Many survivors have mixed emotions about the news

By Elaine Sanchez  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 3, 2011 - When Wendy Duffman first heard that Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida's leader and the mastermind behind 9/11, was dead, she felt a sense of elation, then relief. Her brother, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Eric Duffman, died four years ago in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan -- a war launched in the wake of the deadly terrorist attacks. And as an American Airlines flight attendant in 2001, she lost friends and colleagues on the planes that crashed into the Pentagon and Twin Towers, and onto a field in Pennsylvania. "I woke up for the first time in four years feeling like my brother didn't die in vain," Duffman said. The news of bin Laden's death May 1 set off an emotional chain reaction across the nation. As the president prepared to brief the nation, hundreds of people gathered in front of the White House to celebrate the news and display their patriotism, waving American flags and singing the national anthem. Since then, social media networks have lit up with celebratory comments. The reaction has been somewhat more subdued among surviving family members who lost a loved one on 9/11 or in the subsequent and related wars. While elated at bin Laden's death, Duffman said, she feels it's a "small victory." "I don't want people to forget there are others like bin Laden," she said. "The war isn't over. We still have troops in harm's way." Many survivors have mixed emotions about the news, said Ami Neiberger-Miller, spokeswoman for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a support group for survivors of fallen military loved ones. Neiberger-Miller noted that some people have talked of a sense of closure because of bin Laden's demise. Yet, "there's not a sense of real closure; you can't have closure from something like this," she said. Lisa Dolan understands that firsthand. Her husband, Navy Capt. Bob Dolan, was killed in the Pentagon on 9/11 when Flight 77 struck the building. The news of bin Laden's death seemed surreal at first, Dolan said, then bittersweet. "Nothing will bring back my husband and the almost 3,000 men, women and children that were killed on Sept. 11, 2011," she said. "Is there some vindication in the death of bin Laden? Maybe. However, I do feel incredibly proud of our military. They have sacrificed so much for our freedoms." Dolan's son, Beau, was at college -– he's a freshman at Notre Dame -- when he heard the news. At first he felt "dumbstruck," he said. Then, "I started to realize how great it was, [and] the feeling of being dumbstruck transformed into sheer excitement. "I couldn't believe that it was finally over," he said. "There seemed to be a chapter that had been finally finished in my life." In a display of unity, scores of students ran up and down the campus "quad" chanting "USA" and singing patriotic songs, he recalled. "It really was an awesome experience and display of love for the country," he said. Dolan's daughter, Rebecca, is coupling her excitement with caution. "I've always had it in my mind that Osama bin Laden ... might always be there looming," she said. "I'm excited to think that there is one fewer terrorist out there. I also feel that there is still work to be done -- that bin Laden's death does not signal the end of terrorism as we know it." . Trish Lawton also is concerned about the repercussions of bin Laden's death. "It's a little scary," she said. "How many groups are going to want to avenge his death? How is that going to affect our normal day-to-day life? It brings me to wonder what lies ahead." Lawton learned of bin Laden's death yesterday morning, while getting her two sons ready for school. Her husband, Marine Capt. Garret Lawton, was killed in 2008 by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. The boys were ages 4 and 6 at the time of their father's death, she said. "I know that my late husband would have been elated that our servicemembers had a successful mission," she said. As for her sons, "Maybe they will feel some sort of peace that their dad played a part in eventually making today possible," she said, close to tears. While emotions seem to be running the gamut from elation to caution, Miller has traced a common thread of patriotism among survivors. Many people within the survivor community have changed their social networking profile picture to a patriotic symbol or to a picture of their lost loved one, she said. Miller changed her Facebook profile picture to a picture of her brother's tombstone. Army Spc. Christopher Neiberger was killed Aug. 6, 2007, in Baghdad. "I would hope I would never celebrate the death of another human being, but I do feel that justice was served," she said of bin Laden's death. "I'm very proud of my brother and the military and all of those people who have given so much. "It's a momentous day for a lot of people," she said.

Related Sites: Special Report: The Demise of Osama bin Laden

Survivors Call bin Laden's Death 'Bittersweet' 

President Obama on the killing of Bin Laden

Monday, May 2, 2011 Good afternoon, Last night, President Obama announced that the United States has killed Osama bin Laden,  leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people.  He made clear that even though Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice, Americans  should remember the spirit of unity in the days after 9/11 as we continue to secure our nation  and work for a safe and prosperous future. If you haven’t yet seen President Obama’s remarks, you can watch them here and read the  full transcript below: Full Transcript of the President’s Remarks on Osama bin Laden Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the  United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of  al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent  men, women, and children. It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst  attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our  national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the  Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon;  the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic  citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction. And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world.   The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their  mother or their father.  Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace.   Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered  our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each  other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from,  what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American  family. We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed  this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by  al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war  on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the  globe.  And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our  allies. Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our  counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted  terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the  Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And  around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda  terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot. Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan.   Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its  affiliates across the world. And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the  killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued  our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. 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. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound  in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary  courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties.  After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body. For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to  plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the  most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to  pursue attacks against us.  We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad. As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with  Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against  Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.  Indeed,  al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.  So his  demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew  where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our  counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound  where he was hiding.  Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the  Pakistani people. Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani  counterparts .They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it  is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates. The American people did not choose this fight.  It came to our shores, and started with the  senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we  know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief,  have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service  member who’s been gravely wounded. So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security  being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in  defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who  we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to  al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done. Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve  worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know  their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of  justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the  professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.  And they are part of a  generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day. Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your  loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another  attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at  times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and  the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded  that  America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the  pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our  commitment  to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because  of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr iTunes

Al-Qaida Remains Dangerous, Panetta Says

By Jim Garamone  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - Osama bin Laden is dead, but al-Qaida still is dangerous, CIA Director Leon E. Panetta said today in a letter to the agency's employees. "Today, we have rid the world of the most infamous terrorist of our time," Panetta wrote in a letter posted on the CIA's website. Panetta –- who has been nominated as the next defense secretary –- said that nothing can compensate those who have lost family and friends to bin Laden and his henchmen, but he hopes the fact that bin Laden is gone will be a source of comfort "for the thousands of families, here in America and around the globe, who mourn the victims of al-Qaida's barbarity." Panetta congratulated those who work in the Counter-Terrorism Center and the Office of South Asia Analysis for their expertise, creativity and tradecraft. "I also extend my profound appreciation and absolute respect to the strike team, whose great skill and courage brought our nation this historic triumph," he wrote. Though bin Laden is dead, al-Qaida is not, Panetta said. "The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him, and we must -- and will -- remain vigilant and resolute," he said. "But we have struck a heavy blow against the enemy. The only leader they have ever known, whose hateful vision gave rise to their atrocities, is no more. The supposedly uncatchable one has been caught and killed. And we will not rest until every last one of them has been delivered to justice."

Biographies: Leon E. Panetta Related Sites: Panetta's Letter to CIA Employees Central Intelligence Agency Related Articles: Clinton: U.S. Will Redouble Antiterrorism Efforts  Intelligence, Operations Team Up for bin Laden Kill  Task Force Assesses Likely Impact of bin Laden's Death  Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'  U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

Intelligence, Operations Team Up for bin Laden Kill

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 8:23 PM By Jim Garamone  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - The plan to attack the compound of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was the result of relentless intelligence work and operational professionalism, White House officials, speaking on background, said this morning. The operation was the culmination of years of careful and highly advanced intelligence work, officials said, as officers from the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency worked as a team to analyze and pinpoint the Pakistani compound where bin Laden was killed. Once the intelligence pointed precisely to the compound in Abbottabad –- a town 35 miles north of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad –- the work on the mission began between the intelligence and military communities. "In the end, it was the matchless skill and courage of these Americans that secured this triumph for our country and the world," one official said. A small team conducted the helicopter raid on the compound. An official called it a complex operation, noting that the compound was a virtual fortress -– built in 2006 with high walls, razor wire and other defense features. Its suburban location and proximity to Islamabad complicated the operation, the official said. "The men who executed this mission accepted this risk, practiced to minimize those risks, and understood the importance of the target to the national security of the United States," he said. "This operation was a surgical raid by a small team designed to minimize collateral damage and to pose as little risk as possible to noncombatants on the compound or to Pakistani civilians in the neighborhood." U.S. helicopters delivered the team to the compound, and the team was on the ground for less than 40 minutes, an official said. They did not encounter any local authorities. In addition to bin Laden, three adult males were killed in the raid. "There were several women and children at the compound," the official said. "One woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant. Two other women were injured." One of the U.S. helicopters was lost at the compound due to mechanical failure. The crew destroyed it on the ground, and the assault force and crew members boarded the remaining aircraft to leave, an official said. "There's also no doubt that the death of Osama bin Laden marks the single greatest victory in the U.S.-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida," the official said. "It is a major and essential step in bringing about al-Qaida's eventual destruction." Though the organization's terrorists still are dangerous and al-Qaida may not fragment immediately, an official said, "the loss of bin Laden puts the group on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse." The United States did not share any intelligence on the raid with any other country, the official said. "We believed it was essential to the security of the operation and our personnel," he said. "In fact, only a very small group of people inside our own government knew of this operation in advance." Shortly after the raid, he added, U.S. officials contacted senior Pakistani leaders and told them about the raid and its results. "Since 9/11, the United States has made it clear to Pakistan that we would pursue bin Laden wherever he might be," the official said. "Pakistan has long understood that we are at war with al-Qaida. The United States had a legal and moral obligation to act on the information it had."

Related Articles: Task Force Assesses Likely Impact of bin Laden's Death  Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'  U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

Bin Laden's death is a powerful counter to enemy

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 5:01 PM

By Karen Parrish 

American Forces Press Service FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011 - News of Osama bin Laden's death raced through the tents and plywood buildings that make up the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team here this morning. Within minutes of the president's televised announcement brigade leaders met this morning in their daily battle update briefing, and soldiers checked in by cell phone with buddies on other parts of the base: "OK, just wanted to be sure you heard." Task Force Currahee is on its second deployment to Afghanistan, responsible for counterinsurgency operations in Paktika province. Soldiers here smiled as they discussed the death of the terrorist responsible for murdering nearly 3,000 Americans and other nations' citizens in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Army Maj. Rob Born, brigade operations officer, said bin Laden's death won't require the task force to change its operations significantly. "The assessment was in many ways, he was more of a symbolic, moral and figurative leader than he was involved in the command and control of day-to-day operations," Born said. "I think we will find out whether or not that hypothesis was true, and what the impact is." He said the task force will analyze the effects of the al-Qaida leader's death within its area of operation over the coming days and weeks. "We definitely expect and anticipate retaliatory attacks," he said. "[But] if they're hasty and not well planned, it's not going to work out well for the insurgents." Born said bin Laden's death is a validation of the nation's efforts to combat terrorism. "I think it's a tremendous achievement," he said. "It shows that persistence and attention to detail, agility, flexibility, working together with special operations forces and the intelligence community – it pays off." The positive demonstrations outside the White House and in New York City during Obama's announcement were encouraging, Born said. "It just shows that the American public is really engaged in what's going on, and they take pride in the achievements of their armed forces," he said. "That really was the best thing that I saw." Army Capt. David McKim, the brigade's assistant intelligence officer, termed bin Laden's death an example of how his profession operates. "That's truly how it does work for us," he said. "Things don't happen instantly, sometimes. A lot of our successes take time to build." He said for his shop, the mission in Regional Command East remains finding the enemy in Paktika and protecting the soldiers and population. Enemy forces the task force faces in Paktika are not necessarily closely linked to al-Qaida, McKim said, though many in Regional Command South are. Insurgents in Paktika are likely to respond to bin Laden's death in one of two ways, McKim said: their morale could suffer, or their activities could increase in retaliation. The al-Qaida leader's death comes at a time when I think everybody had given up," he said. "They thought, 'He's either dead, or we're not going to find him.' But that's how things work in our business – you don't know when." The fact that the military did find bin Laden "gives you that justification that yes, we are doing the right things," McKim said. In the overall counterinsurgency campaign, McKim said, bin Laden's death is a powerful counter to enemy propaganda, which claimed America would never capture him. There is no likely successor to bin Laden who will have the same stature, McKim said. "He was tall, he spoke very eloquently, ... [he had] power, influence, money," the intelligence officer said. "Granted, there are lots of other bad guys out there that will try to take his place." Other insurgents may now think twice about attacking U.S. and coalition forces, he said. "I think this is definitely a good thing," McKim said.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division  Related Articles: Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'  U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation