President Obama announced that a US special operation at a mansion compound in Pakistan has claimed the life of Osama bin Laden.
“Tonight, I can report to the people of the United States and the world, the United States had carried an operation that has killed Osama bin Laden, a terrorist responsible for killing thousands of innocent people,” Obama said in a statement.
“Today, at my direction, the United States carried out that operation… they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
“The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date against al-Qaeda.
“We must also reaffirm that United states is not and will never be at war against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, in fact, he slaughtered many Muslims,” Obama said.
Four people, including one of bin Laden’s sons, were also killed in the operation.
News reports portray bin Laden’s death as a significant achievement of the Obama presidency and simultaneously point out the death is primarily symbolic because bin Laden was no longer involved with al Qaeda operations. Pundits herald this as a great victory in the war on terror and simultaneously warn of a probable surge in revenge terrorist attacks on US targets.
The battle at Abbottabad was live tweeted when observers reported night flying helicopters over the compound situated in the city of 90,000 and now it is reported that bin Laden’s body has been buried at sea.
This may be a coup for the Obama reelection campaign but I am not sure what has really been accomplished as it appears unlikely the US will now just pack up and leave Afghanistan.
