THE HUNT
2005 | US extracts info on couriers (Osama's links to world) from Guantanamo prisoners. One, an aide of ex-Qaida No. 3 Abu Faraj al-Libbi, said to be trusted by Osama
‘07 | US learns courier’s real name ‘09 | Pak areas where courier and brother operate identified, home located in Abbottabad
Feb 2011 | US agencies conclude Osama hiding in house with eldest son & youngest wife
Mar 14-Apr 28 | Prez holds 5 Natl Security Council meets
Apr 29 | Obama orders attack
HOMING IN
Plot of land in Abbottabad roughly 8 times larger than homes in the area
High security | 12-18ft walls, two security gates, residents burned trash, unlike neighbours
No windows facing road. Part of compound has 7ft privacy wall
No phone or internet service
Conclusion | House built to ‘hide someone of significance’
THE RAID ‘Surgical raid’ by team of Navy Seals, flying in modified MH-60 choppers that took off from Ghazi Air Base in Pak itself (hence, Pak in dark)
Osama killed in firefight by double burst of bullets to left side of face. His son and the 2 couriers also killed. In all, 22 killed or captured
One woman, used as shield, killed. Unclear if it’s Osama’s wife
SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON 1pm: President’s top advisers gathered at White House 2pm: Obama huddled with team to review final preparations
3.50pm: Told Osama ‘tentatively identified’ among those killed. News confirmed late at night WHAT THIS MEANS FOR... INDIA | Reaffirms its claims that Pakistan is Terror Central. But will not reduce threat from Qaida affiliates like LeT. Efforts at thaw with Pak will continue, but detractors will get boost
PAKISTAN |Embarrassed despite frantic efforts to claim role in raid. But can’t say this out too loud as it might attract adverse reaction from the Muslim world and at home
US | Big high. Obama can now justify withdrawal from Afghanistan. Chances of reelection in 2012 rise sharply. Will silence rumour-mongers who question his affiliations
QAIDA | Will now be led by al-Zawahiri. Osama no longer played operational role in the increasingly decentralized group, but his death means it has lost its inspirational figure
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS
Was Pak involved in operation?
After initial silence, ISI chief Shuja Pasha quoted claiming Pak role in the operation. But Obama was clear: said Americans carried it out. US officials said no country, including Pakistan, was told about the raid till it was over
Did Pak know where Osama was? Remarks by US officials, including Hillary Clinton, indicate some Pak officials knew where Osama was. Speculation that hideout was an ISI safe house. In any case, it’s hard to believe that he could live in a big house right under the nose of the Pak army without its knowledge
Where’s proof of Osama’s death? There’s no photo of the body (a picture circulated on the Net was a fake). Buried at sea, to avoid his burial place becoming a shrine. But lack of proof bound to foster conspiracy theories
Why was Osama’s hideout poorly guarded? So few guards for world’s most wanted man? Perhaps because heavy security would have attracted attention. The more people who knew his hiding place, the greater the risk
How did US chopper go down?
US claims it had a mechanical problem and was destroyed to protect intelligence information. Eyewitnesses say it went down after being fired at from house
COST OF WAR ON TERROR $1.3 trillion
2005 | US extracts info on couriers (Osama's links to world) from Guantanamo prisoners. One, an aide of ex-Qaida No. 3 Abu Faraj al-Libbi, said to be trusted by Osama
‘07 | US learns courier’s real name ‘09 | Pak areas where courier and brother operate identified, home located in Abbottabad
Feb 2011 | US agencies conclude Osama hiding in house with eldest son & youngest wife
Mar 14-Apr 28 | Prez holds 5 Natl Security Council meets
Apr 29 | Obama orders attack
HOMING IN
Plot of land in Abbottabad roughly 8 times larger than homes in the area
High security | 12-18ft walls, two security gates, residents burned trash, unlike neighbours
No windows facing road. Part of compound has 7ft privacy wall
No phone or internet service
Conclusion | House built to ‘hide someone of significance’
THE RAID ‘Surgical raid’ by team of Navy Seals, flying in modified MH-60 choppers that took off from Ghazi Air Base in Pak itself (hence, Pak in dark)
Osama killed in firefight by double burst of bullets to left side of face. His son and the 2 couriers also killed. In all, 22 killed or captured
One woman, used as shield, killed. Unclear if it’s Osama’s wife
SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON 1pm: President’s top advisers gathered at White House 2pm: Obama huddled with team to review final preparations
3.50pm: Told Osama ‘tentatively identified’ among those killed. News confirmed late at night WHAT THIS MEANS FOR... INDIA | Reaffirms its claims that Pakistan is Terror Central. But will not reduce threat from Qaida affiliates like LeT. Efforts at thaw with Pak will continue, but detractors will get boost
PAKISTAN |Embarrassed despite frantic efforts to claim role in raid. But can’t say this out too loud as it might attract adverse reaction from the Muslim world and at home
US | Big high. Obama can now justify withdrawal from Afghanistan. Chances of reelection in 2012 rise sharply. Will silence rumour-mongers who question his affiliations
QAIDA | Will now be led by al-Zawahiri. Osama no longer played operational role in the increasingly decentralized group, but his death means it has lost its inspirational figure
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS
Was Pak involved in operation?
After initial silence, ISI chief Shuja Pasha quoted claiming Pak role in the operation. But Obama was clear: said Americans carried it out. US officials said no country, including Pakistan, was told about the raid till it was over
Did Pak know where Osama was? Remarks by US officials, including Hillary Clinton, indicate some Pak officials knew where Osama was. Speculation that hideout was an ISI safe house. In any case, it’s hard to believe that he could live in a big house right under the nose of the Pak army without its knowledge
Where’s proof of Osama’s death? There’s no photo of the body (a picture circulated on the Net was a fake). Buried at sea, to avoid his burial place becoming a shrine. But lack of proof bound to foster conspiracy theories
Why was Osama’s hideout poorly guarded? So few guards for world’s most wanted man? Perhaps because heavy security would have attracted attention. The more people who knew his hiding place, the greater the risk
How did US chopper go down?
US claims it had a mechanical problem and was destroyed to protect intelligence information. Eyewitnesses say it went down after being fired at from house
COST OF WAR ON TERROR $1.3 trillion
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