. From the outset of the
administration, the President has placed the highest priority in
protecting the nation from the threat of terrorism. In line with this, we
have pursued an intensified, targeted, and global effort to degrade and
defeat al Qaeda. Included in this effort has been a relentless set of
steps that weve taken to locate and bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
Indeed, in the earliest days of the administration, the President formally
instructed the intelligence community and his counterterrorism advisors to
make the pursuit of Osama bin Laden, as the leader of al Qaeda, as a top
priority.
.
In the beginning of September of last year, the CIA began to work
with the President on a set of assessments that led it to believe that in
fact it was possible that Osama bin Laden may be located at a compound in
Pakistan. By mid-February, through a series of intensive meetings at the
White House and with the President, we had determined there was a sound
intelligence basis for pursuing this in an aggressive way and developing
courses of action to pursue Osama bin Laden at this location.
.
In the middle of March, the President began a series of National
Security Council meetings that he chaired to pursue again the intelligence
basis and to develop courses of action to bring justice to Osama bin
Laden. Indeed, by my count, the President chaired no fewer than five
National Security Council meetings on the topic from the middle of March
-- March 14th, March 29th, April 12th, April 19th, and April 28th. And
the President gave the final order to pursue the operation that he
announced to the nation tonight on the morning -- Friday morning of April
29th.
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The President mentioned tonight that the pursuit of Osama bin Laden
and the defeat of al Qaeda has been a bipartisan exercise in this nation
since September 11, 2001, and indeed, this evening before he spoke to the
nation, President Obama did speak to President Bush 43 and President
Clinton this evening to review with them the events of today and to
preview his statement to the nation tonight.
.
And with that, Ill turn it over to my colleague to go through some of
the details. Thank you.
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: As you heard, the President ordered
a raid earlier today against an al Qaeda compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Based on intelligence collection analysis, a small U.S. team found Osama
bin Laden living in a large home on a secured compound in an affluent
suburb of Islamabad. The raid occurred in the early morning hours in
Pakistan and accomplished its objective. Osama bin Laden is now no longer
a threat to America.
.
This remarkable achievement could not have happened without
persistent effort and careful planning over many years. Our national
security professionals did a superb job. They deserve tremendous credit
for serving justice to Osama bin Laden.
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Bin Laden was a sworn enemy of the United States and a danger to all
humanity; a man who called for the murder of any American anywhere on
Earth. His death is central to the Presidents goal of disrupting,
dismantling, and ultimately defeating al Qaeda and its violent allies. He
was responsible for killing thousands of innocent men and women not only
on 9/11, but in the 1998 East Africa embassy bombing, the attack of the
USS Cole, and many other acts of brutality.
.
He was the leader of a violent extremist movement with affiliates
across the globe that had taken up arms against the United States and its
allies. Bin Ladens most influential role has been to designate the United
States as al Qaedas primary target and to maintain organizational focus on
that objective. This strategic objective, which was first made in a 1996
declaration of jihad against Americans, was the cornerstone of bin Ladens
message.
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Since 9/11, multiple agencies within our intelligence community have
worked tirelessly to track down bin Laden, knowing that his removal from
al Qaeda would strike a crippling blow to the organization and its
militant allies. And last September the President was made aware of a
compound in Abbottabad, where a key al Qaeda facilitator appeared to be
harboring a high-value target. He received regular intelligence updates,
as was just mentioned, on the compound in September, and he directed that
action be taken as soon as he concluded that the intelligence case was
sufficiently strong. A range of options for achieving the mission were
developed, and on Friday he authorized the operation.
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Now Ill turn it to my colleagues to go through the intelligence.
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you. First I want to point
out that todays success was a team effort. It was a model of really
seamless collaboration across our government. Since 9/11, this is what
the American people have expected of us, and today, in this critical
operation, we were able to finally deliver.
.
The operation itself was the culmination of years of careful and
highly advanced intelligence work. Officers from the CIA, the NGA, the
NSA all worked very hard as a team to analyze and pinpoint this compound.
Together they applied their very unique expertise and capabilities to
Americas most vexing intelligence problem, where to find bin Laden.
.
When the case had been made that this was a critical target, we began
to prepare this mission in conjunction with the U.S. military. In the
end, it was the matchless skill and courage of these Americans that
secured this triumph for our country and the world. Im very proud of the
entire team that worked on this operation, and am very thankful to the
President for the courage that he displayed in making the decision to
proceed with this operation.
.
With that, let me turn to my colleague to give you details on the
intelligence background.
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you. The bottom line of our
collection and our analysis was that we had high confidence that the
compound harbored a high-value terrorist target. The experts who worked
this issue for years assessed that there was a strong probability that the
terrorist that was hiding there was Osama bin Laden.
.
What Id like to do is walk you through the key points in that
intelligence trail that led us to that conclusion. From the time that we
first recognized bin Laden as a threat, the CIA gathered leads on
individuals in bin Ladens inner circle, including his personal couriers.
Detainees in the post-9/11 period flagged for us individuals who may have
been providing direct support to bin Laden and his deputy, Zawahiri, after
their escape from Afghanistan.
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One courier in particular had our constant attention. Detainees gave
us his nom de guerre or his nickname and identified him as both a protof
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of September 11th, and a trusted
assistant of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, the former number three of al Qaeda who
was captured in 2005.
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Detainees also identified this man as one of the few al Qaeda
couriers trusted by bin Laden. They indicated he might be living with and
protecting bin Laden. But for years, we were unable to identify his true
name or his location.
.
Four years ago, we uncovered his identity, and for operational
reasons, I cant go into details about his name or how we identified him,
but about two years ago, after months of persistent effort, we identified
areas in Pakistan where the courier and his brother operated. Still we
were unable to pinpoint exactly where they lived, due to extensive
operational security on their part. The fact that they were being so
careful reinforced our belief that we were on the right track.
.
Then in August 2010, we found their residence, a compound in
Abbottabad, Pakistan, a town about 35 miles north of Islamabad. The area
is relatively affluent, with lots of retired military. Its also insolated
from the natural disasters and terrorist attacks that have afflicted other
parts of Pakistan. When we saw the compound where the brothers lived, we
were shocked by what we saw -- an extraordinarily unique compound. The
compound sits on a large plot of land in an area that was relatively
secluded when it was built. It is roughly eight times larger than the
other homes in the area.
.
When the compound was built in 2005, it was on the outskirts of the
town center, at the end of a narrow dirt road. In the last six years,
some residential homes have been built nearby. The physical security
measures of the compound are extraordinary. It has 12- to 18-foot walls
topped with barbed wire. Internal wall sections -- internal walls
sectioned off different portions of the compound to provide extra privacy.
Access to the compound is restricted by two security gates, and the
residents of the compound burn their trash, unlike their neighbors, who
put the trash out for collection.
.
The main structure, a three-story building, has few windows facing
the outside of the compound. A terrace on the third floor has a
seven-foot wall privacy -- has a seven-foot privacy wall.
.
Its also noteworthy that the property is valued at approximately $1
million but has no telephone or Internet service connected to it. The
brothers had no explainable source of wealth.
.
Intelligence analysts concluded that this compound was custom built
to hide someone of significance. We soon learned that more people were
living at the compound than the two brothers and their families. A third
family lived there -- one whose size and whose makeup matched the bin
Laden family members that we believed most likely to be with Osama bin
Laden. Our best assessment, based on a large body of reporting from
multiple sources, was that bin Laden was living there with several family
members, including his youngest wife.
.
Everything we saw -- the extremely elaborate operational security,
the brothers background and their behavior, and the location and the
design of the compound itself was perfectly consistent with what our
experts expected bin Ladens hideout to look like. Keep in mind that two
of bin Ladens gatekeepers, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Faraj al-Libbi,
were arrested in the settled areas of Pakistan.
.
Our analysts looked at this from every angle, considering carefully who
other than bin Laden could be at the compound. We conducted red team
exercises and other forms of alternative analysis to check our work. No
other candidate fit the bill as well as bin Laden did.
.
So the final conclusion, from an intelligence standpoint, was twofold. We
had high confidence that a high-value target was being harbored by the
brothers on the compound, and we assessed that there was a strong
probability that that person was Osama bin Laden.
.
Now let me turn it over to my colleague.
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you. Earlier this afternoon, a
small U.S. team conducted a helicopter raid on the compound. Considerable
planning helped prepare our operators for this very complex mission.
Senior officials have been involved in the decision-making and planning
for this operation for months, and briefed the President regularly. My
colleague has already mentioned the unusual characteristics of this
compound. Each of these, including the high walls, security features,
suburban location, and proximity to Islamabad made this an especially
dangerous operation.
.
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.
.
I know you understand that I cant and wont get into many details of this
mission, but Ill share what I can. This operation was a surgical raid by
a small team designed to minimize collateral damage and to pose as little
risk as possible to non-combatants on the compound or to Pakistani
civilians in the neighborhood.
.
Our team was on the compound for under 40 minutes and did not encounter
any local authorities while performing the raid. In addition to Osama bin
Laden, three adult males were killed in the raid. We believe two were the
couriers and the third was bin Ladens adult son.
.
There were several women and children at the compound. One woman was
killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant. Two other women
were injured.
.
During the raid, we lost one helicopter due to mechanical failure. The
aircraft was destroyed by the crew and the assault force and crew members
boarded the remaining aircraft to exit the compound. All non-combatants
were moved safely away from the compound before the detonation.
.
Thats all I have at this time. Ill turn it back to my colleague.
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: We shared our intelligence on this bin
Laden compound with no other country, including Pakistan. That was for
one reason and one reason alone: We believed it was essential to the
security of the operation and our personnel. In fact, only a very small
group of people inside our own government knew of this operation in
advance.
.
Shortly after the raid, U.S. officials contacted senior Pakistani leaders
to brief them on the intent and the results of the raid. We have also
contacted a number of our close allies and partners throughout the world.
.
Sine 9/11, the United States has made it clear to Pakistan that we would
pursue bin Laden wherever he might be. Pakistan has long understood that
we are at war with al Qaeda. The United States had a legal and moral
obligation to act on the information it had.
.
And let me emphasize that great care was taken to ensure operational
success, minimize the possibility of non-combatant casualties, and to
adhere to American and international law in carrying out the mission.
.
I should note that in the wake of this operation, there may be a
heightened threat to the homeland and to U.S. citizens and facilities
abroad. Al Qaeda operatives and sympathizers may try to respond violently
to avenge bin Ladens death, and other terrorist leaders may try to
accelerate their efforts to strike the United States. But the United
States is taking every possible precaution to protect Americans here at
home and overseas. The State Department has sent guidance to embassies
worldwide and a travel advisory has been issued for Pakistan.
.
And without a doubt, the United States will continue to face terrorist
threats. The United States will continue to fight those threats. We have
always understood that this fight would be a marathon and not a sprint.
.
Theres 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 Qaeda. It is a major and essential step in bringing about al
Qaedas eventual destruction.
.
Bin Laden was al Qaedas only (inaudible) commander in its 22-year history,
and was largely responsible for the organizations mystique, its attraction
among violent jihadists, and its focus on America as a terrorist target.
As the only al Qaeda leader whose authority was universally respected, he
also maintained his cohesion, and his likely successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri,
is far less charismatic and not as well respected within the organization,
according to comments from several captured al Qaeda leaders. He probably
will have difficulty maintaining the loyalty of bin Ladens largely Gulf
Arab followers.
.
Although al Qaeda may not fragment immediately, the loss of bin Laden puts
the group on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse.
.
And finally, its important to note that it is most fitting that bin
Ladens death comes at a time of great movement towards freedom and
democracy that is sweeping the Arab world. He stood in direct opposition
to what the greatest men and women throughout the Middle East and North
Africa are risking their lives for: individual rights and human dignity.
.
MR. VIETOR: With that were ready to take a couple questions.
.
Q One question. You said a small U.S. team. Were these military
personnel, can you say, or non-military?
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Cant go into further details at this
time; just a small U.S. team.
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Q Good morning. Can you tell us specifically what contact there was
with bin Laden at the compound? You referred to someone using a woman as
a shield that was not bin Laden. But how was he killed? Where? What
occurred at the compound?
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: As the President said this evening, bin
Laden was killed in a firefight as our operators came onto the compound.
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Q Thank you. Just to go back to what you were talking about with the
attacks in response to this operation, are you hearing any specific
threats against specific targets?
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No. But any type of event like this, it
is very prudent for us to take measures so that we can ensure that the
security measures that we need to institute here and throughout the world
are in place. This is just something that we normally would do. We dont
have any specific threats at this time related to this. But we are
ensuring that every possible precaution is taken in advance.
.
Q Yes, hey, how are you doing? My question would be, what was the type
of the helicopter that failed? And what was the nature of that mechanical
failure?
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Cant go into details at this time.
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: We didnt say it was mechanical.
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Q Was bin Laden involved in firing himself or defending himself? And
then any chronology of the raid itself?
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: He did resist the assault force. And he
was killed in a firefight.
.
Q Thank you. Thank you for taking this call. Can you give me a
comment on the very fact that Osama bin Laden was just in Islamabad -- and
has long been (inaudible) Afghanistan (inaudible) also from India, that
Osama bin Laden is hiding somewhere near Islamabad? What does it signify,
that? Does it signify any cooperation or any kind of link that he had
with establishments in Pakistan?
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: As the President said, Pakistani
cooperation had assisted in this lead, as we pursued it. So were
continuing to work this issue right now. We are very concerned about --
that he was inside of Pakistan, but this is something that were going to
continue to work with the Pakistani government on.
.
Q But the very fact you didnt inform the Pakistani authorities -- did
you have any suspicion that if you informed them, the information might
lead somewhere?
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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: An operation like this that is conducted
has the utmost operational security attached to it. I said that we had
shared this information with no other country, and that a very, very small
group of individuals within the United States government was aware of
this. That is for operational security purposes.
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I would also just add to that that
President Obama, over a period of several years now, has repeatedly made
it clear that if we had actionable intelligence about Osama bin Ladens
whereabouts, we would act. So President Obama has been very clear in
delivering that message publicly over a period of years. And thats what
led President Obama to order this operation. When he determined that the
intelligence was actionable and the intelligence case was sufficient, he
gave us high confidence that bin Laden indeed was at the compound.
.
Q Thank you. What is going to happen next? And what is the U.S. going
to do with bin Ladens body?
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: We are ensuring that it is handled in
accordance with Islamic practice and tradition. This is something that we
take very seriously. And so therefore this is being handled in an
appropriate manner.
.
MR. VIETOR: Great, thanks. Just to remind everyone, this call is on
background, as senior administration officials. We have time for one more
question, and were going to go to bed.
.
Q Do you have a sense of the vintage of the compound and how long bin
Laden had been there?
.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The compound has been in existence for
roughly five years, but we dont know how long bin Laden lived there. We
assess that the compound was built for the purpose of harboring him. But
again, dont know how long hes been there.
.
MR. VIETOR: Great, thank you all. Well talk more tomorrow.
END 12:24 A.M. EDT
.
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TORA BORA REVISITED: HOW WE FAILED TO GET BIN LADEN
AND WHY IT MATTERS TODAY
A Report To Members OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
John F. Kerry, Chairman
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
http://foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Tora_Bora_Report.pdf
CONTENTS
Page
Letter of Transmittal
Executive Summary
1. Flight to Tora Bora
The Sheikh Arrives
Other Voices, Same Conclusion
A Controversial Fight
2. The Afghan Model: A Flawed Masterpiece or Just Flawed?
A Shift in Attention and Resources
Were Going to Lose Our Prey
Flight from Tora Bora
3. An Alternative Plan
Troops Were Ready to Go
The Price of Failure
Endnotes
APPENDIXES
Appendix I.A Flawed Masterpiece, Michael E. OHanlon, Foreign Affairs,
March/April 2002
Appendix II.United States Special Operations Command History, 6th Edition
(III)
VerDate Nov
.
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WEBBIB1011
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TERRORISM:
Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Net-Gold/message/35510
.
.
Osama bin Laden
Google News Archive
http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22Osama+bin+
Laden%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Search+Archives
.
A shorter URL for the above link:
.
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Osama bin Laden
Google Government
http://www.google.com/unclesam?hl=en&q=%22Osama+bin+Laden%22&btnG=Search
.
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Osama bin Laden
Google Scholar
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=
%22Osama%20bin%20Laden%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws
.
A shorter URL for the above link:
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Osama bin Laden
Google Scholar Law
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%22Osama+bin+Laden%22&as_sdt=2%2C39&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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.
Osama bin Laden
Google Books
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20Laden%22&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=sp
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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Osama bin Laden
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Laden%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=pi&biw=1126&bih=581
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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.
Osama bin Laden
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Osama%20bin%20Laden%22&um=
1&biw=1126&bih=581&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=vid:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=iv
.
A shorter URL for the above link:
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.
Osama bin Laden
Google Blogs
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Osama%20bin%20Laden%22&um=
1&biw=1126&bih=581&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=vid:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=
iv#hl=en&q=%22Osama+bin+Laden%22&um=1&biw=1126&bih=581&ie=
UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=vid:1,blg:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=vb&fp=6e51f3b7bd5a4d48
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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SCIRUS
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%22Osama+bin+Laden%22&t=all&sort=0&g=s
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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Temple Summon Search
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ContentType%2CNewspaper+Article%2Ct&s.q=%22Osama+bin+Laden%22
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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.
.
Meet the Googles
http://sites.google.com/site/searchtoolsfamily/
.
.
Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jw...@temple.edu
http://daviddillard.businesscard2.com
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Bushell, R. & Sheldon, P. (eds),
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