On Sunday, May 1st, 2011, two helicopters with a full complement of U.S. Special Forces (Navy SEALs) engaged in combat with forces at Abottabad, a popular retirement community for Pakistani military personnel as well as housing a large Pakistani military base and military academy. Several people were killed including Osama Bin Laden and a woman who was used as a human shield. Special Forces personnel were on site for roughly 40 minutes before departing. One helicopter was lost due to mechanical failure and no U.S. personnel lost their lives. This in turn holds several problematic events for the Pakistani government which up until now had flatly denied knowledge of Osama Bin Laden's whereabouts especially when his compound was less than a third of a mile away from the military academy. This has lead many to suspect that Al-Qaeda has operations in the area. The impact of his death is a double blow for the terrorist organization. Firstly, it denies the narrative that they set that the way to regain Arab honor is to shed blood and secondly casts doubt with the bloom of the Arab Spring.* Ultimately it does little in the way of actual results, the war on terror continues and the wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan must continue to their conclusions. However this sets the important example that those who engage in terrorist activities upon the United States will eventually be caught, no matter how the wait. The body of Osama Bin Laden was disposed at sea shortly after his death, this was decided upon by U.S. officials to largely deny followers a shrine in which to attend.
* = Arab Spring refers to the "blossoming" of democratic reforms in Middle East following the invasion of Iraq, this has proven problematic because these upheavals are largely disconnected and unrelated aside from ideological inspiration.
Thanks for this information! All I've seen is headlines, nice to see the full story.
ReplyDeleteI've been following this pretty closely, i have to say there's waaaay to many loopholes, seperate storys and shit photoshops for my liking haha. im just waiting to see how this all unfolds! followed!
ReplyDeletelet's hope that is finally over
ReplyDeleteI don't condone the death sentence but at least Osama is no longer proving to others that you can get away with mass murder!
ReplyDeleteWhich is important. It sets the tone that crimes against humanity and peace will not be tolerated on any level.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the killing of him or any al-queda members will ever solve the problem as more will just be born, but it makes a statement that you can't just do that kind of stuff and be let to wander around like nothing happened, it takes a large momentum from al-queda and should hopefully reduce members of it.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else will take over, but they will not have nearly the clout. I think we see less AQ unity.
ReplyDeleteI was really wondering how they were going to answer the Bin Laden thing myself. Oh, we did not know he was living here! Silly us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the overview.
ReplyDeleteIts great to finally get him, but we have known about this place since 2005. Why did it take so long?
ReplyDeleteWhat'll happen now is a mystery. I don't think we'll get rid of the AQ, but I sure hope for less activity and no major events threatening the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, interesting blog. Keep it up!
Honestly, it was a matter of confirmation one and the political climate at the time. 2005 was a very volatile time with the majority of our focus on Iraq. Afghanistan was largely ignored at this point and it wasn't until 2007 and 2008 that we focused our attention there.
ReplyDeleteHe got what he deserved, that's about it.
ReplyDeleteGreat info.
ReplyDeleteOsama's death is a really symbolic one, that's about it. I don't suspect much to change just because he died.
ReplyDeleteWell it kinda seems like everything will be a conspiracy eventually.
ReplyDeleteConspiracy in my opinion are the crutches of the scared. It's a truly frightening prospect to some that the world is truly rudderless.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, tinfoil must make a great hat.
lol with every great news event theres always a great conspiracy
ReplyDeleteVery nice information, so many of these blogs and new reports are showing up but can't blame anyone
ReplyDeleteGreat job getting full in depth story
ReplyDeleteIs this true that they dumped him in the sea? That would have to be the dumbest fucking thing US Government has done so far...ever....like ever....don't they realise that people just can't wait to form a newhuge conspiracy...wtf man...fuck this shit
ReplyDeleteIt seems weird that they killed him and buried the body all in one day.
ReplyDeleteWell you have to understand why they did that. In islamic tradition you must bury the body within 24 hours of death. They were simply respecting the body even if it did belong to someone as obviously criminal. The decision to bury it at sea was to insure no shrines could be erected.
ReplyDelete@Mysterious Stranger
ReplyDeleteAh, so that explains it. Thanks.
Thanks for overview, haven't really read anything involving some of the specifics like this so it's cool to see.
ReplyDeleteI'm really wondering how much of this story we're getting and how much of what we're getting is actualyl legit. And I thought this all went down like a week ago? Bloody conflicting reports.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insight. I want to more specifics of the operation and such. Pictures. It was a good day for America.
ReplyDeletecrazy!
ReplyDeleteWell really, for Al-Quaida it might be an impact, but Arabia moved forward already. The main topic in the area are the democratic movements, civil war at Lybia and maybe Syria too and so on. The movement is still quite religious like doing their prayers before the riot, but it's at least not islamistic. Fanatics have obviously till now not such a big voice in the movement, lets hope it stays this way...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the actual insight into the operation
ReplyDeleteWhere is the proof for his death?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting article you have here.
ReplyDeleteThe photo they showed of the dead Osama has both of his eyes messed up; and the eyes are the easiest way to identify a specific person, because no ones eyes are the same. Surely, the combat team involved would have wanted him to be as identifiable as possible? Little bit suspicious.
ReplyDeleteVery in-depth article, and also very interesting
ReplyDeleteHope it's finally over..
ReplyDeletegreat post!
ReplyDeletei don't know if i even believe he is dead
ReplyDeleteSo looks like they are going to release a picture...
ReplyDeleteThere are rumors circulating that the White House will release photos of his body before he was lowered into the sea. There are already photos circulating via LiveLeak of his apparent death but that's debatable. Will update when I get a chance.
ReplyDelete