105 Comments

• jnewnam | May 18, 2011, 02:16 PM EDT

  Oh, Bull!!! A 11 year pursuit ended in the Obama administration. There is a report out there that the O had to be forced into the decision. That Valerie Jarrett kept running a block on his decision. No one (specifically Panetta and Clinton) could get him to commit and they knew about bin Laden's location since at least September, 2010. O was too afraid of the consequences if all did not go well and just could not make a decision. That when Panetta finally got him to agree to a land effort in stead of a bombing, Panetta already had in the works for months. O thought it would be months before he had to decide. He had to be dragged off the golf course after the mission had started. Our service men and Panetta did this not Obama, he has just taken the victory laps. What a disgrace!

• paddyRanger | May 18, 2011, 11:05 AM EDT

  bullocks for the last time, WE do not (by we I am talking the US and Allies, The West) deliberately target civilians, do you understand what that means, I will say it again...Do not target deliberately civilians (including children) had we done so, Osama would have been taken (KILLED) out ages ago, Al Q on the other hand DELIBERATELY targets civilians it is their goal to kill civilians, what part of that are you too stupid to understand, try condemning that first before you preach any of your crap to me

• bullocks | May 18, 2011, 08:47 AM EDT

  paddyRanger this has more to do with what is right and what is wrong. rather than whether i have spent time in Pakistan. civilians are civilians the world over. whether they are Pakistani, Chinese, Vietnamese or even american and it is wrong to kill them , intentionally or accidentally. You still have not condemned the killing of civilians including the children. and you need to learn to read . the article says "MORE THAN 40".well 44 is more than 40.try reading the article. the headline is there just google it.

• paddyRanger | May 16, 2011, 05:16 PM EDT

  Bullocks give it a rest try not be so stupid your whole life, you clearly have ZERO clue about Pakistan or THEIR Military, I doubt you have ever had direct contact with them, ever served alongside them or spent any amount of time inside a Paksitani Army Battalion camp, well I have, "Pakistan's army chief condemned the raid by US unmanned drones in unusually strong terms"" of course he condemns it in public, privately he is chuffed to pieces, and you need to check your math, 4 militants and 40 civilians makes 44 not 40, make your mind up......and I could not care less if they take 100 years to revenge.....it is not important, I already told you that is just an excuse, they hate us no matter what we do, GET it now bollocks

• bullocks | May 15, 2011, 05:56 PM EDT

  18 March 2011 bbc Pakistan: Calls for revenge after US drones kill 40 Tribal leaders in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan have vowed revenge against the US after drones killed more than 40 people near the Afghan border."We are a people who wait 100 years to exact revenge. We never forgive our enemy," the elders said in a statement. 44 people died at the scene, including 13 children - one as young as seven.On Thursday, Pakistan's army chief condemned the raid by US unmanned drones in unusually strong terms, calling it "intolerable... and in complete violation of human rights". 4 militants -40 civilians in this attack .The relative of these people, civilians, are now your enemies. America has made it that way by their careless attitude. You should go and help someone else.your HELP and GREAT care is costing lives.get it now paddy.

• paddyRanger | May 15, 2011, 01:16 PM EDT

  all I can say is, you clearly have mental issues and a lack of comprehension, I have said half a dozen times now, GREAT care is taken to minimize civilian casulties and at no other time in history has this been done. That we do not target PURE civilians is obviously something you are too stupid to understand. That civilians get caught up in this is going to be impossible to do anything about as the terrorists hide behind womens coattails......As for the "Battle for hearts and minds" how childish and stupid are you, why fight a battle that is a waste of time, just defeat the enemy, the fact Al Q KILLS more muslims alone should be enough for them to understand who is actually trying to help them, if they can not see that, how the hell do you think you are going to win their hearts and minds, they do not think logically, a bit like you

• bullocks | May 15, 2011, 11:21 AM EDT

  all i can say is ,I hope you are no longer serving as asoldier. the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the people is definitely lost on you. To condone the killing of civilians makes you just as bad as the people who celebrate the loss of life on 9/11.

• paddyRanger | May 14, 2011, 08:37 AM EDT

  Nope it does not embarrass me in the slightest, as I already told you, I highly doubt your figures are accurate,in fact you are fill of BS, as indeed anything you say is accurate at all, so no I have ZERO problem with terrorists being KILLED or the civilians (without doubt most are not innocent but support group for Al Q)being used by them as shields, America is not handing Al Qaeda a recruiting tool, they hate the US and the West, NO MATTER what we do, so if you can comprehend this simple fact, they hate us because we are not muslim, they hate us because we invented the TV, Car, Plane, Steam Ship, turbine ship, Radio, Telephone, Radar, Motorbikes, cell phones, computers EVERYTHING, they hate us because we have dominated and they need to use what we invented, they hate us because they are the backward religion............so no your pathetic theory that we are handing them a recruiting tool is exactly that pathetic

• bullocks | May 13, 2011, 03:51 PM EDT

  does it embarrass you paddy to use the word killed. these people were not "taken out", they were killed."I don't need to take anymore care than I already do sunshine !" is this all you have to say about the 957 civilians killed by US drones. you see, what you seem to want to avoid is that this is an injustice. Just as internment in northern Ireland by the British was a great recruitment tool for the IRA. America is handing al-Qaeda a golden opportunity to recruit among the families of these civilians, to avenge the deaths of their loved ones.

• paddyRanger | May 13, 2011, 11:31 AM EDT

  Bullocks...The Washington post, you cite the Washington post, hardly credible at all, if it is even true that 518 militants were taken out, then that is GREAT, 518 militants less, I could not give a toss what grade of militant it is, take them out now before they become even better< I don't need to take anymore care than I already do sunshine !

• bullocks | May 12, 2011, 03:09 PM EDT

  paddyRanger washington post:CIA drone attacks in Pakistan killed at least 581 militants last year, according to independent estimates. The number of those militants noteworthy enough to appear on a U.S. list of most-wanted terrorists: two. sterling job paddy sterling job the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says at least 957 victims of drone strikes in 2010 were innocent civilians. sterling job paddy you need to take more care paddy.

• paddyRanger | May 11, 2011, 04:07 PM EDT

  Bullocks are you for real, I mean are you playing at being stupid just to provoke people......I said the US consitution is not mine because I am not american, that does not mean I do not obey the law by living in the country....honestly if this is all you can come up with stop wasting my time,you are clearly just trying to provoke, as for the people killed by drones ini Pakistan, you say they are innocent I say the MAJORITY taken out by drones are far from innocent, and as you clearly avoided AGAIN my point, at no time in history as more care been taken to avoid civilian casualties and that you can not say about Al Q as they deliberately target them.........see the difference or is that too hard for you to comprehend

• bullocks | May 07, 2011, 03:57 PM EDT

  paddyRanger-so you live there, but do not live by their laws? who's law do you live by then? As regards innocents killed by drones in pakistan they are still dead.murdered,killed illegally.targeted or not they are still dead. as dead as the the 3000 americans who died on september 11 2001

• paddyRanger | May 07, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

  bullocks....first of all it is NOT my consitution, I might live in US but never said I was american so do not jump to conclusions, secondly I could not give a damn wether they are convicted of any crime, when they declare war on the west we are at war it is pretty simple, as for the ridiculous having to explain the difference between the Al Q DELIBERATE targeting of civilians, civilians on the ground in Pakistan are not deliberately targeted, never in any time of conflict has more care been taken to not take out civilians, so your attempt at trying to compare civilian deaths in the twin towers to anything on ground in Pakistan is pathetic. since when has 3,000 civilians been tageted in one go in Pakistan, answer that one

• bullocks | May 06, 2011, 12:58 PM EDT

  paddyRanger " the treatment the prisoners get in Gitmo is appropriate for who and what they are". who they are,according to your constitution, are innocent, because they have never been convicted of any crime.they are being held without trial.oh but also could you please explain why you think that a civilian in the twin towers on September 11th 2001 is worth more than a civilian on the ground in Pakistan in 2011.two wrongs don't make a right.

• paddyRanger | May 06, 2011, 09:31 AM EDT

  McNamara, I am fully aware of what the drones are doing now with Obama, he is actually not doing anything ANY president would be doing in office, he is being advised to do exactly that, as for the "The day for solving problems, and wars, with "B...lls" as you stated, died with the dinosaurs. Today's military and defense communities know it takes intelligence of the two varieties." Where did I exactly state that.....Having a background as a S2, I know more about Mil Intelligence than you ever will

• paddyRanger | May 06, 2011, 09:27 AM EDT

  Bullocks, that is a no then paddy .you cant justify what your government has done ans is doing around the world..........there is nothing to address, the treatment the prisoners get in Gitmo is appropriate for who and what they are, your bleeding liberal BS does not make it a point, as for the dead civilians from drone attacks......the majority being taken out of drones are NOT civilian, on the other hand, more pakistani's civilians are being killed by Taliban/Al Q than us, you are a hypocrite of the first degree

• joanxis | May 05, 2011, 08:39 PM EDT

  You know, I'm beginning to think that 2b is either not a real person or he makes up all of his rhetoric to see just how much he can p88s us off. No one could hate that much or spout so much garage. Yup, I think 2b is a fake.

• EphraimKibbey | May 05, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

  From ALL the REAL Americans I know, THANK YOU to the REAL AMERICAN who did this: Seals, Delta Force, CIA staff, Cabinet members and President Obama. Congratulations for a job well done. It has been a long 9 years, 7 months and 20 days between 9/11 and Bin Laden's Night of Justice and I had been led to believe by the previous administration that "We do not know where he is and he is just not that important anymore" as they left Afganistan to attack Iraq. It is gratifying to know that Justice is still important to the current administration.

• bullocks | May 05, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

  paddyRanger- that is a no then paddy .you cant justify what your government has done ans is doing around the world.

• McNamara31 | May 05, 2011, 04:28 PM EDT

  paddyRanger... One last thing... The day for solving problems, and wars, with "B...lls" as you stated, died with the dinosaurs. Today's military and defense communities know it takes intelligence of the two varieties.

• McNamara31 | May 05, 2011, 04:18 PM EDT

  paddyRanger "and you seem to forget I can throw the same thing back at you do you give Bush any credit for his accomplishments" Bush's can take credit for two wars on credit cards and a deregulated financial system, that brought our country to the brink of collapse. I guess Bush chose to walk around declaring "mission accomplished" when it wasn’t. Obama quietly went to work drastically increasing drone activity in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and if you care to research, you could see the drones have been killing off al Qaeda leadership for the past two years. Then he sent is the Navy Seals who brilliantly finished the job. Obama works smart, with less, and doesn't have a need to name his missions “shock and awe”. He knows the results will speak for themselves.

• paddyRanger | May 05, 2011, 03:21 PM EDT

  McNamara "Hannah1879, joanxis...You know, I also agree. Obama will never please some of the posters below no matter how great his accomplishments"............what accomplishments, he gave the order to take out OBL, which he would not have been able to do without BUSH, and bear in mind he would not have been able to do if he, Obama had his policies in place before Bush, No I am not saying he gets NO credit, I am saying he only gets the credit he deserves 25%......the rest goes to BUSH for increasing the Navy Seals, their budget, equipment and size, for having the B...lls to get the info out of captured terrorists..........and you seem to forget I can throw the same thing back at you do you give Bush any credit for his accomplishments (and this is one of them)

• bullocks | May 05, 2011, 03:09 PM EDT

  paddyRanger so you would rather not address my points about the inhuman treatment in Guantanamo of the killing of civilians in Pakistan. just think ,keep up the drone attacks for another two years and you will have killed the same amount of civilians that sadly died in the attack on the the twin towers.

• paddyRanger | May 05, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT

  Bullocks "USA hasn't been in existence for 1000 years.don't you ever ask yourself why they hate you?" I never said it had Bullocks, I already told you why they hate us, we and I mean the West (not just USA, USA is carrying the torch for Europe) have been more succesful than Islam, from Islam not wishing to use a clock........and being backward and not as successful as the west, they hate us for THAT, they hate us being we have been the dominant force and not them, it is pretty simple when you boil it down, even you should be able to figure it out, it is pure and simple jealousy, they are jealous because Islam has not been the dominant force.......I can not say it any clear than that to you, start reading,

• McNamara31 | May 05, 2011, 08:52 AM EDT

  Hannah1879, joanxis...You know, I also agree. Obama will never please some of the posters below no matter how great his accomplishments.

• joanxis | May 05, 2011, 12:08 AM EDT

  Hannah1879, I agree totally with you.

• clancy4unc | May 04, 2011, 10:31 PM EDT

  Yep, this is the ONLY reason we Americans vote for a president. Who cares if he's a socialist, he killed Osama with his bare hands. Wow, he's just smashing! Make him president for life, I say. He could change his name to Barack Stalin Obamer. You liberals, you kill me, you're so ...........silly.

• Skibberrean | May 04, 2011, 06:33 PM EDT

  There is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to be proud of obama. He is a fraud and nothing but a Chicago thug that bought his way into OUR WHITE HOUSE with lies, no experience at all, and corrupt friends. His speeches nauseate me when he starts ranting with his accent like he is in the puplit. Go ahead all you liberals, vote for his inexperienced butt again. Wait, just wait and see what he does next. OBL getting taken out, the plans were in the works way before Barry arrived.

• Hannah1879 | May 04, 2011, 05:35 PM EDT

  I don't know whether I made myself clear in the last message..but here it is...I am proud of President Obama, our brave military and the operation performed to kill Osama Bin Laden. If someone wants to differ that's fine with me but I really am proud of Pres.Obama...and the funny thing is there are so many who do not want him to get ANY credit for this. I don't understand the thinking of some people but everyone has a right to think what they will. Good article Niall.

• bullocks | May 04, 2011, 03:23 PM EDT

  paddyRanger- USA hasn't been in existence for 1000 years.don't you ever ask yourself why they hate you? Is it because you get involved in countries that don't concern you and have supported dictators around the world and then preach democracy. the sort of democracy that sees you lock up almost one percent of your own population .or that you intern people without charge in a camp you claim is outside the jurisdiction where the geneva convention applies. or that you killed nearly a thousand civilians in drone attacks in pakistan in 2010.which one of these reasons do you think is a good enough reason to hate you?

• joanxis | May 04, 2011, 02:43 PM EDT

  Good for you, paddy. I'm glad you haven't had to listen to racist comments. Oh, and I never said you were from Texas. I said - I live in Texas.

• paddyRanger | May 04, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT

  Hannah1879, you are jumping to conclusions, I am not questioning Obama's actions in what happened, I am just saying WITHOUT what Pres Bush did he would be unable to have made the decision he did, AND if Obama had his way.....the tools in place to obtain the information leading to OBL would not have been there, ergo.....we got OBL MOSTLY thanks to Bush, as for Obama's birth certificate it has nothing to do with this issue.

• jamieLM | May 04, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT

  These Muslim countries sure like our money and always have their hands out. They're willing to accept money that comes from Christian, Jewish, and other non-Muslim U.S. taxpayers.

• paddyRanger | May 04, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT

  joanxis....I have led a sheltered life, YEP 22 years Army is one sheltered life......I never heard a single soldier call one of our army coloured brothers the N word.......so right I am not from Texas, and never said I was,

• paddyRanger | May 04, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT

  Bullocks "doing this you are giving your enemies a reason to hate you.As" absolute garbage, no matter what we do they hate us, they hate us for 1,000 years of history, they hate us because they have been stagnant and backward for the last 400-500 years.......grow up and leave the childish talk out of this. they hate us pure and simple because we are not cowering to Islam, and NEVER will

• jamieLM | May 04, 2011, 10:33 AM EDT

  I do give Obama credit for directing the Navy Seals to rid the world of this piece of garbage. It was a gutsy call. Kudos to Obama for that. I still don't think Obama can get reelected on the basis of this one action. In Nov. 2012, voters will be looking at the "big picture."

• Hannah1879 | May 04, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT

  The same people that are questioning Pres. Obama's actions with this are the same one who were saying "Where's the birth certificate". I think he should get some credit for this. The military did a GREAT job!! But the buck does stop with Obama, job well done!

• jamieLM | May 04, 2011, 10:05 AM EDT

  A ridiculous conclusion. Bush Sr. had a big jump in the polls after the end of the 1st Gulf War. It didn't help him get reelected to a 2nd term. It's a long way to Nov. 2012 and people who don't have jobs, who don't have the $ to recover from tornados, fires, and floods, but see a ton of $ being sent to our "friends", like Pakistan, and the voters who see their schools in decline because of lack of funds while new ones are being built in Afghanistan, aren't going to vote for Obama on the basis that OBL was killed on Obama's watch. Bin Laden was a coward who got other people to do his dirty work. He didn't fly a plane. He was living it up with his wife or wives in Pakistani luxury. He DESERVED a death similar to what the people in the burning towers and crashing planes got - time to think about being trapped, of dying, of experiencing panic and the pain and horror of fire and smoke or being in a plane, watching airline personel being killed and knowing they were going to be crushed into pieces when they hit the ground or rammed into a tower or the Pentagon. Bin Laden got off easy.

• ciarrai | May 04, 2011, 08:49 AM EDT

  Picture Palin or Bachmann in the hot seat like Obama was on the UBL takedown and you could wince, couldn't you?

• MrSinatra | May 04, 2011, 02:16 AM EDT

  what a stupid article and conclusion to draw. jobs, gas, the economy, debt, war... these are the things voters will vote on. not UBL. interesting btw that you can kill him, but not waterboard him.

• dublinguy | May 03, 2011, 09:16 PM EDT

  To be honest with you i think tossing him in the ocean was too good for the SOB, i think he should have been changed to the back of a firetruck & dragged around the ground zero block for all new yorkers to spit & piss on him and when finished with him throw his body in the nearest landfill where he belongs.

• micky74007 | May 03, 2011, 06:44 PM EDT

  IF he takes this moment and decides to unilaterally stop ALL foreign aid to raghead world, and spend that money helping the Americans whose lives have been destroyed in Alabama and Texas, and elsewhere around this great country, then maybe he can elevate himself from a sock puppet to someone we could actually respect. Something tells me Soros will not allow his boy to do this.

• SeamusRua | May 03, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

  "God bless the United States, and a death to her enemies." -attributed to Andrew Jackson

• antoman | May 03, 2011, 06:07 PM EDT

  What kind of fish live in those waters?Not the migrating kind I hope.Turn my stomach if I was gutting a fish I caught and found a button with a hammer and sickle on it.Probably from a soviet combat jacket huh?Ah well tis only a button.I was'nt planning on eating its entrails anyway.

• Skibberrean | May 03, 2011, 05:41 PM EDT

  PaddyRanger, I am with you, if Obama doesn't get led around by the nose, he is totally clueless. Thank God for George Bush leaving all the plans behind for this DUMB ASS! And who gives a damm how he was buried, he was lucky he got that. I would have fed him to the wildlife!

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 05:34 PM EDT

  extract from FT.com's tuesday 3rd may 2011 US officials said they did not want a burial site on land that could have become a “shrine”. Critics say the claim reflects ignorance of sharia law as well as the beliefs of bin Laden’s sympathisers, loosely described as Salafi, who oppose the idolisation of the dead. A friend of the bin Laden family described the burial as “inhuman and an insult”. “Whoever advised the Americans to do this is a clueless extremist,” said Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi analyst. “What shrines are they talking about? Salafis don’t like shrines. They bury their dead in un­marked graves. The US could have handled the matter with more sensitivity. It arouses sympathy for him.”

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 05:28 PM EDT

  the americans held Saddam Hussein's sons bodies for 11 days before they were buried. the americans have been looking for him for the last ten years. surely somebody must have thought about what to do with his body when they found him . they should just admit that it had nothing with his beliefs and more to do with not giving his followers a shrine.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 05:22 PM EDT

  everyone have a good day It's been fun ,

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

  bullocks... Gitmo is far more humane the chopping peoples heads off like they do . At least they are alive .

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 05:11 PM EDT

  bullocks ... his body was offered to the Saudi's and they turned it down . the burial at sea was to abide by his beliefs . Burial with in 24hrs.

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 05:09 PM EDT

  Although he might have been trained by the americans , he was not one of your servicemen. He died on land he should have been buried on land. In an unmarked and unknown grave if necessary but not at sea.by doing this you are giving your enemies a reason to hate you.As by interning your "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo without trial. Just because the other side does not play fair does not mean you should not.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 05:06 PM EDT

  joanxis ... it's not that I hate the man I don't . His policies and views of this country scare me. redistribute the wealth is not what this country was founded on . Work hard and make things better for yourself was .

• newnation | May 03, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT

  Where is the Proof? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Where is the Proof?? Americans are so gullable, DUH, Turn to the left sometimes..

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 04:55 PM EDT

  bullocks burial at sea is not a desecration alot of our service people have been buried at sea during the second world war . It is done with respect and reverence . his body was prepared according to his beliefs .

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 04:47 PM EDT

  sailors i can understand but where is the honour when he did not die at sea?

• joanxis | May 03, 2011, 04:44 PM EDT

  BTW, Hogan, no one is calling you a racist. Don't get so defensive. I've already said that I didn't think that everyone who hates Obama is a racist - just that a lot of them are.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 04:41 PM EDT

  bullocks... Many of our soldiers and sailors have been laid to rest in the ocean . it is done with respect and reverence . An honor Osama was not worthy of !

• joanxis | May 03, 2011, 04:39 PM EDT

  Wow, PaddyR, you must have led a sheltered life - or I've run with a rough crowd all my life. As someone who does not use the N word I sure have heard a lot of people use it. Also, I live in Texas and you wouldn't beleive how many people I run into who are prejudice - from all walks of life and all education levels. I am always shocked when I hear their comments or innuendo. Believe me when I tell you, racism is all too alive in this country. Sad to say. I'm leaving Texas soon to go back home - up north - but I'll still hear racist comments there, too. Hopefully not as many.

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 04:39 PM EDT

  paddyRanger- agreed he was a terrorist, but he should have been put on trial. america is supposed to be a civilized society. By desecrating any dead body they are showing that they are no better than he was.

• paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 04:30 PM EDT

  Bullocks.........and what did Bin Laden think about the bodies of the 3,000 murdered on his orders? pretty sure his body was treated with more dignity then the people he has murdered, so your talking like an ejit of the first degree !

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 04:26 PM EDT

  hancock he promised to close Gitmo , he was stopped from killing the Bush tax cuts . Credit for the drones though !

• hancock | May 03, 2011, 04:16 PM EDT

  Tax cuts extended, Gitmo not closed, More drones in Pakistan than Bush. Run on that and you might win.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 04:12 PM EDT

  McNamara none of them voted for him . Lets just say I'm tired of listening to the mans lies . Osama was taken under his watch for that I give him credit . BUT it was an effort that started before he was president with intel obtained in a place he didn't want operating with techniques he finds deplorable . BUT HE WILL USE THE RESULTS OF THOSE EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET RE-ELECTED .

• bullocks | May 03, 2011, 04:08 PM EDT

  Fact-the usa does not even count the civilians killed by drone bombs in Pakistan. fact- whoever made the decision to bury his body in the sea due to extraordinary circumstances are playing into the hands of theses people. how can you claim you have "righteousness" on your side when you treat any dead body like this.if the situation was reversed and someone had stormed the white house, killed your president(whom they deem a war criminal) and dump his body in the sea, how would you react.

• paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 03:58 PM EDT

  joanxis "paddyRanger - I agree that not all people who hate Obama a racist, but seagreen is right - a whole lot of them are racist. You must know this as fact. You must know people who still use the n word and who hate blacks.".........I actually do not know anyone who hates blacks or use the N word.....and I served with many soldiers of Colour, shared a trench with a few, and a brew and the back of an armoured vehicle, and as an Ex Serviceman, I think obama is despicable for trying to make it look like he has done something Bush did not, without what Bush DID, obama would not be able to say we got him. PERIOD

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 03:58 PM EDT

  Hogan ...Soul searching you say? When you go out of your way to call Obama "Lier in Chief" you should take into account it's effects on those three multi racial nieces who may look up to him as a role model. Obama picked himself up and made something of his life inspite of people who demean him at every turn. When was the last time you remember a white president forced to show his birth certificate to the media? Lets just say I've lost all patience for what has been going on, and I call it as it is.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT

  McNamara here we go with the bigot crap . I have three multi-racial nieces,and a multi-racial grandson all of whom I'm VERY PROUD . I am neither a racist or a bigot . maybe you should do some soul searching before you start calling people names . This has nothing to do with color . Fact with out Gitmo obama would not be in a position to garner any glory from the death of osama . fact he wanted to cut the troops pay. now what are your facts beside Obama said to kill Osama ? facts not names this time .

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 03:34 PM EDT

  mrkennedy...I agree we are going to get hit again whether it was Bush or Obama who dealt with Osama. Don't you think that's why they have not released the photo's as of yet, and kept "the glory" low key? What is understood by this leadership, is that future resources should be used in hunting down terrorist cells and not invading countries. The efforts in Afghanistan alone is costing 6.7 billion a month all the while Obama was living in a million dollar home in Pakistan.

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 03:18 PM EDT

  Hogan... "lier in chief" say's who? You, Limbaugh and Fox News, that's who. Why don't you just stop with the bigoted crap and get on with it. "Obama wants the glory" He's had nothing but abuse from people like you since his first day in office. He wanted the job done, and it was.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 03:14 PM EDT

  Isn't it interesting that when faced by facts in a discussion they can't win liberals start yelling racism so they can muddy the waters . I come from a family with lots of adopted kids of all colors . One thing I've learned having the family I do is that the first one to yell racist is usually the true RACIST !!!!!

• mrkennedy | May 03, 2011, 03:14 PM EDT

  Neil: you have alot to learn about military, political experience and rationalization. I served in the U.S. Navy during WW11, Korean War worked with Navy Seals and was active in politics for 40 years. Obama was fortunate, one time out of hie two years as President,that no Navy Seals were wounded or killed. Based on my backgroung the U.S. is going to suffer many terrorist attacks this year. You are probably living in a area that will not be affected by terrorist attacks and not feeling the serious decline in income or a job. I am looking forward to your article after the first major terrorist attack takes place and whom will you blame, President Bush????

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 03:12 PM EDT

  First, I think it's shallow to politicize this in any way. Almost 3000 "plain working" people were sent to a fiery death by this monster, and many of us are joined in the satisfaction that he has met his just do. Secondly, looking at the posts below, I’m amazed at the people who continually ignore reality and facts and continue to denigrate this president at every chance.

• joanxis | May 03, 2011, 02:51 PM EDT

  Boy, some of you guys are something. You believe what you want to believe, despite the facts. Concannon is totally correct. It's the exact same information that I got out of listening to the people involved in the planning of the attack. tracey.sterling, you took the words right out of my mouth. paddyRanger - I agree that not all people who hate Obama a racist, but seagreen is right - a whole lot of them are racist. You must know this as fact. You must know people who still use the n word and who hate blacks. Thankfully there aren't as many as there used to be, but there are still alot of them out there.

• HOGAN | May 03, 2011, 02:36 PM EDT

  No matter what our lier in chief says he accomplished giving the kill order . Thats all !!! The credit goes to the C.I.A. and the Navy Seals. Not to mention all our other troops stationed around the world . The information was obtained at Gitmo ( obama wanted to close it .) the mission carried out by the very troops whose pay he wanted to cut , But obama wants the glory !!!! Obama is a joke and will be voted out .

• paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 02:27 PM EDT

  seagreen, you are a racist, Obama's skin colour has nothing to do with it, all he did was nod his head to agree to what he was told was best to do, are you seriously telling me you think, Obama said, I want to use the SEAL's and that nobody suggested it to him? get real. Obama can Thank Bush for being ABLE to say today we got him, and "nicomax" Bush is not looking behind his sofa, he is sitting on it, with a smile thinking YES, thanks to what I LEFT in place, the fool now in the white house was able to nod his head and send the boyo's in to get him

• Woodkern | May 03, 2011, 02:20 PM EDT

  Yep, indeed, CAPLOCKS, just as I had predicted. This is too easy.

• clonmel21 | May 03, 2011, 01:20 PM EDT

  To concannon Do you really think that Obama made the decisions here. Wake up it was the Military Generals, CIA, FBI, and whatever other secret services there are. Remember it's the democrates who want end the tapping of terrorist cell phones. Obama is against enhanced interrogation, which is where a good part of the info came from. TO SEAGREEN Get off your racist horse; its got nothing to do with color you fool

• hancock | May 03, 2011, 01:18 PM EDT

  He may be black, but he's an idiot.

• seagreen | May 03, 2011, 01:10 PM EDT

  You old white guys are so scared #### to see some literate intelligent black guy being able to make decisions, speak and annunciate like he really did absorb his education. Whats even more frightening is the fact is he is able to do a good job as president. Don't blow any smoke at me, because I grew up in a South Boston housing project and had my run ins with blacks. I left the project with the understanding that I could make a living without someone getting me on, or not having to have an uncle in the teamsters to get a book! This guy could find a cure for cancer, and you would say it was because of the research by Cheney or some other smellbad. I know exactly where you are coming from, and have a brother thats coming from the same place, so just don't even bother hiding it. Stop dancing around the ring, and come out with it.

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT

  John G Hogan.... Obama got it done.

• John G. Hogan | May 03, 2011, 12:36 PM EDT

  UBL...Thank you, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld!!! "I" just happened to be in office.

• McNamara31 | May 03, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT

  First of all I think it's shallow to politicize this in any way. Almost 3000 "plain working" people were sent to a fiery death by this monster, and many of us, as Americans are joined in the satisfaction that he has met his just do. Secondly, looking at the posts below, I’m amazed at the people who continually ignore reality and facts and continue to denigrate this president at every chance and follow their own "internal delusional" beliefs. When will you realize the damage Fox News has done working daily to divide us while energizing a new generation of bigots all in an effort to win back the White House in 2012.

• jdi2269 | May 03, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT

  NIALL, ARE YOU ON DRUGS? OBAMA'S POLICY IS IT'S OK TO KILL A TERRORIST, BUT IT'S WRONG TO WATERBOARD THEM! HE'S HAD THREE YEARS TO TRY TO FIX THE ECONOMY AND THE NEEDLE HASN'T MOVED. OBAMA IS TRULY LOST BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE!

• paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT

  Obama answered the call.......more like, Senior Generals, and CIA spooks, said to Obama OK comedian-in-chief, just nod your head up or down or sideways......we have OBL in our sights we have a plan nod your head and say go........

• Nicomax | May 03, 2011, 12:13 PM EDT

  OBL: Obama is looking at the bloody photos, Bush is still looking behind his couch for him.

• John5319 | May 03, 2011, 12:01 PM EDT

  "put to bed the questions about his foreign policy credentials once and for all" ... ANYBODY with half-a-brain ... knows that this is the result of the excellence in the Military intelligence, NOT Obama's saying "do it". Bill Clinton set up a wall TO STOP intelligence sharing, thanks to the 1995 memo from the CORRUPT Asst. Attorney General Jamie Gorelick(former VP of Fannie Mae). But it was George Bush that removed that WALL in 2004. The same President who says the economy is "Bush's fault", who after 2 years hasn't conferred with some half dozen cabinet members, now he says he had "repeatedly with my national security team" on Bin Laden? How about Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, or the Saudis going to the Chinese and Russia to sell THEIR OIL and not the U.S.? All this as the American economy and value of the Dollar falls?? The questions remain, like the obviously photo-shopped pictures thus far, and why the body was buried at sea "according to Islam" to remove ANY EVIDENCE. Questions will remain, just like Obama's forged COLB and his forged "long form" birth certificate, and his Constitutional authority to be President as a "natural born" citizen. Chaos is the plan which follows the Saul Alinsky plan to overwhelm the system with his deceit and lies, that only the ignorant would believe to be ... a Truth.

• paddyRanger | May 03, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

  I do not see how Obama has the nerve to try and taking any credit for this, all the info leading to OBL.....are from Bush Policies, which if Obama had his way would not have been used, so according to Obama wishes and polcies we would still be looking for him, Obama needs to congratulate, and THANK bush for what was done

• concannon | May 03, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

  Why is it so hard for some to give credit when it's due? He decided to not bomb the compound which would have killed the women and kids in there, and left nothing that could have been identified as bin Laden. What would have been the fall-out from that? Dropping bombs next to the Pakistani military school would have been extremely provocative and would have resulted in even worse relations with Pakistan...or do some of you not care that they have a very fragile government, AND nuclear bombs that the extremists would love to have? Obama sat on it until there was no question, then took the risk, a surgical attack by our excellent forces...and it was successful. I get sick thinking about what GW or JMc would have done, and the fall-out from blowin' the "F..." out of the compound. I appreciate a president who actually frickin' thinks about the consequences of actions taken...rather than a cowboy willing to drop bombs. I guess that makes Obama a weenie! Give credit to the Seals and everyone involved...including the president who made the final decision.

• tracey.sterling | May 03, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

  Also @brittaniethekid, what are you talking about?? bin Laden's location was learned 8 months ago.

• tracey.sterling | May 03, 2011, 11:26 AM EDT

  To all the posters below that this applies to... Don't speak for me. You are not authorized to speak of anything other than your own feelings. Some Americans do want him back. I don't want to be included in your particular group and would appreciate the pointed exclusion. Thanks.

• katieherk | May 03, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT

  Ooh, come on! He's still an idiot and it was not his decision, he's too much a weeney to make decisions. Keep him, Ireland, we don't want him!

• tom/peggy | May 03, 2011, 10:55 AM EDT

  Another water boarding success story. Who said it didn't work? Oh that was Obama.

• brittaniethekid | May 03, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT

  He had nothing to do with Osama being killed. That mission was in the works before he even ran.

• Woodkern | May 03, 2011, 10:33 AM EDT

  Thanks for this, Niall! All I need to do now is pop some corn in the microwave and watch the knuckle-dragging wingnuts fulminate on this thread... CAPLOCKS and all.... Let the show begin!

• pounder | May 03, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT

  Ah..no.

• LinLinisme | May 03, 2011, 10:21 AM EDT

  NO not again, He has hurt America enough. Keep him in Ireland, he's not wanted here. No matter what is said, he is not for America

• wjb1tex | May 03, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT

  By election time there will be serious contenders on the Republican side. It won't be Trump or Palin. Most likely someone like Christie from NJ or Rubio from FL. Romney possibly. Obama may win but if he does it will be very close. A surprise like Tom Coburn from OK could also be in the mix.

• joanngall | May 03, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

  Boy, you can tell which side of the fence you're on!! It is a great day for America, but for us in NYC, it also means we have to wait and watch for retaliation, because we know it will come in some shape or form. Obama did give the order to go in, but it was the Navy Seals who are the real heroes. This certainly doesn't mean that Obama is a shoo-in for a second term. Wishful thinking on your part!

• cillowen | May 03, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT

  he's in like flynn - who's his equal TRUMP LOL

• colkelley | May 03, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

  His "bump" in popularity has already come and gone. The issue is not that he actually made ONE decision (and an obvious one), but that he has completely failed in all aspects of the Presidency to date. Is your "tingle down the leg" turning into a "trickle down the leg?" Stop the worship and use some common sense. The credit belongs to the CIA and SEAL Team 6, not the talking head in the White House.

• clonmel21 | May 03, 2011, 09:43 AM EDT

  I give Obama credit for finally making a decision that was right and timely (even though he's been sitting on it for a few months ). But as for getting re-elected on this one event....get real Niall.

• wjb1tex | May 03, 2011, 09:37 AM EDT

  I don't think anyone will vote for Obama based on this. He is to be commended for sure but the economy will be the issue. People who wouldn't vote for him will not change their mind now. If we are still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan to say nothing of Libya then this achievement will fade by election time. The one thing it might do is bring out some democratic voters who maybe would have stayed home. But if the economy stays as it is then that will determine who wins. And, let us pray there are no serious counter attacks on our soil.

• shamrock99 | May 03, 2011, 09:21 AM EDT

  RE: Obama's second term...I don't think so!

• LoyalCitizen | May 03, 2011, 09:20 AM EDT

  Now if you can undo the damage afflicted by American Corporations on the Irish People to keep them in servitude, things might be grand. While your at it Mr O'Dowd you could explain the illegal use of opinions in law in Ireland and the systematic fraud of Social Welfare Recipients for over decade.