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The forces attacked the compound in what Mr. Obama called a targeted operation that left Mr. bin Laden
dead. No Americans were harmed, Mr. Obama said. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a
firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.
President Obama noted that the operation that had killed Mr. bin Laden was carried out with the cooperation of
Pakistani officials. But a senior American official and a Pakistani intelligence official said that Pakistani
officials had not been informed of the operation in advance.
The fact that Mr. bin Laden was killed deep inside Pakistan was bound once again to raise questions about just
how much Pakistan is willing to work with the United States, since Pakistani officials denied for years that Mr.
bin Laden was in their country. It also raised the question of whether Mr. Bin Ladens whereabouts were known
to Pakistans spy agency.
It was surprising that Mr. Bin Laden was killed not in Pakistans remote tribal area, where Mr. Bin Laden was
long rumored to have taken refuge, but rather in in the city of Abbottadad, about an hours drive drive north of
the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
A medium-sized city, Abbottabad is home to a large Pakistani military base, a military academy of the Pakistani
army, and a major hospital and other facilities that would could have served as support for Osama bin Laden.
A senior Indonesian militant, Umar Patek, was arrested in Abbottabad earlier this year. Mr. Patek was protected
by a Qaeda operative, a postal clerk who worked under cover at the main post office, a signal that Al Qaeda
may have had other operatives in the area.
In apparent preparation for the American operation, many American officials posted at the United States
consulate in Peshawar, the capital of the north west area of Pakistan, were told suddenly to leave last Friday,
leaving behind only a core group of essential staff.
The American officials who drove to the capital Islamabad on Friday said they had been told to leave because
of fears of kidnapping in Peshawar of American officials this week. The officials were not told of the
impending operation in nearby Abbotabad against Osama bin Laden.
The capture of Mr. bin Laden comes as relations between the United States and Pakistan have fallen to their
lowest point in memory as differences over how to fight Al Qaeda-linked militants became clearer.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, publicly criticized the Pakistani military two
weeks ago for failing to act against extremists allied to Al Qaeda who shelter in the Pakistani tribal areas of
North Waziristan.
The United States has supported the Pakistani military with nearly $20 billion since Sept. 11 for counterterrorism campaigns, but American officials have complained that the Pakistanis were unable to quell the
militancy.
Last week, the head of the Pakistani army, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, said that Pakistan had broken the back
of terrorism in Pakistan, a statement that was received with high skepticism by American officials.
The president also made clear in his remarks at the White House on Sunday evening that the United States still
faces significant national security threats.
His death does not mark the end of our effort, Mr. Obama said. Theres no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue
to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html
Reflection Topics: Please answer the questions below in the space provided. Answer in complete sentences when and
where appropriate. Due Friday at the beginning of class.
Who was Osama bin Laden?
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What was Osama bin Laden responsible for?
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Where and when was he killed?
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Why are questions being raised about just how much Pakistan is willing to work with the United States?
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How was the operation that killed bin Laden carried out?
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How have people responded to the news?
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What is your reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden?
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Scan the code or follow the link to read the New York Times full obituary about Osama bin
Laden. http://nyti.ms/jCpecw