Osama Bin Laden Killed -- Headline News

Being reported on television now.

Huge kudos to CIA, military intelligence, drone operators, military translators, special ops, US military in general.

Wow! Stock market futures just went through the roof.

End of Original Post

Added Monday, May 2, 2011

Administration spokesmen say this will have huge impact on the "war on terror."

Flashback

March 25, 2009: Current administration wants to jettison the phrase "war on terror."

The Obama administration appears to be backing away from the phrase "global war on terror," a signature rhetorical legacy of its predecessor.

In a memo e-mailed this week to Pentagon staff members, the Defense Department's office of security review noted that "this administration prefers to avoid using the term 'Long War' or 'Global War on Terror' [GWOT.] Please use 'Overseas Contingency Operation.' "

Comments

This helps explain the timing of the announcement of Robert Gates as SecDef, who no doubt was looking for the right time to announce his retirement, something he had said he would do from the beginning of his tenure as SecDef. He can leave on a very, very high note. Also, huge kudos to Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA on the night/day when this mission went down. No doubt he was the one to give the final "go" for the mission after getting approval from his boss to go ahead when the time was right. From what little has been said so far, it appears every strategic decision was the right one, particularly: a) no prisoners; shoot to kill; and, b) squelch any possibility of a shrine; burial at sea.

The rules of engagement (shoot to kill) most likely contributed to high probability of success. The SEALS did not have to decipher or second-guess "commander's intent."

American Stock Market Reaction: At the End fo the Day -- Muted

Many (including me) expected an emotional run-up in the stock market today. That did not happen; the market closed flat to slightly negative. One can argue that had Osama bin Laden been killed eight years ago, the stock market might have reacted differently, but for all intents and purposes, OBL's potential impact on world events had pretty much been neutralized by 2011. But as the president said, "Justice is done."