White House Officials Announce Osama Bin Laden is Dead

President Obama has announced that Osama bin Laden is dead in a televised address on May 1, 2011. According to officials, the United States has confirmed his death and is in possession of his body. Obama has confirmed that the U.S. was behind the operation that killed bin Laden.

"On nights like this one," Obama said, "we can say to families who lost loved ones to al Qaeda's terror: justice has been done."

Officials and the Associated Press have reported that bin Laden was killed. Few details have been confirmed regarding the nature of his death. According to the Washington Post, bin Laden was killed in a CIA operation in Pakistan. President Obama announced that after verifying he had enough information to give the order for the operation, a brief firefight took place during which no Americans were killed. The president went on to confirm that the United States had confirmed his death and were, in fact, in possession of his body.

Osama bin Laden was the founder of the al Qaeda organization. He is known as the orchestrator of the September 11 attacks in the United States, during which more than six thousand people were injured and approximately three thousand people were killed. In tapes recovered following the attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, Osama claimed responsibility for these attacks. His death has been widely regarded as a major stage in the healing of those affected by the 9/11 attacks. MSNBC reported his death as a "wide military victory" for the United States.

The news of bin Laden's death, and its confirmation, comes after years of speculation regarding his death since 2001. Various claims were made regarding bin Laden's location through regions surrounding Pakistan. This confirmation, then, comes as an official end to any speculation, and a major event for the presidency of President Obama.

Former President Clinton has declared the news of bin Laden's death "a profoundly important moment -- but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children." Former President George W. Bush has expressed his "great and deep satisfaction" with the news.

In a televised statement regarding this news, President Obama stated, "America can do whatever we set our minds to -- 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."

Sources:

The Washington Post, "American official says Osama bin Laden was killed in a mansion close to the Pakistani capital," WashingtonPost.com

HuffPost World, "Osama Bin Laden Dead, Obama Announces", The Huffington Post

MSNBC, "Osama bin Laden killed," MSNBC