New details, new questions about bin Laden's death: Join the Live Chat
Tonight on AC360°, more about the secret U.S. military mission that killed Osama bin Laden. The White House announced Tuesday that the most wanted terrorist on the planet was not armed at the time he was fatally shot by U.S. Navy SEALs. Are there more shocking details about the precision operation yet to be revealed?
Also tonight, should the White House release photos of bin Laden's corpse or his burial at sea?
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:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
|
|
Filed under: Live Blog |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
Goodnight Anderson and Everyone. Sweet dreams.
Personally, I firmly believe he is dead. This world has become a world of doubts?
Incredible view of Ground Zero from where you are tonight, Anderson.
I think the government has some way of sealing away information until a later date in time for historical purposes. Maybe, this is one of those times for the sake of the security of our military and citizens now residing in foreign countries. I'm sure whatever the President and his staff decides, it will be right for all Americans concerning the release of pictures of UBL mission.
Please no photos, not yet. JSOC and the Navy Seals are wonderful and deserve our thanks. I am hoping their identity is not know for many years for their safety and that of their families.
Bush 43 & CIA 2001 didin't know bin Laden was having pilots trained in the US to commit the atrocities we experienced on 9/11/01. Why is it so hard to believe that the Pakistanis didn't know he was in Pakistan? Bin Laden was a master chess player. Fortunately for us, Obama is better. Check Mate.
the seals sound very efficient and very dedicated
Good night all. I hope they get it all figured out so they can move on to the terrorists in Yemen, Somolia, Syria and other places who are recruiting individuals and small groups who already live here to attack us. That is the more serious source of terrorism now including all the potential weapons, and other things.
Navy SEAL are special force men with special talents.
I thought there were twelve Seals involved in the mission.
I would like to see Obama AND Bush visit ground zero Thursday and stand together in celebration of killing Bin Laden. this would a very symbolic stand and it would show the world it doesn't matter who is president, we WILL NEVER give up and we will find you and kill you if you kill our people.
Have to comment on language used past 2 days. Justice was not served; the killing was justified (an eye for an eye). Justice requires hearing all sides whereas justification requires a preponderance of the facts.
Why have there been questions whether a burial at sea is in accordance with Muslim law? I mean, from what I understand OBL was not a respected member of the Muslim faith. For 10 years we have been told that main stream Muslims denounce the man. We've been told that only extremist, murder supporting Muslims approve of OBL. So the only people who should be upset are OBL supporters....and who cares if we offend THOSE Muslims?
I'm sure there have been plenty of muslim mariners in the past who have been buried at sea. I can't see a land burial as being a requirement to add more to your comment, Dale.
I believe it has to do with the need to respect the muslim faith WHETHER or NOT the person deserves it it our eyes. We are acting as one should, not in respect to how we were treated. It's called living above, taking the higher road. I commend our leaders for following such a path
My God! Must love the SEALS.
what goes around comes around.ths guy brought too much sorrow 2 the world.lets make the world a better place
As I said, "An eye for an eye." Killing was justified.
No photos please, not yet. I have faith that it was bin Laden. JSOC and Navy Seals are amazing. Very hopeful their names are not released for years as safety for them and their families are at stake.
@Molly 10:30 Advancements in science can unveil anything. They should be afraid.
Western media have always shown the most intense US assassinations (JFK, RFK, MLK) and other attempts (Reagan) again, and again, and again. It does not bother me. But each time it always makes me reflect on the horrible gravity of the event. That reflection is a good thing. From that perspective show the data of bin Laden. It may help us, or humble us, all just a little bit. We are all human.
Has anyone ever seen the propaganda videos that this maniac released???? In every one of them, there is a gun in the background. All I know is, if I was the #1 Most wanted man in the World, and I was hiding out sleeping at 1AM and there were 2 helicopters that contained the 25 best fighters in the World...I wouldn't have a gun in my hand either in sheer hopes that they would somehow show mercy on me. I for one am glad that they didn't. Thank you Navy Seals!!!
There should not be any accusations against the USA for Osama not being armed. The victims of 9/11 were not armed either!
Anderson,
Does it really matter if bin Laden was armed? Were the 2600 people who died in the World Trade Towers armed? This man was Public enemy #1. In the "Fog of War" there is no time to politely ask the enemy if he has any weapons. The Seals had to get in, get bin Laden and get out with as much critical information as possible. This was a justified kill. As for any American who thinks otherwise, remember Flight 93 and all of the other people who have had their lives torn apart by this man.
We said the exact same thing Jay...victims of 911 were not armed.
Take him alive, really? Have we not learned, after going into Iraq twice, that a taken country make us responsible in some extent to rebuild. He would be like another responsibility, we would put him in jail and he would be provided the same protection as all others before him, some lawyer would love to get their name on this one. No, our people killed in 9/11 we not asked to surrender, better dead and done!
Taking him alive is the only way to have proven he was really taken. Anything else can be photoshopped. And isnt that why we want photos? For proof?
I think the Seals were understandably nervous, they had already lost one chopper. There was a lot was going on at once, those surrounding Osama were firiing and the Pakistan government couldn't be trusted. What's important here, is that America did what it could to keep as many people safe in this raid, unlike Bin Laden who destroyed thousands of lives without care or remorse. I would be looking a little more closely into Pakistan's knowledge, or role in all of this.
How did 40 people plus one corpse leave the compound on ONE helicopter? Were Chinook or Blackhawk helicopters used in the raid?
When the other helicopter lost power and landed hard, within a few minutes a back up helicopter landed to take it's place.
good evening, everyone.
I am curious as to what kind of "resistance" an unarmed sickly man put up against 25 navy seals, to the extent they felt the need to shoot. Not that he deserved to live. But why could they not take an unarmed man alive?
In normal situations, I would agree with you...but Osama didn't care about the 3,000 unarmed human beings of 9/11.
Not my point. i'm speaking of proof that he was taken, which is what all the uproar about releasing photos is about, proof.
It saved millions of dollars by not having to go through the courts and the years and years it would take to get this over with!! He didn't give our people killed on 9/11 any choice, why should he have had one??
I think obama should release photo because think ab 9/11 he killed little kids why have pity for him or his family
Why the concern for Osama being armed? Were the victims of 911 armed?
Good Night all, I personaly think that the death pictures of bin Laden should be released. My reasoing is this, He and all of the world including thousands of American mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters, looked at the death he caused. I think this is the final justice and closer need for us to truely start to heal after 9/11.
Thank God for the presidents couarge and foresight to under go such a big gamble. Thank You Mr. President for justice at last. GOD BLESS THE USA!
It's amazing to see the Compound where Osama bin Laden lived. I think the authenticity of events that led to his death–not any degree of sensationalism–should take priority in deciding what photo image of his death should be released–or when.
Please...all a picture of a dead bin Laden does is capitalize on the sadistic nature of too many Americans! Help them help themselves and drop this issue.
What would be the purpose of releasing the photos? Violent images promote violence, right? I don't think our government would sound the alarm if this wasn't the real deal.
I definitely think Americans deserve to see the pictures of a deceased Osama Bin Laden, no matter how gruesome. He and all his terrorists got to see our dead when the damage from his murderous 9/11 attacks were splashed all over the worlds news media. We have waited almost 10 years for this.
Should we show Bin Laden's photo? Well we showed the twin towers crashing down didn't we???
The White House absolutely should release the pictures of a dead Osama bin Laden. He is not a deity, not a prophet, not anyone deserving of any kind of dignity. He is a common criminal and terrorist! The world and his cohorts need to see what happens to you when you are a terrorist and are hunted down and killed by our forces. Stop being scared of him & treating him as someone deserving of respect and show him for the common thug that he was and is.
Why don't people just believe it? Just because US armed force showed respect to his culture, and gave him proper "burial"?
Good evening Anderson, everyone. I do not understand why the gruesome photos of a dead Bin Laden are so important to such a huge percentage of Americans. Do people have to see to believe? I was kidding last night when I mentioned the death certificate but is that needed too?
I'm sure it's more than just Americans who want to see the death picture of BinLaden. His own culture wants to see the picture.
When I first heard and watched 911 on t.v., I was horrified. All those innocent people killed. With Bin Laden dead, it gives me peace and closure and I feel JUSTICE have been served. God Bless this great country.
We can't get any where by being afraid!
Why do we care what others will think if we post this picture when they all allowed him to air his videos of bragging about 9/11 and swearing to do more to America? We need to post this picture everywhere and show what happens when you mess with America and that we will find you
@Lizzy, They burned the trash on the premises. They did not want to discard anything such as DNA that could be traced back to Osama. Probably also why they didn't sent the balls back that the children threw over the wall.
I want to believe Osama bin laden is dead. really.
Andeson, enough about bin Laden not being armed...were any of the 9/11 victims armed??!!! Why is this even an issue??!!!
I believe the Pakistan Government knew of Bin Laden's hideout and along with bin Ladin were probably laughing about how he was in full view, but America was led to believe he was deep in the mountains in Afganistan. About Bin Ladin not being armed. I think the miliatry were fearful not only of Osama and his aids but of the Pakistan government. There was a reason they didn't share information about the raid with them. The military had only moments to act; if they messed up there would be no more chances. You can't believe Osama would go peacefully. Not the same guy who orchestrated 911.
He's dead. Showing the photos won't prove anything to anyone who believes he isn't. If he was alive, we would have heard from him by now.
We haven't seen any recent videos n years.What makes u think he is gonna start now. He could have been dead for years. Obama is just looking for a pat on the back
This is true,we will soon know,he is the type that if is alive he will send video proof he will not want the world to think he is dead cause he knows we can't fear him if he is dead so if he is alive he will prove it,and he will see it as a chance to prove that the American government are liars!
RE: New information that Bin Laden wasn't armed – Please remind your viewers that Bin Laden was THE mastermind behind SUICIDE attacks in cities around the world and made it known that he would not go down without a fight. Therefore our Special Operators had to assume the compound was rigged with bombs that could be remotely detonated to destroy them and whatever intelligence was kept on the premises. Bin Laden did not need to have a visible weapon to present a grave danger to our Special Operators – all he needed was access to remote control button. Any suspicious movement would justify his immediate dispatch.
There was a room full of our top government officials, security and military witnessing the operation. What don't people believe? Come on.
It's the same with "Birthers." They'll believe what they want regardless of the facts. Don't release OBL photos to be used by his followers to make him a martyr. Release photos of the thousands who died from al Qaeda violence instead and overwhelm them.
Why do we care how others feel when they had no problem airing bin laden bragging about and claiming 9/11 as his work? We should post this picture everywhere and show that if you mess with America we will find you and JUSTICE will be done
Why isnthe compound filled with trash in the inside ? Were they living in filth or was that the aftermath of thee search?
I believe that was the result of the search for any files and materials of interest that were in the compound. In other words, the SEALS tossed the place.
Good evening Anderson,
I feel Osama was wrong with the 911killing. However, they should took him alive. We are not better than there are, he was not arm. When we are going end the violence. I want peace. thanks maria
He did not leave any of victims alive, He does not deserve the respect you are showing. He was not even human.
What is the point in knowing whether he was armed or unarmed???? Were my friends in the World Trade Center armed?
Also, who would be so stupid to claim that bin Laden was killed when bin Laden can just simply expose himself and give a real time interview??? I don't think the White House is that stupid!!!! At least I hope not!!!
I agree Jimmy. Who gives a flying crap is Osama was armed or unarmed. He got his just dessert.
I am not saying he deserved to be taken alive. I am saying it would have proven he was alive, and we got him. We are now wasting quite a bit of money debating photo release on every channel ad nauseum. Photos prove nothing. Its a moot point.
Photographs are not needed. Too much harm can come from them. Conspiracy will always exist no matter what is seen.