Osama Bin Laden is dead, dead, dead

Osama Bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and the organizer of 9-11 is dead.

A U.S. Navy Seal team, led by the CIA, found and killed Bin Laden on Sunday in a compound in Abbottobad, Pakistan. According to numerous published reports, American helicopters with the SEAL team and CIA operatives hit the compound quickly, and shot Bin Laden in the head when he failed to surrender. The forces were in and out in less than 40 minutes.

According to reports, Bin Laden was buried at sea by U.S. forces. One of the reasons for the sea burial was so his burial site would not become a shrine.

In his prepared comments, President Barack Obama explained the last few months of the hunt for Bin Laden: “Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden.  It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground.  I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan.  And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.”

Former President George W. Bush issued this statement: "The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., issued the following statement: "This is a great victory for the Global War on Terror. Osama bin Laden has been a top enemy of our country and its allies because of the murder of thousands of innocent civilians. We are grateful to the service and commitment of the men and women of our armed forces and intelligence community who have worked tirelessly to see that bin Laden be held responsible for his senseless actions. This should send a clear message to Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations that the U.S. will not give up in pursuit of justice."

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, issued this statement: "I join my colleagues in celebrating this important military achievement–the killing of Bin Laden–clearly our nation’s highest and most elusive target since 9/11.  The successful elimination of Bin Laden is a victory for our nation, those personally affected by 9/11 and the ensuing war on terror, as well as the free world.  I congratulate the brave members of our military who made this news possible and who selflessly serve the cause of freedom around the world."

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