Bin Laden Dead

The first of Bin Laden's 72 virgins arrives

Bin Laden Dead

OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE FACE OF GLOBAL TERRORISM AND ARCHITECT OF THE SEPT. 11, 2001, ATTACKS, WAS KILLED IN A FIREFIGHT WITH ELITE AMERICAN FORCES MONDAY, then quickly buried at sea in a stunning finale to a furtive decade on the run.

Long believed to be hiding in caves, bin Laden was tracked down in a costly, custom-built hideout not far from a Pakistani military academy.

"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House while a crowd cheered outside and hundreds more gathered at ground zero in Manhattan to celebrate the news.

THE MILITARY OPERATION TOOK MERE MINUTES.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110502/ap_on_re_us/us_bin_laden

Great news! Obama deserves a pat on the back for this. Now let’s really go after the rest of the Al Qaeda leadership. Some experts are predicting a wave of terrorist attacks as Al Qaeda and other franchises struggle to show the world they are still relevant after Bin Laden’s death. God Bless America!



Bin Laden asked to surrender

OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS ASKED TO SURRENDER BY US TROOPS BEFORE HE WAS SHOT DEAD, Fox News is quoting intelligence sources as saying.

The terrorist leader had always said he would not be captured alive.

Bin Laden was shot dead during a raid by US ground troops on a compound in Pakistan. His body was captured by the Americans.

The troops landed in four helicopters. One of the helicopters suffered mechanical failure and was destroyed by the Americans. However none of the American soldiers were killed.

One of Bin Laden's sons was also killed in the operation.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110502/world/bin-laden-was-asked-to-surrender-before-being-shot.363158



Bin Laden wasn’t hiding in the Mountains

U.S. forces finally found al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden not in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan's border, but IN A MILLION-DOLLAR COMPOUND IN AN UPSCALE SUBURB OF PAKISTAN'S CAPITAL, with his youngest wife, U.S. officials said early on Monday.

They were led to the fortress-like three-story building after more than four years tracking one of bin Laden's most trusted couriers, whom U.S. officials said was identified by men captured after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"DETAINEES ALSO IDENTIFIED THIS MAN AS ONE OF THE FEW AL QAEDA COURIERS TRUSTED BY BIN LADEN. They indicated he might be living with or protected by bin Laden," a senior administration official said in a briefing for reporters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110502/ts_nm/us_binladen_compound_1


World celebrates Bin Laden’s death

THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD AS A VICTORY FOR JUSTICE, but many people cautioned that it would not end terrorist attacks or ease suffering of those who lost loved ones in bombings by al-Qaida-linked militants.

Spontaneous, celebratory rallies broke out in New York City at ground zero, where the twin towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001 and outside the White House where President Barack Obama made the historic announcement. At the same time, U.S. EMBASSIES ACROSS THE GLOBE WERE PLACED ON HIGH ALERT AND AMERICANS WARNED ABOUT POSSIBLE REPRISALS FOR THE DEATH OF THE MAN WHO MASTERMINDED THE SEPT. 11 ATTACKS.

"Al-Qaida will continue," said Haroun Mir, an Afghan analyst in Kabul, who added that the death in a raid on a mansion in Pakistan vindicated longtime allegations by Afghanistan that bin Laden enjoyed "safe havens" in the neighboring country.

Chairul Akbar, secretary general of the anti-terrorism agency in Indonesia — the world's most populous Muslim nation and a frequent al-Qaida target — expressed jubilation about the news. Attacks blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants have killed more than 260 people in Indonesia, many of them foreign tourists.

"WE WELCOME THE DEATH OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS MEN AND HIGHLY APPRECIATE THE UNITED STATES' HELP IN CRUSHING THIS GLOBAL ENEMY," he said. "He couldn't be allowed to live. He helped spread a dangerous ideology all over the world, including in Indonesia."

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/world-cheers-bin-ladens-death-as-victory/438645

I remember the videos of the Palestinians celebrating 9/11. Now the rest of the world gets to celebrate.



Organizing Now, Democrats Expect Tough Bid in 2012

Republicans, with justification, shouted “hypocrisy” last week after FORMER WHITE HOUSE AIDES OPENED A CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION USING THE SORT OF ANONYMOUS DONORS CONDEMNED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA.

But they also understood it as a compliment. That’s because, in another springtime full of political disappointment, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGISTS HAVE BEGUN CONCLUDING THAT MR. OBAMA FACES A TOUGHER-THAN-ANTICIPATED RE-ELECTION FIGHT.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/organizing-now-democrats-expect-tough-bid-in-2012/

I expect Obama’s polls to go up for the next few weeks due to the Bin Laden killing. After that expect it to go back to current levels.



Atheists Seek Chaplain Role in the Military

In the military, there are more than 3,000 chaplains who minister to the spiritual and emotional needs of active duty troops, regardless of their faiths. The vast majority are Christians, a few are Jews or Muslims, one is a Buddhist. A Hindu, possibly even a Wiccan may join their ranks soon.

BUT AN ATHEIST?

Strange as it sounds, groups representing ATHEISTS AND SECULAR HUMANISTS ARE PUSHING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE OF THEIR OWN TO THE CHAPLAINCY, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.

JOINING THE CHAPLAIN CORPS IS PART OF A BROADER CAMPAIGN BY ATHEISTS TO WIN OFFICIAL ACCEPTANCE IN THE MILITARY. Such recognition would make it easier for them to raise money and meet on military bases. It would help ensure that chaplains, religious or atheist, would distribute their literature, advertise their events and advocate for them with commanders.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/us/27atheists.html?_r=1


Actually I would support this. It would put atheism on the same level as religion and would subject it to the same limitations that have been enacted by the courts against religion. And secular humanism is very much a godless religion.