Osama bin Laden is dead

[hisak]

News coming in right now. Obama is making a speech in a little bit. More to come.

Holy shit.

[Link Reborn]

Yeah, this is what I'm hearing. Apparently he was killed by an American missile of sorts. DNA testing has confirmed it.

[Beh]

Praying that our troops can handle the retaliation that will no doubt result from this.

[Akie]

I liked that Obama reinforced the fact that our war isn't a war against Islam. (in his speech.)  I think people forget that.

[Link Reborn]

In all honestly, that's the really only notable part of his address.

[Sheldon Cooper PhD]

He was killed by a shot to the head by a SEALS team near Islamabad in a Mansion.

In all actuality, Obama did give the kill order but I feel Bush deserves some credit. You know that man has to be a little happy right now.

Retribution will come swiftly for this. Homeland Security has already placed every Embassy on high alert. I jack around a ton but I seriously pray for our soldiers and our nation tonight that we remember what this war is really about and that we will be safe in the coming weeks.

[Bidet to you sir]

I don't really want to say that this isn't a "good" thing, but he was killed 100 KM outside islamabad in pakistan, now sure most of us assumed that already, and there are plenty of (morons) people who even think americans should invade pakistan.

But American military, in the indian subcontinent, not the middle east is not a good thing (not that them being in the middle east is either), pakistan is a nuclear power with a large standing army, and if American military doesn't act sensible with regards to pakistan and the subcontinent, then I don't like to think what could happen.

I mean, what happened when the British got thrown out (justly to add first before people think I'm an empire apologist), well imagine that happening with nukes.

[Fleamo]

I don't really want to say that this isn't a "good" thing, but he was killed 100 KM outside islamabad in pakistan, now sure most of us assumed that already, and there are plenty of (morons) people who even think americans should invade pakistan.

But American military, in the indian subcontinent, not the middle east is not a good thing (not that them being in the middle east is either), pakistan is a nuclear power with a large standing army, and if American military doesn't act sensible with regards to pakistan and the subcontinent, then I don't like to think what could happen.

I mean, what happened when the British got thrown out (justly to add first before people think I'm an empire apologist), well imagine that happening with nukes.

I'm pretty sure this was a lone get-Osama-get-out project. Obama said when he was campaigning, if Osama is in a known location, we will go kill him. It's not going to translate to any sort of war.

I'm assuming (or hoping) that Obama called up Zardari or whoever is the right person to call for this sort of thing and let him know we weren't invading.

[Bidet to you sir]

How many times have americans attacked somewhere in pakistan with only the absolute minimum of warning, and in some cases not at all?

I just find it a worry precedent that american soldiers can attack somewhere only 30 miles from a nuclear powers capital without anyone raising an eyebrow.

[Link Reborn]

I don't find that you'll have to fret much about nuclear interrelationships here because of this.

[Sheldon Cooper PhD]

Actually I think Zim has a valid point.

Its probably best to let them know we're only grabbing Osama and not invading for four reasons.

1. We deployed an elite special ops team into the country for a kill mission to kill a citizen of a foreign country.
2. They have a good amount of nuclear weapons.
3. We kill shit tons of their people everyday just about with our drones and then apologize.
4. Most of the Pakistani People already hate the west.

[Bidet to you sir]

Pakistan is a turbulent country anyone who thinks that "it doesn't matter because they're our ally" is not thinking it through.

Also national defence is barely my concern, I just don't think any country has the right to make such decisions unilaterally and the number of times pakistan has complained after americans violated their airspace is beginning to be ridiculous.

[Link Reborn]

We're now questioning and perhaps using as a scapegoat the capacity of Pakistani intelligence forces. Some are even providing accusations that Pakistani intelligence must have known of bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad. Others claim that if they did not, they should have. That's the sort of growing contention that has me slightly worried.

[brenna]

Oh, hi. I'm back... for now.

Alright. Osama's been found and killed. Okay, a victory in the "War on Terror." Might I say, "About friggen time?" It took almost ten years to get him. I think it's safe to say that Osama is the current hide-and-seek champion of the world.

In all actuality, Obama did give the kill order but I feel Bush deserves some credit. You know that man has to be a little happy right now.

Bush had how much time to find him? Does about 7 years sound about right? How does he deserve the credit? Yes, Obama gave the kill order, but the credit should go to the SEALS primarily.

Does Obama deserve any credit? I suppose. He cracked down on getting bin Laden when it seemed like the previous president/administration was more obsessed with getting Saddam Hussein. When they were searching for Osama, it seemed like a wild goose chase. But I digress.

I liked that Obama reinforced the fact that our war isn't a war against Islam. (in his speech.)  I think people forget that.

I agree. Most people DO forget that.

Do I think there's going to be some form of fallout because of his death? Probably. If he was indeed their leader, someone's gonna get pissed off and turn him into a martyr. I know that the burial at sea was to prevent martyrdom, but... it's still going to happen. Someone's going to go nuts and do something horrible in his name.

[Geneaux486]

How does he deserve the credit?

They found him because of intel gathered by institusions the Bush administration created.  Obama got the tail end of the search, it's not like he started from scratch.  He followed it through well, and the team that took him down were obviously excellent at their jobs.  I also like the fact that he did reinforce that this is not some kind of war against Islam.  Like you said, people tend to forget that sometimes.  As for Bin Laden, I can't see myself revelling in the death of another human being, terrible though his actions were.  I'm glad they tried to take him alive to answer for his crimes.

[Bidet to you sir]

Yeah they're saying Khalid Sheikh Muhammad was the main person who led to the finding of osama.

So thats good, because what we need is more people claiming "waterboarding is effective" to justify torture.

I mean praise Bush if you want, but I'll never let the ends justify the means in this case.

[Bidet to you sir]

Christ.

[Bidet to you sir]

In other news, http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_17988916

I thought this would be the case, even if it was Osam Bin Laden they killed, America, nor any country has the right to act unilaterally in a sovereign state.
Pakistan is obviously complicit in allowing americans in without permission (more an acceptance than permission).
But the US can't send troops into pakistan without permission one day on the belief Pakistan will be ok with it and then criticise the Pakistani government the next about corruption and possible knowledge of Bin Laden's whereabouts.

[Akie]

We're the United States we can do whatever we want, Zim.

[Bidet to you sir]

I fucking love you sometimes.