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Subscribe to RSSNBC's David Gregory reports that President Obama will announce tonight that Osama bin Laden has been killed.
*** UPDATE *** This is the result of a U.S. action in Pakistan, killed by U.S. personnel, and that the United States has bin Laden's body. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports, it was not a drone strike that killed bin Laden, it was "recent" Special Ops operation in Pakistan.
*** UPDATE 2 *** This is, by the way, the eighth anniversary of President Bush's 2003 speech on an aircraft carrier with the banner, "Mission Accomplished" behind him.
*** UPDATE 3 *** NBC's Shawna Thomas reports: CIA Director Leon Panetta called ranking Member of the Intel Committee Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD). Chairman of the House Intel Commitee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-CA) is on a red-eye flight back to DC.
*** UPDATE 4 *** NBC's Mike Viqueira reports that the president called House Speaker Boehner personally to inform him. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports that Boehner says he will hold all comment until after the president speaks.
*** UPDATE 5 *** NBC's Athena Jones reports that a crowd has begun to gather in front of the White House. There are about 50 people out there and it seems to be growing. They're shouting and rejoicing and just finished singing the Star Spangled Banner. They erupted in applause afterwards. They're now chanting U-S-A. They had begun to sing, "We Are the Champions" and more people were running up. There is at least one police car parked next to the group.
*** UPDATE 6 *** WNBC's Jonathan Dienst reports that the New York Police Department will be ramping up security measures across the city as a precaution given the news Bin Laden has been killed, according to Paul Browne, an NYPD spokesman.
Leave a Comment:
Okay great Job USA. We WIN!
Now lets go home and fix our schools, roads, and bridges, lets win the hearts and minds of the American middle class.
Daum,whatta Muslim-Terrorist-Marxist-Socialist-Transferer of Wealth President we have!
As DaNoid says below:
Thank You Mr. President!
Barrack Hussein Obama !
Indeed:
Mission Accomplished !
Great job mr.president, you rock!
Great Job Mr. President. In two years you did what W. couldn't do in 7. Great job CIA. Great job Armed Forces. You all Rock! Obama 2012
How can you say Thank you to our President? He isn't over there in the line of fire. The thanks should go out to all the men and women that are over there fighting for us and to bring the rest of our troops home.
now...wheres that mission accomplished banner? im sure george left it in some box in the white house basement somewhere.
Rainbows and unicorns!
Now seriously....congratulations US intelligence community. You know, the people who actually accomplished this.
Open minded,
You are as closed minded as anyone can be. Our President did this by giving the resources necessary to the CIA and the armed forces in Afghanistan to do their job correctly. Something W. was not capable of. Anniversary of W.'s Mission Accomplished sign today. I bet everyone in the white house wishes they had that banner today. Obama 2012. To he$% with Republicans. They can't do anything right!
The President's only contribution was staying out of the way.
40 minutes.
God Bless our troops! May all of us quit fighting about which President did what, when. It is our military, under both Presidents Bush and Obama, that have stood strong no matter who is their leader. Can't you give the blame game a rest for a minute?
president obama kept his word. justice has been done
There's a lot more than 50 people in front of the White House now. Wow. There are HUNDREDS that I see.
Open minded has a point. Without the Special Forces who I hear were practicing to get the timing down, this would never have happened. Our military is the bomb.
Unless PRESIDENT OBAMA AUTHORIZED this action, this action would not have happened.
Most people know how I feel about Obama (not favorable for the most part) and I give him kudos and major props. He described what he did in his excellent speech. It was efficient military action authorized by Obama.
Bush 7 years no Osama
Obama 2 years no more Osama
Obama tripled the troops bush languished there for 7 years and quadrupled drone attacks, and moved Petraus over from Iraq among other changes. Combined it worked in 2 what didn't work in 7. God bless our troops. God bless our new commander in chief. God bless the USA!!!
This is not about Bush or Obama. Neither would have had anything to do with the actual success of this mission other than giving the order that any sane person would and could do. The credit goes to the small special operations team that put their lives in harm's way and accomplished this mission. This is not like lining up a bunch of troops and roaring across some desert in mass force. It takes the stealth and advanced training of special operations teams to make this happen. Congratulations to our troops as usual. That goes for any CIA intelligence folks that supported the planning fro this operation. I am sure there are a lot of behind the scenes people that are very satisfied wth their jobs right now!!!
Let's not make this a political game. It was a successful military mission accomplished without much help from Pakistan or any one in the Halls of Congress or the White House. The winners are the people of the world... not any political figure that just happens to occupy the White House. He just gets to stand up and announce what men of solid core values and proven courage really did. As far as Osama... as Moms Mably used to say if you cannot say anything good about someone, don't say anything... " He is dead... GOOD!"
Now maybe we ought to use the same team and go in get Khaddafi!
Yes, yes credit Obama because the Pakistani government finally became so threatened by Al Queda that they gave up Bin Laden's location.
Rainbows and unicorns!
For once obama has maintained focus and made the right decision.
Losing the body within the depths of the ocean was also the right decision.
For those thinking that the end game has been accomplished, you are dreamers. We must maintain vigilance and focus to protect and maintain freedom.
Wow!!!! This is amazing!!! This is a process that has been going on across two administrations, involving a lot of people. All credit to those who put in all of the effort to track down and ultimately kill this piece of garbage!!!!!
I'm hoping that this doesn't devolve into trying to score political points...we should all be celebrating this event!!
Very true, Frank. This has been a huge effort involving people of various political stripes, within and outside the military, and across multiple countries. Al Qaeda will continue to exist for a time, but we've stolen their wallet and cut off their charismatic head at one time. It's a great day in the struggle to neuter violent Islam.
This is a victory for all the members of the military and their families who have given so much for so long because of the acts this mad man set in motion.
Your sacrifices were not in vain.
Fox does not see it that way! God Bless S.O.P.
Great post Frank..
You hit the nail on the head. Lots of lives lost and lots of Sacrafice by many people in tracking him down and killing him..
Sacrifice
To the Right Wing Freak Show that just LOOOOOVED to "poo-poo" Afghanistan as "Obama's War"...
...I believe the words you are looking for this evening are, "Thank You, Mr. President."
Here's your real "Mission Accomplished"!!!
Give it a rest about the "right wing freak show" crap. Put the politics down for a minute. We should celebrate as a nation together, not divide it even more.
Not sure how much we accomplished. There is always another in succession. I am very happy bin Laden is gone. The world is a better place now. But we may get a spate of sympathy attacks on American interests in the coming days or weeks. Everyone should stay vigilant! God bless the USA!
You mean - "THANK YOU" US Military - I doubt Mr. Obama had anything really to do with this and also he voted against continued action in Afghanistan under Bush's administration. You political people make me sick with all of your flip flopping whenever you feel your party is in power. BTW are you the same editorial machine that was criticizing Bush's effort to get Osama?
I think the words I'm looking for are Thank You to EVERYONE involved in this...notably CIA personnel who put their lives at risk by gathering intelligence and the military personnel who risked their lives on a daily basis. This is something that's been underway a long time and a lot of people deserve credit.
Throwing terms like "right wing freak show" are completely unnecessary at a time like this. How bout we celebrate this together regardless of political leanings!!! I will gladly buy anyone a drink tomorrow night, be they liberal, conservative, or moderate!!
What you really mean to say, PJ, is Mr. President, you make us proud!
I said what I meant. This is a victory for the US Military not a politician.
Then, PJ, you are wrong and short sighted. This is a victory for our country, and this President.
Bush sure in the heck couldn't do anything right.
@PJ Reilly
I wish I could vote you up several hundred times!! People are forgetting who actually did the work. Obama will get the credit, as it happened on his watch. And he will use that as a point in his favor for re-election. OK, good strategy for him, some people will actually believe he had direct responsibility for it.
But, if you happened to hear Obama's speech, he stated that this all happened today. Yet the reports have been that Bin Laden was killed one week ago and US authorities were waiting for the DNA match. Which is correct?
Regardless, I'm thankful that our armed forces were finally able to get him. God Bless the USA!
I agree with Pj and open-minded! Thank you Army!!!! Their the ones that killed him, not the president! He was here the whole time, while many men and women fought and some even lost thier lives to do this. Obama didnt anything!
pj and the bean and the rest of you who will not give the president any credit because of your politics. get over it. going into the heart of pakistan, putting boots on the ground, would not have happened without the president giving the order, putting his a$$ on the line. if it had been a failure, he would be taking the heat. so just shut up i dn't want to here it.
GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not God Bless the world ?
You have Buddha......
Huh ?
Because "the world" has not been helping financially, politically, or operationally in this effort. We are not supposed to be the "police man" of the world yet look at the stats when it comes to the US coming to the aid of the world - we give more money, more humanitarian aid, attention, and hope..., and it isn't even close...
your country also wages the most wars and interferes for oil in the name of freedom ..Anyways my point was about this narcissistic and selfish "God Bless America" slogan.
It's relevant only to a christian population not to the "other americans"and sounds kind of obsessive.
God bless the world. Sorry Mr. Singh for the earlier Buddha comment . It is obvious that mr Hernan has no Idea about the religions in India.
Mr. Singh, I apologize for the earlier rude comment. I agree with you, God, Buddha, Jehova et al, bless the world!
God Bless America is valid only to Christians in America? First, Christians understand God created the entire world, and Christ came from Heaven and walked in Israel. Just because we ask God to help our nation is not obsessive, nor would I think that if someone in India said 'God bless India.' If you choose not to accept Christ and His Love, that does not make those who do obsessive, just joyful and grateful to know Him and His power to bless and heal us. Whatever you belive here inAmerica, as a human person, may God bless you too!
Actually I am not offended.. I guess when you travel as much as I do you kind of look beyond nationalism..and one God.
Anyone whose lived in multiple countries would relate to what I have written as would most educated Americans.
Hopefully your countries foreign policy will mature over time and not be held ransom by the military industrial complex.
.
A great night for the United States. It may be symbolic, it may be ten years later, but even as someone opposed to the death penalty: Congratulations, Mr. President. Justice is done. We celebrate the turning of history's pages, and tomorrow's dawn will be brighter.
I for one am relieved. The man perpetrated a horrible act and and now he has been given what he deserved. Too many people died because of him, not to mention all the waste in resources pursuing him. Please, can we bring our troops home now.
NO
 Great job to the Military and the President.   Let's see how the right wing spins this
Yes lets make this a right wing vs left wing issue. Two can play this game. If it were up to the left wing, we wouldnt have much of a military left to accomplish this feat. Lets just tip our hat to the military for a job well done.
middleclass... get a grip.... the credit goes entirely to the military, the current President was more of a hindrance to the effort, absolutely not a help. If he had his way we'd have been out of Afganistan a long time ago... !
But, wait, wasn't this "Obama's War" last week? Either he escalated Afghanistan or he wanted out...but it can't be both.
Liberals for escalating war? Wow I cant believe my eyes! The liberals want to cut the military to the bone. Now its your BFF!
middleclass - whatever happened to "shared sacrifice"?
As a conservative, I say thank you mr president for maintaining the focus and commitment passed on by president clintom and president bush in dealing with bin laden.
american, I think at least we can agree that bin Laden deserved to be on the radar screen of every President since he hooked up with the Taliban...and he was. The Bush Administration hunted him into a position of much less power and influence, the Obama Administration finished him off.
With ultimate credit due our brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen for putting their lives on the line in support of the mission.
It is apparant many don't give a darn about what happened last week, but only spin the merits of Obama's contribution in bringing this man to justice.
Billy Waugh, I hope you got your second chance with Usama.
Without question, this operation could not have happened without the Obama blessing. But get over it all, the hunt for Usama has been ongoing since 9.11, and the end happened on Obama's watch. The intelligence community, and it also happens to encompass more organizations than just the CIA, did receive their opportunity, the operational planners created a viable operation to capture or eliminate Usama, and the President was presented the plan and signed-off. Obama had no other opportunity but sign the plan. Pakistan was informed of the op as it began, no other information was passed onto them.
A team of shooters took Usama and his group out, without a loss of American lives. A highly professional team of special warfare operators attacked a compound during early morning hours, fixed Usama, dispatched him and had a special warfare helicopter wisk the body and the team away. The op didn't last long enough for any ragheads to offer resistance.
Great job to those intelligence, planners and shooters who did an outstanding job in this operation! Now let's get the rest.
This is amazingly great news. Yet, it does NOT spell the end of the Taliban. I wish it was that easy, but this is far from over. He had lieutenants that have already done some planning, and they will replace him...Sadly.
Finally the bastard's dead! Many thanks to the heroic troops we've lost over the last 10 years and those still serving in Afganistan! Mission finally accomplished with unfortunately reluctant and somewhat failed help from our current POTUS! But it's over, thank God it's over!
mike your an idiot, obama has stepped up the drone strikes into pakistan going after these thugs and saving our troops lives, all while standing up to the pakistanie government over the strikes. he did just what he said he would do, and he did it in two years. go back to fox news.
miked - it is hardly over....
Job well done to our military men and women and the powers that be, behind them. Now, let's get our house in order.
Wow... so they killed this guy Osama. You think that's it? You think that those who are fighting the oppressors, namely the US government, will give up??? you must be really dumb. The Muslims will never give up fighting against injustice and oppression, against a murderous, regime which is the US
First, it's not "The Muslims" who are fighting us. It's al Qaeda.
Secondly, no, we do not thing this is the end.
Unfortunately I expect it to get worse. there are going to be a lot of loonies over there who are going to want to take Osama's place. We wont be going any where for a while.
The other thing to consider is if Pakistan is going to get pissed at us for doing things on thier soil.
If Pakistan was either negligent or complicit in allowing bin Laden to hide in their country then that's just too damn bad!
Muslims will never stop fighting "against injustice and oppression, against a murderous, regime"?
If that were so they'd be fighting against the leaders of almost all their nations. Oh wait, they are! You moron, you are the injustice and oppression in most of the world. Just can't stand being irrelevant to most of the world, can ya. You are only in the news when one of you do something so horribly bad that we have to come in and spank you. Consider this another spanking administered.
Anonnimouns1 - Are you part of "the muslims" who are fighting the US? Which cave are you hiding in. Crawl back to your sewer you sorry sick so@ o# a Bit#$. We have a drone with a special delivery package with your name on it.
Oh so, there is justice and freedom in the Muslim world? You have to be kidding, try being a woman, or minority (like a member of another religion). Yes, there is so much justice and freedom there.
To the Armed Forces, Congratulations, and thank you. To the leadership of this country: Especially our President: Your determination to bring this criminal to his just end will be a lesson for the ages. For those who doubted our President and his administration: I do hope that you have the courage to admit you were wrong.
To those who died on 9/11 and their families: We will not and have not forgotten you. May those who died rest in peace, may those who grieve find condolence.
Well said newdayDawning10.
NewDay,
This is a good time for our military, for they accomplished what has been ongoing for some time - the Hunt for Usama. I doubt, and still doubt the empty suit in the White House, but I will give him the credit for signing the order to eliminate Usama.
But you must admit New Day, the end happened on Obama's watch, and one could equate this as a great accomplishment for his election, of which many lefties will spin it as Obama saved the day. Even in his speech, Barry used the "I" word consistently. I was waiting for his to say he pulled the trigger too.
But it is a great day, whether you stand to the left or right.....one dimwit raghead down, several more to go.
Glad to see that Osama went to go see his 72 virgins. Personally I think he should be buried with the carcass of a pig.
Before everyone gets too excited, if you think that we can finally get out of afghanistan now, just remember, we are still in Iraq more than 4 years after Saddam was tried and hung.
Question: Are you awake yet?
I wonder how long it will take for someone to turn this into some kind of criticism of our President?
Looks to me like the Obama supporters got a head start politicizing this.
I'm sure it won't take long, they've got to think about it for a minute or two.
Obama's #1
If the party of George W. Bush can't handle his failure to bring bin Laden to justice that's not my problem.
I give credit to both administrations: Bush for initiating the actions to bring bin Laden to justice and Obama for continuing the mission. Oh yeah, and how about those actually out there getting the job done.
It took 40 minutes for the first post critical of the President on this thread.
Philip:
Bush don't get credit for nothing...he couldn't do the job in 7years.. It took Obama 2.
bush is a loser.
@ Phillip-1848375
Well and best said. Thank you.
Toyota3, you do realize that al Queda was emasculated in 2002/03 by US forces in Afghanistan? That bin Laden's death is the result of several years of intelligence work? That the pieces used by our current President were increased and supported by the previous President?
So heartlight - proud of yourself? Your post 15 has no real value for the topic at hand.
Spins abound! All you need to hear is the number of times Barry used the "I" word in his speech.
It happened on his watch.......he doesn't have a record to run on..........of course he will take the credit for an ongoing search for Usama.
But what the heck....a great job for the intelligence community, our military, and the select group of shooters involved in the operation.
You just can't find it within yourself to give President Obama credit for a job well done, can you safecracker?
Would it have been better had he made a carrier landing in a flight suit to make the announcement?
Second update about being 8th anniversary of mission accomplished statement was stupid. Â Anyone with any sense knows what Pres. Bush meant by the statement. Â Everyone except the lib. media who will spin anything and everything. Â CONGRATS to our fine military men and women who never gave up on their search. Â One less icon for the terrorists to worship. Â This man deserved to die a long time ago.
Not stupid at all...oh, the irony.
George W. Bush said Bin laden was "Wanted, Dead or Alive" after letting him go at Torra Borra and 8 years of war but failed to get the 911 Mastermind. Bush and Cheney did a lot of posturing and chest thumping but no Bin laden. Obama said he would get him and now he has. So much for the theory that Republicans are better at National Defense. Obama used Intelligence to get his man and that is something Bush and Cheney were never accused of, using Intelligence.
You nailed it Rick
Obama had no more to do with nailing him than Clinton had to do with letting him get away.....or setting the circumstances that led to the 9/11 attacks in the first place....hmmm
Did you listen to the President? He and the CIA and Special Ops have been working on this since last August and last week he decided they had enough intelligence to launch the operation. Don't say he had nothing to do with it.
All while trump was scouring Hawaii for a damm birth certificate. Doesn't the donald look stupid now...
What a great way to end the weekend.
@Rick in Vegas: Wow!!!! Best post I've read so far. Just had to comment on that one. You ole' hit the nail on the head guy! The best post!!!!!!
Guess it's a good thing the Republicans decided to compromise on that last CR for the budget....imagine if the President had made good on his promise not to pay the military while simultaneously continuing to send them into harms way?
Rick, heartlight, et al - I listened to it live last night on cbs. Obama shared credit with bush, the CIA and Americas special forces. Quit politicizing it or I will have to forever remind you and other liberal fools of this by quoting what obama said.
Let the hating begin..
Obama #1
This is a great day for all Americans. Now lets get out of Iraq, Afghanastan, and Libya. I agree with Forest and Grimey. Lets get home and fix America and lets not turn this into some left vs right BS. The military under Bush and Obama have completed our mission.
Obama rocks again...
On the golf course maybe.....in Brazil
Don't hate philip
I'm not hating....wish my job allowed my that kind of time on the golf course in other countries....I'm just a little too busy as a soldier these days....
Ding Dong the witch is dead! Witch oh Witch? The wicked witch! Ding Dong the wicked witch is dead!
Thank you for keeping us safe and killing our enemy! Obama 2012.
You stupid liberals! You ALL hate war and you ALL were mad at Bush for even going into Afghanistan and "Pock-i-stan" as that brain-dead Obama says. Now that Osama is dead you think Obama did something right? You make me laugh. You're SUCH hypocrites and always will be. Republican goes to war...WAR CRIMINAL...Democrat goes to war or fights the SAME war...HERO. Get a life you liberal idiots!
Tom:
Obama rocks...LOL
@Toyota3
The US Armed Forces ROCK!
Obama just happened to be in office when THEY were able to find the bad guy. LOL!
What we have is the "Official Report". It may be true that it's bin Laden's body killed by Americans but since the official report is generally unreliable, I'll take all that with a grain of salt.
I do hope the report is true.
Yep Pippo,
The "Official Report" is a final document on events that happened last week. DNA confirms Usama dead.
What more do you wish to see?
Bin Laden's birth certificate?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thank you to all that have served!
Why thank you for your comment. Greatly appreciated.
Please don't use this achievement as just another opportunity to bash Bush. Rather, be happy that our military personnel have brought this about.
The snide remark that Bush pronounced mission accomplished 8 years ago is out of place. Bush was referring to the mission that the ship's crew was assigned and carried out, not that the entire effort to capture bin Laden was accomplished.
Yes, this happened on President Obama's watch and I agree that we should all give him full credit and congratulations. My hat is off to you, Mr. President.
Umm, no James Lee, but good try at spinning the great Republican lie.
James Lee,
Spend a little less reading "Dummies guide to Republican Spin". Obama 2012.
So was the great Republican lie that there was a terrorist threat that needed to be dealt with?
AnnaBanana,
Keep trying to work you spin for Obie. He had to sign the order to allow the shooters to make the kill, but the military and the intelligence community need to hear the praise; they did the job.
From the number of "I's" in the Obama speech, I was wondering when he would claim pulling the trigger though.
I appreciate the fact that facts can be spun in accord with one's personal point of view or ideaology. What I present following is extracted from the White House transcript of remarks made by President Bush from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, at sea off the coast of San Diego, Calif., on May 1, 2003.
Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. (Applause.) And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.
We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We're pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime, who will be held to account for their crimes. We've begun the search for hidden chemical and biological weapons and already know of hundreds of sites that will be investigated. We're helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself, instead of hospitals and schools. And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. (Applause.)
Please go ahead now and spin in whatever direction you may see fit.
Hmm, James-367659, I didn't read anything about, to quote your post, ". . . the mission that the ship's crew was assigned and carried out."
Your assertion is rendered incorrect by the first two sentences of the transcript: "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
HOWEVER, I did notice a few gems in there about 'hidden chemical and biological weapons' and 'hundreds of sites'. Are you sure you really want to hang your hat on this transcript?
James-367659, get your TV remote and change the channel off of Faux Noise (Fox News for you who couldn't figure it out). Also, when listening to the radio, turn off the right wing talk-fest and listen to some good music, instead. Better yet, turn the TV and radio off and read a book or go to school and get some more education in critical thinking skills.
Been an arrogant elitist long Matt? Just because one's opinion differs from yours does not automatically make you right and them wrong. It certainly does not make them less educated or less intelligent than you.
If you want to see a better tie-in to the USS Alabama's mission, why don't you look up and read the entire speech? It doesn't matter what I say or what evidence I present because your opinion will remain unshaken and your manner will remain haughty.
A great nite for the world, not only the American people. We've only just begun to ride the world of this scum.