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May 1, 2011
Author: Raine    Date: 05/02/2011 13:06:25

Amazing news. I'm still sitting here trying to write something that matters. I am speechless. I am stunned. I thought he was already dead, and I will admit, it appears I was wrong. I literally thought last night that the news would be that 'American forces found what appeared to be the the remains of Osama Bin Laden. It was confirmed the body was his thru DNA evidence.' Turns out, I was wrong.

He was alive and living in Pakistan. Pakistan.

I could joke that perhaps President Obama finally got the information from John McCain who infamously said in 2008: "I'll get Osama bin Laden, my friends. I'll get him. I know how to get him. I'll get him no matter what and I know how to do it." -- but this is too serious. Turns out, we elected a serious man that actually did the job, without bluster and chest thumping.

Late last night, President Obama announced that the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on America had been killed. From a Senior Administration official, prior to the President's statement:
In the middle of March, the President began a series of National Security Council meetings that he chaired to pursue again the intelligence basis and to develop courses of action to bring justice to Osama bin Laden. Indeed, by my count, the President chaired no fewer than five National Security Council meetings on the topic from the middle of March -- March 14th, March 29th, April 12th, April 19th, and April 28th. And the President gave the final order to pursue the operation that he announced to the nation tonight on the morning -- Friday morning of April 29th.

The President mentioned tonight that the pursuit of Osama bin Laden and the defeat of al Qaeda has been a bipartisan exercise in this nation since September 11, 2001, and indeed, this evening before he spoke to the nation, President Obama did speak to President Bush 43 and President Clinton this evening to review with them the events of today and to preview his statement to the nation tonight.
Please take time to note, the President contacted both Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton.

There is no question in my mind that the usual partisan spin will happen. I think we are all used to this, however this time, what can people say? The boogeyman is dead. He's dead. People gathered outside the White house, and at the site of the World Trade Center in NYC, cheering a collective sigh of relief.

The war fronts continue and tomorrow we will sadly still have Ask a Vet as per usual on Tuesday. This is the sad legacy that has been thrusted upon our nation for close to 10 years. May, 1, 2011, we learned the man ultimately responsible for this has been removed. Some will feel the need to further propagate fear, others will assume everything is now fine. I stand in neither camp. I actually do believe in being vigilant. From a mindset point of view, I feel relief. That is a strange thing for someone like me to say, but if I am to be honest with everyone here, and all those that read our blog, I have to say it. Symbolically, this is truly a huge event.

I am glad he is officially dead. I believe that justice has been served. In the days to come, I know that we here at Four Freedoms will discuss this more, but for today, as the dust settles, just know the era of Bin Laden is over. President Barack Obama, and the security forces he is charged with managing, can take credit for that.

History has been made.

Raine
 

84 comments (Latest Comment: 05/03/2011 02:42:17 by Raine)
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Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 13:13:52
It's a new morning in AmericaLand

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:18:41
Morning, folks.

Listening to the BBC right now. I'm amazed that he was in the middle of a city, not 100 meters from a Pakistani Army academy.

Paying attention much, guys?

Can we stop playing nice with Pakistan now?



Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 13:20:37
Morning

Okay so apparenly I need to watch crappy network tv instead of cable cause last I heard last night (from Fox5 - I was scanning) was that the Pres was going to talk about the tornado's and Alabama. I didn't think anything of it except that is was kinda late but oh well. So I went on to watch In Plain Sight instead.

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:20:48
I suppose I'm glad that he was buried "in accordance with Muslim practices". (We have a tradition of that, actually....check the Japanese midget sub crews after Pearl Harbor, or the Russians we recovered with the Glomar Explorer). But call me a cynic; I would have liked to have seen the body.



Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:21:11
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, folks.

Listening to the BBC right now. I'm amazed that he was in the middle of a city, not 100 meters from a Pakistani Army academy.

Paying attention much, guys?

Can we stop playing nice with Pakistan now?

Please remember, Pakistan still has a nuclear Weapon. I still believe this was and has been the reason Obama has handled that country the way he has.

There has been a good reason why we are using drones there.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:23:17
Quote by TriSec:
I suppose I'm glad that he was buried "in accordance with Muslim practices". (We have a tradition of that, actually....check the Japanese midget sub crews after Pearl Harbor, or the Russians we recovered with the Glomar Explorer). But call me a cynic; I would have liked to have seen the body.


We saw the bodies of Saddam's sons, If I recall correctly, that did not work out so well. It was disgusting and it just bred more american Hatred.

I don't need to see the body -- and to be honest, I think most of the Muslim world -- who happens to not be radical, feels that way as well.

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:23:48
Since it's always about Boston, this means Whitey Bulger goes back to the top of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list.

(No, wait...)



Comment by Scoopster on 05/02/2011 13:24:39
Morning all & Happy Mondee!

Quote by TriSec:
I suppose I'm glad that he was buried "in accordance with Muslim practices". (We have a tradition of that, actually....check the Japanese midget sub crews after Pearl Harbor, or the Russians we recovered with the Glomar Explorer). But call me a cynic; I would have liked to have seen the body.

I'm sure they took plenty of pictures, which will be scrutinized and receive claims of Photoshop craziness.

Also, I'm curious how a traditional Muslim burial at sea works..

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:25:45
So, that is how I feel, I understand tho, what you are saying Tri. This was interesting:
That practice calls for the body to be buried within 24 hours, the official said. Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, the official said. So the U.S. decided to bury him at sea.


The vengeance is just not in my heart, the desire for justice is.

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:27:33
There's now a discussion happening about how he's just become a Martyr. Don't know what this will mean long-term, but I would almost expect an attack of some sort now.



Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:28:51
I would rather have him buried at sea; Muslim practice or not.

After Nuremburg, the Nazis were cremated and scattered in the river. Intentionally, so there would be no graves, no memorials, and no rallying point for future extremists.



Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:30:28
Quote by TriSec:
There's now a discussion happening about how he's just become a Martyr. Don't know what this will mean long-term, but I would almost expect an attack of some sort now.


I think we all knew the martyrdom was going to happen, no? I think he actually was as a symbol/figure head for years.



Comment by trojanrabbit on 05/02/2011 13:30:59
Made the mistake of listening to our RW "Sports" station - Fatty & the Forehead.

Obama had to give up a round of golf to announce they got Bin Laden, and other idiotic tripe.

Meanwhile the new FM sports station (though the morning show is actually the only thing left from legendary rocker WBCN) played Obama's speech and was immediately deluged with hate messages saying they would not have played it if Bush were President.

We are truly fucked. Don't know if I want to find out how Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck & the Savage Weiner spin this.

And still without email here at work. Maybe by Wednesday....maybe.....


Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 13:33:56
Quote by Raine:
Quote by TriSec:
There's now a discussion happening about how he's just become a Martyr. Don't know what this will mean long-term, but I would almost expect an attack of some sort now.


I think we all knew the martyrdom was going to happen, no? I think he actually was as a symbol/figure head for years.


Expect attacks next year on May 1

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:34:09
From the Q'uran:


623. * If a person dies on a ship and if there is no fear of the decay of the dead body and if there is no problem in retaining it for sometime on the ship, it should be kept on it and buried in the ground after reaching the land. Otherwise, after giving Ghusl, Hunut, Kafan and Namaz-e-Mayyit it should be lowered into the sea in a vessel of clay or with a weight tied to its feet. And as far as possible it should not be lowered at a point where it is eaten up immediately by the sea predators.



Comment by trojanrabbit on 05/02/2011 13:36:51
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by TriSec:
There's now a discussion happening about how he's just become a Martyr. Don't know what this will mean long-term, but I would almost expect an attack of some sort now.


I think we all knew the martyrdom was going to happen, no? I think he actually was as a symbol/figure head for years.


Expect attacks next year on May 1


How could he not become a martyr? Even if he had died of natural causes, no doubt a fanatic could still spin it to be the work of the Great Satan.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:44:35
Quote by trojanrabbit:
How could he not become a martyr? Even if he had died of natural causes, no doubt a fanatic could still spin it to be the work of the Great Satan.

Exactly. he was a martyr the Day it was announced that he was behind the attacks, the day the dead or alive poster was published.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:45:24
Compare, contrast.



Comment by Scoopster on 05/02/2011 13:48:41
The internets were quite busy last night..
http://images.bluegartr.com/bucket/gallery/a9ee0e5af614b6d2f3d8a232c32fa735.png


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:49:33
Quote by Scoopster:
The internets were quite busy last night..
http://images.bluegartr.com/bucket/gallery/a9ee0e5af614b6d2f3d8a232c32fa735.png



Amen.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 13:55:34
You know, may I just point something out? A friend of mine posted this on twitter, and I think it is a VERY good point:
Four years of work to pull off this raid in complete SECRECY. Man, this is gonna really screw up some Wikileaks narratives. #p2


It does, huh??

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 13:55:39
The conspiracy theories have already started.

"Obama ordered Osama taken out this week when it was politically expedient to do so, it distracted the media from the tornadoes (implying a lack of response) and the birth certificate."

Heard on the BBC from a location not identified.

But I'll note...the first President Bush won the Gulf War a year too early; it didn't help a whit in the re-election campaign. I hope the same doesn't happen to Mr. Obama now.




Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:09:36
I knew Jim would question the Burial at sea.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 14:11:31
Quote by Raine:
I knew Jim would question the Burial at sea.


me too

Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 14:12:47
Quote by TriSec:
The conspiracy theories have already started.

"Obama ordered Osama taken out this week when it was politically expedient to do so, it distracted the media from the tornadoes (implying a lack of response) and the birth certificate."

Heard on the BBC from a location not identified.

But I'll note...the first President Bush won the Gulf War a year too early; it didn't help a whit in the re-election campaign. I hope the same doesn't happen to Mr. Obama now.


The first Gulf war involved Iraq and another country in the Middle East. This one involved the person who coordinated an attack on US Soil (allegedly)

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:15:44
You know what? It's been 10 years of frucking pressure and stress on this nation. Osama was the face of ALL OF IT.

Human nature is what happened last night. What I really resent is when people like Sirota who actually said that Osama won -- he said that.

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:22:04
Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 14:29:21
Quote by Raine:
need more proof of Oil Market Manipulation?

Oil Drops Most in Two Weeks After U.S. Says Bin Laden Killed in Pakistan



didn't Reuter's come out last week and say at least 50cents of ever gallon is due to speculators

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:30:25
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
need more proof of Oil Market Manipulation?

Oil Drops Most in Two Weeks After U.S. Says Bin Laden Killed in Pakistan



didn't Reuter's come out last week and say at least 50cents of ever gallon is due to speculators
I missed that. They are now speculating 6 bucks. This shite NEEDS to end.


Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 14:39:16
I can't figure out the local price swings. I had the opportunity to be on the South Shore last night. (Weymouth.)

Gas prices there were almost 25 cents lower than in and around Waltham. (I saw $3.87 vs $4.09)




Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 14:40:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
need more proof of Oil Market Manipulation?

Oil Drops Most in Two Weeks After U.S. Says Bin Laden Killed in Pakistan



didn't Reuter's come out last week and say at least 50cents of ever gallon is due to speculators
I missed that. They are now speculating 6 bucks. This shite NEEDS to end.



what 6.00 for this summer? I'm screwed then.
:Grumble:

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:41:27


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 14:42:45
SO FUCKING WHAT.


HE is DEAD now.

Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 14:45:06
seriously - does it really matter when he actually died? Obama has created the reality of his death now, so that al-Qaeda (AND the US) can no longer use him for a bogeyman

Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 14:56:59
caller has a point - IF there had been a bush plan already in place then the Obama would not have had to tell Pinetta to create a plan

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:09:00
Quote by wickedpam:
caller has a point - IF there had been a bush plan already in place then the Obama would not have had to tell Pinetta to create a plan
Exactly.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:16:19
Ok, seriously, Jim. Today?!?!?! Today????

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:17:04
Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:19:42
Seriously:


He's dead, Jim

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:29:19


Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 15:29:51
oh, forgot, the people gathering at the WHite House - someone had a tea party flag

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:31:15
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, forgot, the people gathering at the WHite House - someone had a tea party flag
Well there's one in every crowd, huh? (that is weird tho, really wierd...)


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:35:58
FRUCK THAT BITCH!!!! (I am a bit sensitive this morning. )

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:38:56
They simply Won't say his name. Potential 2012 field united over death of bin Laden, divided over Obama credit


Oh they are not divided, they are QUITE united in NOT saying President Obama. Here is more proof.

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:46:24
I want the audio of that Bachmann interview.

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 15:48:20
“What I have said is we're going encourage democracy in Pakistan, expand our non-military aid to Pakistan so that they have more of a stake in working with us, but insisting that they go after these militants. And if we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act, and we will take them out. We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaida. That has to be our biggest national security priority." Barack Hussein Obama


Promise Kept.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 15:50:41
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume

Comment by livingonli on 05/02/2011 16:02:26
Good day everyone.

Did everyone see the Fox 5 DC clip I posted late last night showing them upholding the "high journalistic standards" that we expect from Fox?

Comment by livingonli on 05/02/2011 16:03:46
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume

It looks like a Dr. Seuss outfit gone horribly awry.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 05/02/2011 16:05:30
Good job Faux News

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/trojanrabbit74/Fark%20stuff/foxnewsconfrims.jpg


Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 16:11:49
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Good job Faux News

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/trojanrabbit74/Fark%20stuff/foxnewsconfrims.jpg

Brother Michael reportedly upset

Comment by trojanrabbit on 05/02/2011 16:16:10
Quote by BobR:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Good job Faux News

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/trojanrabbit74/Fark%20stuff/foxnewsconfrims.jpg

Brother Michael reportedly upset


It does say "confrims" though, that might be one level below "confirms"

Comment by Scoopster on 05/02/2011 16:16:56
By the way, having seen some of the pics of Geraldo from last night it seems he's going for the Wolf Blitzer look.

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 16:37:56
Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 16:38:38
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Good job Faux News

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/trojanrabbit74/Fark%20stuff/foxnewsconfrims.jpg

Brother Michael reportedly upset


It does say "confrims" though, that might be one level below "confirms"



Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 16:42:45
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume
Oh, Dear.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 16:44:23
I understand what Thom is saying, but...

The people who screen at the White house have a hella lot more experience than the TSA.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/02/2011 16:52:37
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume
Oh, Dear.



if you roll through some of the pix on yahoo flagman is up a tree is a few of them - kinda funny

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 16:57:38


This is amazing.

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 17:24:07
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume


(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

Plenty more rules out there....

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 17:32:11
I must be getting soft.

I realize my forbears partied in the streets on VE and VJ days....but the goings-on last night just didn't feel right.



Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 17:50:56
Quote by TriSec:
I must be getting soft.

I realize my forbears partied in the streets on VE and VJ days....but the goings-on last night just didn't feel right.


Don't confuse partying because the shadow of bin Laden is no longer hanging over us with partying to celebrate the death of a person.

Comment by livingonli on 05/02/2011 18:07:19
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, this is unfortunate...

man in flag costume


(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

Plenty more rules out there....

Remember when the Righties used to complain about hippies doing it.

Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 18:27:31
President Obama - your master juggler! (I do mean that in a good way.)


Over the course of just five days, beginning on April 27, Obama made two surprise announcements that upended the political landscape. He tended to a deadly natural disaster of historic proportions. He shuffled his national security team. In his spare time, he stared down his potential rivals in next year's presidential campaign and delivered a well-received comedic performance.





Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 18:34:33
Perhaps, maybe...a couple of fence-sitters out there saw the news this morning and said, "Damn, he did what Bush couldn't. Maybe he ain't that bad after all."



Comment by TriSec on 05/02/2011 18:55:42
Quote by BobR:

Don't confuse partying because the shadow of bin Laden is no longer hanging over us with partying to celebrate the death of a person.


The real party won't start until
Operation Magic Carpet II is finished.



Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 19:08:51
Comment by livingonli on 05/02/2011 19:09:18
C-SPAN 2 will simulcast CBC's coverage of the Canadian Election returns beginning around 10 PM tonight.

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 19:10:15
I Was just watching MSNBC, and Tameron Hall said that RUSH LIMBAUGH actually gave the President Praise at the opening of his show.



http://americaexplained.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/hell-freezes-over.jpg


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 19:14:03
Quote by Raine:
I Was just watching MSNBC, and Tameron Hall said that RUSH LIMBAUGH actually gave the President Praise at the opening of his show.



http://americaexplained.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/hell-freezes-over.jpg
Yup, confirmed. "Rush Limbaugh: 'Thank God for President Obama'"


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 19:16:25
I swear I cannot get enough of Myers and Obama at the Nerd Prom...




Comment by Scoopster on 05/02/2011 19:22:25
Wooo I just got a bonus!

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 19:24:35
Quote by Scoopster
Wooo I just got a bonus!
YES!!!! Congrats, Scoop


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 20:18:05
Lawn tawlk on Randi!

Comment by BobR on 05/02/2011 20:22:05
Quote by Scoopster:
Wooo I just got a bonus!

Excellent!!

Any idea for what you'll spend it on?



Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 21:18:50
Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 21:20:35
On the second newest picture, take a look at Hillary's face.

This shite is real.


Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 22:44:10
For my FB friends who may be dealing with some RWLM's. Forget the speach from Bush in 2001, when he said he wasn't concerned about bin Laden... Give them a link to this.

It's from 2006, Surely you remember:

C.I.A. Closes Unit Focused on Capture of bin Laden

Comment by Raine on 05/02/2011 22:47:22
Quote by Raine:
On the second newest picture, take a look at Hillary's face.

This shite is real.

http://media.bonnint.net/wtop/21/2156/215604.jpg


Comment by Scoopster on 05/02/2011 23:40:36
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Scoopster:
Wooo I just got a bonus!

Excellent!!

Any idea for what you'll spend it on?


Oh I had already planned to pick up some of that before this (and I'll try to share if I can!) Basically I'm gonna use it as an account cushion for a while after I buy my new bed, then maybe pay down my college loan or put a down payment on an electric scooter?

Comment by clintster on 05/03/2011 01:48:46
I have a student of Pakistani origin in one of my classes. We had a talk today about bin Laden, and he told me that he is afraid that some people might take action against him and his family out of some bigotry against Pakistanis. I told him if he experiences anything like that to let me know.

Comment by livingonli on 05/03/2011 02:32:09
Canada's not looking good now. The George Bush of Canada, Stephen Harper may get a majority. The only good thing is that the NDP will be the new opposition party.

Comment by Raine on 05/03/2011 02:42:17
Quote by clintster:
I have a student of Pakistani origin in one of my classes. We had a talk today about bin Laden, and he told me that he is afraid that some people might take action against him and his family out of some bigotry against Pakistanis. I told him if he experiences anything like that to let me know.
Things like this are what make great teachers.