Osama Bin Laden Dead

Update 1:15 a.m.
Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly’s statement on the death of Osama Bin Laden:

The confirmation by President Obama that Osama Bin Laden was killed by a secret U.S. government operation is a significant development in our war against Al Queda.  We have cut off the head of the evil terrorist organization that killed more than 3,000 Americans and thousands more across the world.

I hope the news of Bin Laden’s death brings some measure of comfort to the families of those who perished in the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as well as the American military families who have lost sons and daughters in the war against terrorism.

Justice has been served.

President Obama made it clear from his first days in office that bringing down Bin Laden was a top priority.  I applaud his persistence and that of our nation’s military and intelligence community in seeking out Bin Laden.  I’m confident our forces will continue to aggressively pursue other Al Queda leaders and weaken this vile terrorist organization.

While the death of Bin Laden is welcome news, the United States and other nations around the globe must remain vigilant to protect ourselves from future terrorist attacks and to further weaken Al Queda.

Update 12:45 a.m. Monday
As the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden is sweeping the globe, officials are announcing increased security at one of the region’s most prominent military installations.

Officials at Ft. Belvoir have raised its force protection condition to “Bravo” for Monday, and have urged commuters to allow extra time during the morning rush hours as they try to get to the Army garrison.

Officials are also asking anyone who seems something suspicious to report it by calling 703-806-3104.

Quantico Marine Corps Base has made no official announcement as to any changes in operating procedures for Monday.

Update midnight
President Barack Obama says the death of Osama Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement in this nation’s effort to defeat Al Queda.

The president tonight addressed the nation tonight announcing the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 was shot and killed today in Pakistan.

A small team of U.S. Special Forces engaged in a shootout with Bin Laden, shot and killed him and then recovered his body.

“On nights like this one, we can say to the families that have lost loved ones to Al Queda’s terror justice has been done,” said Obama.

Bin Laden’s death comes nine years, seven months and 20 days since the dark terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the changed this nation.

The president said he received on a possible lead of Bin Laden’s location from intelligence officials in August.

“It took many months to run this threat to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information that we had located Bin Laden hiding within a compound deep within Pakistan,” said Obama.

The president last week authorized a military action to get Bin Laden, and once located, Obama on Sunday ordered a targeted operation against the compound where the terrorist leader was killed.

Obama was quick to point out Bin Laden, the founder of the Al Queda terrorist organization, was not a Muslim leader, but rather a “mass murderer of Muslims” who slaughtered many within his own countries.

No U.S. service members were injured in the operation that killed Bin Laden, and reports say the terrorist leader was shot in the head at least once.

Two wars were launched following the attacks of September 11, 2001 –– The war in Afghanistan to root out Bin Laden and killed, and the War in Iraq to root out terrorism.

More than 1,400 Americans have been killed in the wars in Afghanistan and 4,400 in Iraq.

Several news organizations this evening are reporting September 11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden has been killed during a U.S. military action.

Original Post 11 p.m. Sunday
The Associated Press reports President Obama is set to address the nation sometime Sunday night, but there have been few details about what he will say.

Osama Bin Laden has long been the accused mastermind of the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania that killed more than 3,000 people.

Bin Laden’s death comes 10 years after the infamous terrorists attacks.

Stay with us as we gather more information on this developing story.