Bin Laden raid also yielded info about al Qaeda: Join the Live Chat
In addition to resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the U.S. raid conducted by Navy SEALs also collected computer equipment and sensitive details that could be used to thwart al Qaeda, U.S. officials tell CNN.
Also tonight on AC360°, new details about the special forces operation ordered by the White House and how the administration confirmed that bin Laden had, in fact, been killed.
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
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4) No links
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I had a hard time believing that he was dead this morning until I saw the DNA results. Someone who has a 25 million bounty on his head would possibly have a doppelganger. Thankfully, if he did have one, we got the right one!
Whether or not he was seen is not the only thing, people should still have observed the place and would therefore have had questions. What were the neighbours thinking?
Anderson, I would like President Obama to provide us with a Death Certificate for Osama. Maybe Donald Trump has seen it?
Who was providing Osama bin Laden's dialysis while he was in the compound?
What is the reaction in the Middle East of the death of Osama Bin Laden?
I have heard that some people do not think that Bin Laden is dead.
I've seen some entries on Twitter that referred to the news as "the death of a holy warrior".
Yes, I have heard the same thing. He is a martyr to Islam. Which any Muslim will tell you is just wrong. Islam is definitely NOT what Osama practiced, if he practiced anything at all.
Were the Navy SEALs the only ones involved, or were there some other special operation forces. Like Green Berets or Army Rangers?
So far only SEALs and the CIA have been mentioned.
Thank you, I doubt it was the SEALs alone.
Green Berets....(U.S. Army Special Forces)
Fitting that this program is telecast from ground zero
how do we know hes dead besides wut we are told?
They did a DNA test
Yes, They did..
Great work by the CIA for their strategy and especially to the Navy Seals who risked their lives to make this happen.
Absolutely, Jo Ann. What courage and cunning.
The SEALS and Special Forces folks are so, so brave and skilled. So were those who gave the orders...this was a big deal. Horrible things could have resulted if the mission failed.
We would never have heard anything if it had failed. There might have been a story about soldiers dying in a training op or something, but we would never know the truth. Neither would their families have known what happened.
I have no idea MaryBeth, I really have not. I could well believe that had it failed in the sense that Bin Laden ended up with some of them as hostages, a horrible scenario would have unfolded.
So true Nancy!!
They practiced over and over. No matter how much you practice something could happen – it all comes down to your wits. They are very special people and I'm proud of them all for a job well done.
They are very skilled.
Why is the body going to be buried at sea?
I agree. No reason to desecrate him. His death is enough. No need to stoop to his and the terrorists' level.
I totally agree, Mary Beth. We do not need to emulate those we despise.
I agree. Also, if we don't like it when they celebrate when Americans die, we shouldn't celebrate when someone there dies. In this case, it is a relief to find out Osama is gone, but no need to treat it as a holiday.
I'm with you, we shouldn't give anymore press to a mass murderer. There is already enough lunatics out there making him a martyr. We shouldn't contribute it.
We for so long had to bear the vision of the horrors of 9/11 and other acts of terror this man bestowed upon our great nation, I want to see pictures of Osama Bin Laden laying there with his head blown off, as proof that the snake is gone for good, We deserve to see it, we should have the balls to not be sensitive to the Jihadists out there.
"It might not bring any closure to the families, but it does bring 'Justice'!"
Bloggers,
Our former president Bush did not success kill Osama bin Laden, He fail us, He tried to catch him and it is fail for Bush!
A mission accomplish for our currently Obama!
The intelligence that started this was obtained in 2007 when Bush was President. It took 4 years after that to pice it all together.
I think a lot of people honestly do expect things to move more quickly than they realistically can. There is almost always much more involved and at stake than meets the eye. I can well believe this would take a good while and involve step by step (and a few missteps too!) Aha, like Powell just said.
Nancy,
You're right!
No, They could not find Osama bin Laden..... They tried search him long time.... Bush was not have authorize to order find him, Too late for Bush got him as well.
That's my understanding as well. I think like 9/11 itself, it's a time to set partisanship aside. And unlike 9/11, it's time for everyone to be happy about what has happened.
I agree with you Megan. Bush seemed to be fixed on Iraq rather than Bin Ladin. The Obama administration vowed to bring him to justice from the very beginning. Obama showed true grit and patience.
Yes, Good point!!!! I agree with you...... Janis.
I totally agree with you, Janis.
I think if one feels that way, would we not say then that President Clinton failed as he did want to capture or kill bin Laden as much as Bush and Obama did.
Chris,
Good point there, I agree with you, also........ Clinton did not get him either too.
Osama has been wanted by us long before 9/11. I think we were close to getting him during Clinton, sometime around the Blackhawk Down incident but I'm not sure.
I didn't agree with many of the former Presidents policies but would say that no one could question his commitment to a constant effort to find bin Laden and bring him to justice just as no one can say Pres Obama has not been totally committed to the same cause.
Ann, the conspiracy theories will float around even they showed us the grotesque photos. They are a fact of life, I think, esp. when people don't want one thing to be true and want another to be the case. I don't think gruesome photos are in order, personally.
I agree. I didn't like the photos and videos surrounding Saddam Hussein either.
That's how I felt. There's something barbaric about people pouring over the photos of dead bodies...since supposedly it's the barbarism of people like Bin Laden that we despise, it chills me to have us think of indulging in it.
It was the radical Muslims that created him, not the Muslim faith
What did they do with his son's body?
I think they used the sheet and wrap up the body and drop the sea.
Good evening, people. What a momentous event. Not an end to terrorism, I'm sure, but an end to a one source of evil.
Does anyone know where they put him in the sea at?
I believe it was the Arabian Sea.
Yes, You're right..... Marybeth.
I'm sure they do, but they won't release it. The body would have been weighted down and dropped in deep water. In just a short time, sea-life will dispose of it.
Arabean sea, just below Pakistan
I heard it had been in the planning stages for eight months before the actual execution of the plan. The real time concept is a real eye opener too. If you can see into an Egyptian revolution, so to speak, imagine what the White House was watching Sunday night. I wonder if the soldiers who executyed the attack on UBL knew their president was right on their shoulder? That would give you strength to do anything.
Difficult to believe that Osama bin Laden is really dead. They do need to document his death and burial for history.
It's raids like this that the navy seals train for. Good job guys!
Ditto Heather!
Will this end American troops in Afghanistan
Yes, There is possible to end the war in Afghanstain anytime.... I hope they will bring our troops home.
Agreed, Megan
I will be watching to see if we bring back out troops now! And if not, one must wonder why!
Good Evening Anderson, AC360 team,
Starr, Emily, Jo Ann, Megan, Sharon, Heather, Mike, Nancy, Gloria, everyone!
What a last 24 hours
I am thankful I was able to watch the President speak the words he did last night.
Again a piece of world history I watched live on CNN
Never imagined I would be so happy someone is dead.
I hope the world has taken a turn today.
Most of all I hope the family and friends off all those who lost their lives on 9/11,
Will have some kind of closure now.
My heart goes out to them
This is Great for america,I hope this President finally gets his due respect.While others saber rattled and beat their chest,this president had a quiet humility and showed tremendous strength,GO NAVY SEALS we are so proud of you THANKYOU
So how can this house be right down the road from a Pakistani Army base and military academy without someone knowing? He was obviously being protected.
Exactly! That's what everyone, including our gov't is asking. There are going to be very tough questions for Pakistan's gov't to answer. If Pakistan is playing both sides against the middle, we need to cut ties with them NOW. Not make them an enemy since they have nukes, but just cut ties with them.
Mike, I totally agree. How cold this compound be 100 yards from a military base and no one knew? Their military would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind.
Good evening Anderson, everyone.
Welcome back Anderson. I find it astonishing that Bin Laden was mere kilometres away from a Pakistani base and Abbotabad is so close to Islamabad. A mansion with a 16 ft. wall and no one investigated. Many questions to be answered.
Yeah, that whole compound is weird! Someone had to be thinking "huh, that's a weird place to build." and no one did!! People just went along and no one in the Pakistani military asked questions. If this town was 1000 yards from the Pakistani version of West Point, it's amazing NO one asked about this million dollar house in a middle class neighborhood.
I could hardly believe how long this mission was in the making. They did a mock up of that compound at Bagram so they could plan and practice the mission. I was shocked to see where he had been living. Says alot about what kind of any allie Pakistan really is.
The SEALS did a fantastic job. I am curious, though, as to why they are giving away all the details of how they found him. Doesn't that just show the rest of them what not to do? The ones they are looking for now will make sure to pick an average house, not burn their trash, have phone hookups etc.
Anyone think we're actually going to see picture or video proof of OBL's death? There's already conspiracy theories floating around....
Good evening everyone
I feel like justice has been served.
I was very surprised to see that he lived a life of relative luxury in such an obvious place. I had long ago thought he must have been under a pile of rubble somewhere in the mountains of Afghanistan.
You know Osama could not have been operating a terrorist operation out of a cave. That was a cover up
He came from a pretty wealthy family- I always had my doubts that someone who led a rather lavish lifestyle would be willing to live in a cave for years on end...
Not living in a cave, but dead and decaying under a pile of rubble. I thought he may have died long ago and al-Qaida made him appear to be alive as a ruse.
I can not believe that the good ole USA finally got Osama! WooHoo! Celebration time! so glad no American soldiers were injured. Great job Navy Seals! I love our military! My flag is flying high! i am a proud American today.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree!!!! You're right!! We made it!
I'm glad they buried him at sea. Like everyone else who thinks the same, there will be no shrine to him to visit, no body to entomb and show off. I surely hope CNN won't play the tape when it's released either.
I heard that is the traditional burial for the Muslim faith.
That siege was a long time come!
So proud of the US Navy Seals, our troops, and this president! USA USA USA!
Hello everyone. I'm proud that America had the patience to rid the world of this pest of humanity. Thank you, our great military. Thank you President Obama.
POTUS:; "After firefight" OBL killed. Not "during firefight." Parsing language: captured then dispatched???
I think that's because it was at the end of the firefight, so maybe it was considered "after"?
It was already dispatcher, not captured just target him to death.
Hello everyone
Good evening Anderson and everyone. I am so proud of our President, the CIA, and the Navy Seals Special Ops. What wonderful news. We can sure use some wonderful news. President Obama is to be commended for his leadership and his cool and determined decisions.
I agree, Sharon, Our president Obama was right thing to do!!!!!!!!!! You have good point there, Sharon.
I think it's a miracle all the SEALs got out of there unharmed. Just shows the capability of our military now.
Hello all
I wonder if we're ever going to know all the info that was collected.
No, but we may see the results.
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Hope you have great weekend! 🙂
Happy Monday night!!!
We have a breaking news!!!!!!!! We got him!!!!!! Osama bin Laden killed!
President Obama did the right thing. Proud of all military, and officials in the administration. This needed to be accomplished. Did Bin Laden's family (parents, etc.) disown him when he became such a viscious terrorist?
Hello, everyone. Crazy 24 hours!!!
Anderson,
Hi! It's great to see you on.
I wasn't watching television last night when news began to emerge about Osama bin Laden. I heard it via the internet and Twitter. Your messages and reporting today have been exceptional. It's great to see you broadcasting from Ground Zero. Though it's been nearly ten years since 9/11, what happened then has never seemed just history or a memory–it's very much present.
I didnt hear about it until this morning when they mentioned it on tv
How amazing twitter is, isn´t it?!
Saw the announcement on twitter, then ofcourse waited with/on CNN
Did not sleep much on CET time, but so thankful I was able to watch and see this news unfold!!
Evening everyone. Hope you had a great weekend
Good Evening Everyone! Greetings!
Maybe somebody could find out what this mission/operation was called. Is that possible?
Yes! There was possible, Glenn. 🙂