By Tray Wetherell
Editor-In-Chief
In a hastily formed announcement at 10:36 pm, that was delayed initially so that all U.S. operations and political leaders could be notified, President Obama announced that Osama Bin-Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda and mastermind of the 9-11 attacks was killed in Pakistan during a targeted operation.
In a speech that is being called the most important speech of his life, standing in the East Room of the White House, the President said, “Tonight I can report to the American people and the world that the United States has performed an operation that has killed Osama Bin-Laden. The American people came together to help each other and to help others…we were united as one family…we were also resolved to bring to justice those responsible.”
Because of the significance of the death of Osama Bin-Laden, Homeland Security, U.S. military, and all U.S. diplomatic operations are now on a heightened state of alert called Bravo force protection, the highest state of alert possible on U.S. military bases to be prepared for potential terrorist reprisals.
Reports from CNN said that he was killed outside of Islamabad, Pakistan in a mansion with members of his family from a covert human CIA operation with assistance from Pakistani intelligence operatives. “Today at my direction, I ordered the operation on good intelligence and a small team of American operatives. After a short firefight we killed him, and took possession of his body,” the president said.
Western officials had been saying for years that Bin-Laden was hiding in plain sight in Pakistan and not in the caves and hills in the notorious Tora Bora region located between Pakistan and Afghanistan. With Pakistani officials claiming over the years to have been hunting down Bin-Laden and Afghan officials claiming that Bin-Laden was nowhere to be found in Afghanistan, U.S. and other intelligence operatives have been scouring the region for Bin-Laden. “It is important that Pakistan continue to help America in its fight against terrorism,” the president said.
Cheers could be heard, and flags were being waved outside of the White House. Crowds began gathering outside the White House gate and were singing the national anthem. News sources reported in western countries of the cheers and joy from people hearing the news. “This is the best day ever in U.S. history!” said a man as he yelled and waved a flag.
Osama-Bin Laden, the face of terrorism in not only the U.S. but worldwide, was responsible for the twin bombings at embassies in Kenya, the attack on the USS Cole and both bombings at the World Trade Center. “To those that lost family members due to Al-Qaeda, justice has been done,” the president said. He continued after proclaiming the resolve of the American people that, “We have never forgotten your loss…tonight let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9-11…the cause of securing our country is not complete…but our commitment to stand up to our values.”
Watch the televised message President Obama delivered last night below.
