The raid that killed Osama bin Laden

Brut America

10 years ago, the U.S. military killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.  Here's how this historic raid unfolded.

Transcript

00:00Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world

00:04that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden.

00:09So we had the perfect plan and went to s*** right away.

00:30It was nothing that confirmed that Bin Laden was at that compound.

00:57When President Obama was faced with the opportunity to act upon this,

01:03the President had to evaluate the strength of the information

01:06and then made what I believe was one of the most gutsiest calls of any President in recent memory.

01:27It was split up into parts.

01:36We had the first part, the 90-minute flight in on the helicopter,

01:40where we knew at the time we crossed the Pakistani border they could shoot us down at any time.

01:44Some guys fell asleep, which I thought was crazy because, you know, I'm looking at my teammates,

01:48like you were asleep literally on the ride to Osama Bin Laden's house.

01:52That's like ice in your veins.

02:14So we had the perfect plan and went to s*** right away because the first helicopter crash landed

02:20and then our pilot was supposed to put us on the roof, but he put us outside.

02:24So, you know, we got out of our helicopter, our guys were in,

02:26we tried to get in a few places that were fake doors and stuff that normal people wouldn't be doing,

02:32so I knew he's in there.

02:34One guy in front of me, he convinced me we needed to go with just two,

02:37so we went up the last set of stairs.

02:44It was probably one of the most anxiety-filled periods of time, I think,

02:49in the lives of the people who were assembled here yesterday.

02:52The minutes passed like days and the president was very concerned about the security of our personnel.

03:15I'm three feet away from Osama Bin Laden.

03:18Taller than I thought, skinnier than I thought, tall.

03:22And a gray beard, that's his nose, I've seen it thousands of times in pictures.

03:27He's pushing his wife to me, he's a suicide bomber, he's got to be,

03:30so I need to shoot him in the face, which I did a few times.

03:33I'm three feet away from Osama Bin Laden.

03:36Taller than I thought, skinnier than I thought, tall.

03:39He's pushing his wife to me, he's a suicide bomber, he's got to be,

03:42so I need to shoot him in the face, which I did a few times.

04:03Now we have 90 minutes, if we can live 90 minutes,

04:23which means that's how long it's going to take to cross the border,

04:26we get 50 years of life.

04:28And all of a sudden, the pilot came over the radio and said,

04:31all right guys, for the first time in your lives you're going to be happy to hear this,

04:34welcome to Afghanistan.

04:36And that's when you high-five your buddies, wow, we just pulled it off.

05:01Today, at my direction,

05:16the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

05:23A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.

05:29No Americans were harmed.

05:31They took care to avoid civilian casualties.

05:34After a firefight, they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body.

05:41For over two decades, Bin Laden has been al Qaeda's leader and symbol,

05:46and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies.

05:51The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda.

05:57Tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9-11.

06:03I know that it has, at times, frayed.

06:07Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country

06:11and the determination of the American people.

06:14USA! USA! USA! USA!

06:24Osama! Osama! Hey, hey, hey! Goodbye!

06:32Burn in hell, Osama Bin Laden!

06:34That is justice in the world!

06:36I personally joined because of Osama Bin Laden.

06:39So, this day has been a long time coming. I'm happy.

06:44It's not even the time it happens, it's the time after it happens.

06:50The fifth day after it happens, you're trying to sink in as you watch TV

06:53and all there is is Osama Bin Laden and realizing, not only was I there, but I killed him.

07:09The disposal of, the burial of Bin Laden's remains was done in strict conformance with Islamic precepts and practices.

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