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Osama Bin Laden is dead

Obama didn't invade Iraq or Afghanistan. And what we spend on our military pales in comparison to what we spend on entitlements and pork. The more you know!

Point made. 20% of the federal budget spent on military...43% on SS, Medicaid, and Medicare.
 
By a few accounts I've read, this action was based on intelligent that has been shaping up since 2006. I think both Bush and Obama deserve an "atta boy" on this one. It would not have been wise for either of them to provide a weekly update of intelligence, or of the progress on tracking Osama. That's like telling the your mom you're throwing her a surprise party next Tuesday. We knew nothing of Obama's actions since 2009 when he took office in regarding to Osama. We knew nothing or little of Bush's actions, either.

To say "Bush failed, hahahahahahaha, Obama's a strategist GOD" is a bit....unrealistic. Osama has a very small circle. He uses that circle to do all of his communicating. He keeps few people "in the know" about himself. He disavows modern technology. It isn't like tracing my IP address and knowing I'm in Carrollton, TX right now. You have to rely on word of mouth from people we can't really trust. I get why it took so long to get him...I wish it hadn't..but I get it.

I think the intelligence community deserves a huge pat on the back for this one, and hell, for even being able to work together and get multiple agencies (NSA, CIA) on the same page. My understanding is that since, as you said, OBL disavowed modern technology he relied on a system of couriers. It was a matter of tracking the movements of which ones he used the most and then confirming if OBL was actually at the target site. I'm sure the work involved was hard and painstacking, but they did some good old detective work here.
 
So... what dos the ****ers death do to the situation in Afghanistan? Do things become more stable over time now? Less? DOes someone else take the ****ers place and ramp up the violence? Does Al Queda wither and die?
 
Rev, it is common for those affected by a crime to want closure. Family of the dead do not go to the killer's death sentence for kicks... they want to see justice done. It is what it is. I can bet you that those affected by 9/11 are rejoicing today.


MG,

I am "those affected by 9/11". If you watch the media parasites interviewing people in nyc today who like me suffered loss. You'll find any rejoicing shallow compared to the loss we suffered.

7 out of 15 guys were nypd or fdny on my chelsea piers hockey team, gone.

My uncle, gone, his two kids my cousins no father.

Yes bin laden dead is a good thing, but "closure"? Hardley.


And those calling it "justice"? I disagree "vengence" is more appropriate, and i am fine with that.
 
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Can we verify the claims of those who have been here longer any better? People make all sorts of claims about themselves here, and pulling this "Noob" business in order to invalidate one claim vs. any other has no merit.

Not necessarily, but those who have been here a while have demonstrated whether they do or do not understand the subject they post about. Have we not, in debating over a period, built up a picture of our strengths and weaknesses, knowledge and understanding in the minds of other posters, for good or ill. That was more my point, that you have to earn respect here, not demand it from your first post.
 
For the record, having finally made it through all 30 pages...I'd like to see some proof myself. With the news pouring in last night there were a lot of conflicting accounts of what happened and I'm still seeing them this morning. If it happened Saturday I'm wondering how we were able to get DNA results processed so quickly. Is it normal for it to take 24 hours or less? Also, unceremoniously dumping this guy at sea...not sure on that one. Is that SOP for a situation like this? Are they going to release pictures?? I haven't seen much of a reaction from AQ or the Taliban yet, either. Were there any survivors at the compound/mansion that we're holding? I didn't see anything mentioning captives.

(Please note: I've only read a couple of articles..if these questions have been answered I apologize, I haven't had the opportunity to pour over all the reports yet.)
 
So... what dos the ****ers death do to the situation in Afghanistan?

Not much.

Do things become more stable over time now? Less?

imho stability in Afghanistan is wholly reliant and many other factors, not OBL's death.

Does someone else take the ****ers place and ramp up the violence?

I don't think anyone within the organization can fill OBL's shoes, but someone will definitely try to replace him. Maybe they'll TRY to ramp up violence, but I'm not sure if they'll be successful.

Does Al Queda wither and die?

The AQ top echelon has becoming weaker and weaker since 9/11 to the point of becoming almost irrelevant within the past few years. That being said, regional organizations like AQAP are still pretty capable.
 
Picture of bin Laden after being shot (WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGE) - Bin Laden Has Been Dead for Two Weeks Why Are we learning about it Now? | Gold Coast Chronicle

The story says he was killed 2 weeks ago and Obama said it happened today. Seems as though there are conflicting stories out there. I guess we'll get to the truth of the matter sooner or later.
The photo with that story has been debunked as a hoax and has been on the interwebz for a couple of years now, iirc.
 
For the record, having finally made it through all 30 pages...I'd like to see some proof myself. With the news pouring in last night there were a lot of conflicting accounts of what happened and I'm still seeing them this morning. If it happened Saturday I'm wondering how we were able to get DNA results processed so quickly. Is it normal for it to take 24 hours or less? Also, unceremoniously dumping this guy at sea...not sure on that one. Is that SOP for a situation like this? Are they going to release pictures?? I haven't seen much of a reaction from AQ or the Taliban yet, either. Were there any survivors at the compound/mansion that we're holding? I didn't see anything mentioning captives.

(Please note: I've only read a couple of articles..if these questions have been answered I apologize, I haven't had the opportunity to pour over all the reports yet.)

It happened a few weeks ago. Obama only made the announcement just yesterday.
 
What this does show are a few things from the United States:
1. Tenacity - once the American's get on your trail, they don't let off, even after 10 years
2. Consistancy - Whether it's a Democrat or Republican, or Independent - they'll still sign orders to kill terrorists when we find them.
3. Ability - We can enter a country of 180 Million covertly, strike a terrorist target successfully within 35 miles of their capital and get out with utter secrecy.

All the little Osama fans are having a bad day. It's natural they'll strike out and be mad.

I agree with you. However, I don't think Laila is in any way an Osama fan. I can see where she is coming from based on a lot of the stereotypes that people in the East have about the US. However, those stereotypes certainly aren't justified, nor are they true.
 
The Taliban's Commander in Chief is now dead.
I may be mistaken, but iirc, ObL wasn't the leader of the Taliban. I think that Taleban is a separate group from aQ that made an alliance with it.
 
I may be mistaken, but iirc, ObL wasn't the leader of the Taliban. I think that Taleban is a separate group from aQ that made an alliance with it.

Not to mention that they aren't a unified organization, but instead a collection of factious groups with different leaders. To the degree that they do have leaders, Mullah Omar and the Mehsuds are very much alive.
 
It happened a few weeks ago. Obama only made the announcement just yesterday.

But during his speech last night he said, "yesterday, I authorized a task force...." ...he contradicted himself, too..because a few sentences earlier he said, "last week"...I thought maybe it was just a stumble (he had a few...i don't fault him on the teleprompter use, but you can tell he's using one...) and ignored it..but then I read articles this morning..some saying "last week" and some saying "Saturday". Also, the whole "burial at sea" thing was supposed to be about burying him w/i 24 hours of death, which is the Islamic protocol.

It's all a little fuzzy, I guess.
 
Just a quick pop in....Congrats to the Navy Seals for this great day! they are America's best!


j-mac
 
But during his speech last night he said, "yesterday, I authorized a task force...." ...he contradicted himself, too..because a few sentences earlier he said, "last week"...I thought maybe it was just a stumble (he had a few...i don't fault him on the teleprompter use, but you can tell he's using one...) and ignored it..but then I read articles this morning..some saying "last week" and some saying "Saturday". Also, the whole "burial at sea" thing was supposed to be about burying him w/i 24 hours of death, which is the Islamic protocol.

It's all a little fuzzy, I guess.

Tess - I think you may be on to something. The raid was authorized on April 29. Is there anyway DNA confirmation works that fast?
 
Can we verify the claims of those who have been here longer any better?
Actually, yes, we can. The longer someone stays and makes posts, the more likely they will slip up or say things that confirm their claims. Getting to know someone does allow us to verify it better. That's not to say that it's iron clad, but it is "better."

People make all sorts of claims about themselves here, and pulling this "Noob" business in order to invalidate one claim vs. any other has no merit.
Also, asking us to take something on faith because some anonymous internet poster says he has credentials has no merit.
 
The raid was authorized on April 29. Is there anyway DNA confirmation works that fast?

Two quick things:

The date a raid is authorized does not necessarily mean that the raid took place on that date. The raid took place on the date it was ordered (5/1).

Second, with respect to the DNA evidence, CNN reported, "DNA matching is under way on samples from his body, the official said."
 
But during his speech last night he said, "yesterday, I authorized a task force...." ...he contradicted himself, too..because a few sentences earlier he said, "last week"...I thought maybe it was just a stumble (he had a few...i don't fault him on the teleprompter use, but you can tell he's using one...) and ignored it..but then I read articles this morning..some saying "last week" and some saying "Saturday". Also, the whole "burial at sea" thing was supposed to be about burying him w/i 24 hours of death, which is the Islamic protocol.

It's all a little fuzzy, I guess.

Osama Bin Laden Dead: Obama Speech Video And Transcript (VIDEO)
Transcript:
And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 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.

Does sound a little odd I guess. It will all come out soon enough....a timeline I mean.
 
Two quick things:

The date a raid is authorized does not necessarily mean that the raid took place on that date. The raid took place on the date it was ordered (5/1).

Second, with respect to the DNA evidence, CNN reported, "DNA matching is under way on samples from his body, the official said."

Without the DNA we'd have to be pretty certain to make an announcement then, eh? I wonder what made them certain enough of his identity to go ahead with the announcement. Perhaps autopsy findings? I mean, I'm sure the guy didn't have an AQ member's card in his wallet or anything...

Just curious...
 
Timeline so far.....

Details of America's plan to find and kill Osama bin Laden are still emerging. Here's what reports have told us so far:

May Day, 2011:

1pm EST – Top advisers began to gather at the White House in preparation for the strike.
2pm EST – Obama joins his advisers to review the final preparations.

Meanwhile, in an affluent suburb near the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, 62 miles outside Islamabad, helicopters flew towards a heavily guarded mansion. Clues gathered since 9/11 led a small team of U.S. Special Forces to this place, and not the remote tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden was said to be hiding. Given the go-ahead, the troops stormed the compound.

Forty minutes and a gunfight later, one of the world's most notorious terrorists lay dead, along with his son and two couriers. The BBC reports two women who were also inside at the time were injured and another died during the firefight. No American forces were injured in the raid, but CNN reports a U.S. helicopter crashed, and had to be destroyed with explosives set by U.S. troops for “security reasons.”

A senior administration official told CNN that any intelligence about bin Laden was not shared with foreign governments and the details of the raid were only known to a small group of individuals in the U.S. government. However, a high-level Pakistani intelligence official said to CNN their intelligence officers were also on standby in Abbottabad.

Read more: Timeline: How the U.S. Found and Killed Osama bin Laden - TIME NewsFeed
 
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