Dead!

Several media outlets are reporting that Osama bin Laden was killed in an American missile strike last week and that President Obama is about to address the nation from the White House momentarily. I'm live-blogging this, so expect mistakes to appear that I'll clean up later. The body is in U.S custody and DNA tests have been done.

Nothing yet to link yet, but Geraldo Rivera is reporting it on Fox News right now.

10:57 EST: CNN is on the air reporting the story as well. MSNBC has taken a break from decade old prison rapes and has David Gregory on the air.

Apparently, Vice President Biden notified congressional leaders earlier this evening.

11:02: EST: The New York Times has the story online. Click to enlarge.

WASHINGTON — Osama bin Laden has been killed, a United States official said. President Obama was expected to make an announcement on Sunday night, almost ten years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

11: 17 EST: I would be much happier if the got the son of a bitch alive. Martyrdom is exactly what he and his twisted brethren have been counting on for fifteen years now.

11:21 EST: Fox News is reporting that crowds are gathering outside the White House chanting "USA, USA!"

11:27 PM: Fox is now citing AP reports that bin Laden was killed in a "ground operation" in Pakistan, not a drone or air strike.

11:31 PM: Cute Tweet ... click to enlarge

11:34 PM EST:  Fox News reporting that Speaker Boehner, who was ironically in Pakistan tonight, was notified by the president at 10:30 PM

11:35 PM EST: President Obama on TV, confirms the death. It is done!

11:38 PM EST: Obama says that he was briefed on a location for bin Laden last August. Says the operation was carried out today! No American casualities.

11:40 PM EST: "We must - and we will - remain vigilant at home and abroad."

11:41 PM EST: Cites co-operation with Pakistani intelligence and military in the killing, which I was just wondering about.

11:42 PM EST: We can say to the families and loved ones of victims "Justice has been done." to families of 9/11, "We have never forgotten in your loss, wavered in our committment."

Great speech.

I want to hold off on the politics of this until tomorrow. I really hope that no one says anything especially stupid in the next few days, although I know that everybody will.

11:48 PM EST: Statement released from the office of George W. Bush. Notified in call from Obama this evening. "No longer how long it takes, justice will be done."

12:06 AM EST: Crowd outside of the White House singing the Star Spangled Banner ...



12:10 AM EST: Here is the full statement from Former President Bush.

"Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

12:13 AM EST: The statement by President Obama



12:23 AM EST: I hate the White House's website. It takes them forever to get text and video up. Say what you will about the Bush administration, but they were crackerjack webmasters.

12:30 AM EST: Why do I get the feeling that somewhere out there, L. Paul Bremer is muttering to himself "I'm way better at those announcements ..."



12:55 AM EST: Unauthenticated picture of the bin Laden corpse, ruthlessly stolen from Girl on the Right. Better version here.

The military says the body is "being handled in accordance with Islamic customs and traditions."

1:06 AM EST: Some Canadian just said to Geraldo outside of the White House, "You in America care too much about where people are born. It only matters where they die."

2:227 AM EST: The best picture I've seen in a good long time. Stolen from Patterico's Pontifications. God bless the NYFD!