Osama Bin Laden capture, May 2, 2011
.
Current Events –
Osama Bin Laden: ‘We Got Him
It was perhaps the greatest catch in American history — the capture and death of America’s #1 most wanted suspect, Osama Bin Laden. Monday was the 5th anniversary of that memorable night and to mark the occasion, CNN presented a gripping televised account of the night of the raid: “We Got Him!”
Current Events
CNN’s Peter Bergen was given unprecedented access to the White House, to President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other major players who took part in the monumental mission. During the special, Mr. Obama led Bergen through a step by step account of the raid, complete with never before seen images of the night “We Got Him!”
For the first time ever, the President sat down for an interview in the highly secure Situation Room, which is exactly where Mr. Obama sat during the Navy Seal raid on the Osama Bin Laden compound in Pakistan. The room looked very similar to the images seen on television and in movies: a huge conference table with screens on the walls around the room, as well as the President’s black leather chair at the head of the table with the presidential seal affixed.
It was in this room, on Thursday, April 28, 2011 that President Obama sought advice from the top members of his Cabinet and staff whether the U.S. should go ahead with the risky operation. Interestingly, it was not unanimous. Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged caution; then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and counterterrorism advisor (and now CIA Director) John Brennan were among those who advised for the raid to proceed.
The President left the meeting that night saying he would let them know his plans the next morning. Of course, we all now know his decision.
Current Events
Three days later, on the afternoon of May 1st, the team assembled in the same room as the mission began to unfold. On the screen was then-CIA Director Leon Panetta, who was at the CIA headquarters in Langley and getting updates from Afghanistan by Adm. William McRaven, who was running the Special Operations mission. President Obama was cool, calm and collected as he delivered jokes during the annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner, then left the event for the White House to direct the capture of Osama Bin Laden.
Fourteen people crammed into a room across the hall from the Situation Room, where the President and his team could watch the events unfold in real-time on a video screen. It was in this room that the famous photo of the President and his staff was taken with intense looks on their faces and a hand over Secretary Clinton’s mouth. The President didn’t originally plan to be in this room, but decided to relocate there so he could see the live feed from Abbottabad instead of listening to an audio-only version of the events while in the Situation Room.
Osama Bin Laden was killed during the raid. His remains were taken via helicopter to a nearby base, where DNA tests proved his identity. While Bin Laden was buried at sea, Mr. Obama prepared to address the nation. As he strode the approximately 100 feet from the Oval Office toward the White House East Room to give his speech, the President said he could hear crowds assembling along the north side of the complex, excitedly chanting “USA.”
“Good evening,” Mr. Obama began. “Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”
The rest was history!
It was perhaps the greatest catch in American history — the capture and death of America’s #1 most wanted suspect, Osama Bin Laden. […] Achieved under the leadership of the first African-American President in American history; a man who, I believe, will be remembered (in the not too distant future) as one of the greatest Presidents in modern American history.. Regular readers of OK Wassup! know that I've not been one to shy away from criticizing Pres. Obama when I felt he deserved it. Indeed, during the course of his presidency, there've been certain crucial issues that I felt he could have and should handled better. Suffice it to say, he handled THIS case beautifully. He showed courage and sound judgement when he gave the go-ahead for this mission, knowing full-well ALL that was at risk if said mission had failed. To echo what others are already acknowledging, there is… Read more »