The founder of the Al Qaida terrorist organization, Osama Bin Laden, was killed yesterday (May 1, 2011, Pakistani time) in a textbook commando operation by American forces. Almost instantly the killing raised controversy and concerns throughout the Islamic world, whose media is portraying a different image of the events than depicted by western news sources. Trapped in a large mansion, located inside a fortified compound in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan, a small team of American Special Forces engaged the insurgents in a firefight to the death.
Commando Operation
Abbottabad, located about 35 miles north of the Pakistani capital Islamabad and 170 miles east of the Afghanistan border, presented the biggest obstacle to the American operation. The home of many retired military officers, wealthy industrialists and Pakistani elite, Abbottabad is a part of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metropolitan area encompassing nearly 5 million people. The successful 40 minute precision military operation, carried out by 25 members of Seal Team Six, required exceptional skill, coordinated intelligence and stealth tactics.
Using three Apache helicopters to transport the US forces and provide air cover, commanders knew timing was essential. A coordinate air ground campaign, in which one aircraft was lost, ensued. Fox News journalist Marc Teichner reported on May 2, 2011 that western officials insisted “there were no US injuries” in the operation. Similarly President Obama repeated, during his live national announcement that “no Americans were hurt.” However, Pakistan’s Dawn News is repeating Xinhua News Service’s May 2, 2011 reports that “heavy firing was heard before the helicopter fell. One person was killed and two injured….”
OBL Controversy
An amazing end to a decade-long manhunt concluded when Bin Laden was cornered, shot in the head, dragged from the building and helicoptered out of the area. Americans were gleeful as President Obama announced the death of the Al Qaida founder; however, almost immediately controversy arose. The Pakistani media began to announce there was one factor missing from the American scenario that tainted the overall presentation. Absent from US reports, in the immediate aftermath of the operation, was the fact that the Americans had buried Osama at sea!
Appearing on Al Jazeera as an afterthought, Reuters and AP investigated these accusations and (along with other outlets) confronted a government official, who confirmed the burial. According to American officials, even though Bin Laden was a Saudi national, the Kingdom was unwilling to repatriate his body. Also while it is unusual for a Muslim to be buried at sea, it is not prohibited in Islam. Kimberly Dozier and David Espo of the Associated Press conveyed in the early hours of May 2, 2011, “The U.S. official who disclosed the burial at sea said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains.”
Furthermore, the Fox News broadcast stated the reason for the burial at sea was a concern that fanatics would erect shrines at the gravesite and begin martyr worship of the dead Bin Laden. Arabic TV station Al Jazeera argued at Noon (Qatar time) on 2 May 2011, in a special report, that the Fox News position is "abnormal in Wahhabi Islam.” For now the reason President Obama gave must suffice. Dozier and Espo reported Obama argued, “the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial.”
Misdirection of the Information
Photos and DNA testing reportedly were performed to preclude arguments that the body was that of an impostor; however, Iran’s English language Press TV has begun displaying a photo of the supposedly dead Bin Laden. MSNBC, on the other hand, is reporting that no US authorities have confirmed releasing photos and the image circulating on the internet is a fake.
The dynamics of an event such as this is ongoing. The people involved have an excellent idea of what transpired, whether at the compound during the attack, in the downed helicopter or on board the ship during the sea burial; however, those individuals will remain silent until released from military service.
One fact is known: The man with a $27 million reward* on his head is dead. There are also two important factors that must be remembered by both sides of this disturbing play. American and western targets should be prepared for retaliatory attacks by Al Qaida and its sympathizers, and this American attack was not against Islam. As the US President emphatically stated, “We…reaffirm that the U.S. is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.”
*$25 million came from the State Department and $2 million from the Airline Pilots Association and Air Transport Association.
Frank W. Hardy - Frank has 36 years of airline experience navigating every ocean & continent. Flying 25,000 hours in 42 years presents a rare historical ...
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