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Home , Osama bin Laden, Peter Baker (journalist), Tora Bora

C M Y K Nxxx,2011-05-02,A,001,Bs-BK,E2_+

Late Edition Today, mostly cloudy, a passing af- ternoon shower, cooler, high 63. To- night, cloudy, low 53. Tomorrow, mostly cloudy, a couple of showers, high 69. Weather map, Page D8.

VOL. CLX . . . No. 55,393 + © 2011 NEW YORK, MONDAY, , 2011 $2.00 BIN LADEN KILLED BY U.S. FORCES IN , OBAMA SAYS, DECLARING JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE Qaeda Leader Reported Dead in ‘Targeted Assault’

By PETER BAKER and HELENE COOPER WASHINGTON — , the mastermind of the most devastating attack on American soil in modern times and the most hunted man in the world, was killed in a firefight with forces in Paki- stan on Sunday, President Oba- ma announced. In a dramatic late-night ap- pearance in the East Room of the , Mr. Obama de- clared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that Ameri- can military and C.I.A. operatives had finally cornered Mr. bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader who had eluded them for nearly a dec-

ade, and shot him to death at a PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS compound in Pakistan. President Obama announced “For over two decades, bin that Bin Laden was killed in a Laden has been Al Qaeda’s lead- er and symbol,” the president firefight earlier Sunday. said in a statement carried on television around the world. “The The death of Mr. bin Laden

AL JAZEERA death of bin Laden marks the came nearly 10 years after Al As the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, here in video recorded in 2001, waged a terror war against the United States. most significant achievement to Qaeda terrorists hijacked three date in our nation’s effort to de- American passenger jets and feat Al Qaeda. But his death does crashed them into the World not mark the end of our effort.” Trade Center in New York and OSAMA BIN LADEN, 1957-2011 He added, “We must and we will the Pentagon outside Washing- remain vigilant at home and ton. A fourth hijacked jet crashed abroad.” into countryside of Pennsylvania. An Emblem of Evil in the U.S., an Icon to the Cause of Terror The death of Mr. bin Laden is a Late Sunday night, as the presi- dent was speaking, cheering of pounding by American bomb- defining moment in the Ameri- crowds gathered outside the ers, Bin Laden escaped. For more can-led war on . What gates of the White House shortly By KATE ZERNIKE than nine years afterward, he re- remains to be seen is whether the before midnight as word of Mr. and MICHAEL T. KAUFMAN mained an elusive, shadowy fig- death of the leader of Al Qaeda bin Laden’s death began trickling Osama bin Laden, who was ure frustratingly beyond the galvanizes his followers by turn- killed in Pakistan on Sunday, was grasp of his pursuers and ing him into a martyr, or whether out, waving American flags, a son of the Saudi elite whose thought to be hiding somewhere it serves as a turning of the page shouting in happiness and chant- radical, violent campaign to in Pakistan and plotting new at- in the war in and ing “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” In New recreate a seventh-century Mus- tacks. gives further impetus to the Oba- York City, crowds sang the Star- lim empire redefined the threat of Long before, he had become a ma administration to bring Spangled Banner. terrorism for the . hero in much of the Islamic American troops home. Continued on Page A12 With the attacks on the World world, as much a myth as a man Trade Center and the Pentagon — what a longtime officer of the on Sept. 11, 2001, Bin Laden was C.I.A. called “the North Star” of NEWS ANALYSIS elevated to the realm of evil in global terrorism. He had united the American imagination once disparate militant groups, from reserved for dictators like Hitler Egypt to Chechnya, from Yemen and Stalin. He was a new national to the , under the ban- President’s Vow Fulfilled enemy, his face on wanted post- ner of his Al Qaeda organization ers, gloating on videotape, taunt- and his ideal of a borderless ing the United States and West- brotherhood of radical . By JEFF ZELENY ern civilization. Terrorism before Bin Laden WASHINGTON — President East Room, as jubilant crowds “Do you want bin Laden was often state-sponsored, but he Obama’s late-night announce- gathered outside the White dead?” a reporter asked Presi- was a terrorist who had spon- ment from the White House Sun- House waving American flags dent George W. Bush six days af- sored a state. For five years, 1996 day that Osama bin Laden had and cheering in celebration, Mr. ter the Sept. 11 attacks. to 2001, he paid for the protection been killed delivered not only a Obama did not address his critics “I want him — I want justice,” of the , then the rulers of long-awaited prize to the United or gloat about his trophy. He in- the president answered. “And Afghanistan. He bought the time States, but also a significant vic- stead used the moment to re- there’s an old poster out West, as and the freedom to make his tory for Mr. Obama, whose for- member the victims of the terror- HENRY RAY/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE I recall, that said, ‘Wanted: Dead group, Al Qaeda — which means eign policy has been the subject ist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and to or Alive.’” “the base” — a multinational en- The twin towers in Lower Manhattan, a symbol of commerce, of persistent criticism by his ri- issue a fresh call to for It took nearly a decade before terprise to export terror around were transformed into a symbol of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001. vals. unity. that quest finally ended in Paki- the globe. In his presidential campaign stan with the death of Bin Laden For years after the Sept. 11 at- “Let us think back to the sense four years ago, Mr. Obama blunt- during a confrontation with tacks, the name of Al Qaeda and his power remains unknown: fatwas — religious decrees — by of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I American forces who attacked a the fame of Bin Laden spread like how many members Al Qaeda fax and declared war on Ameri- ly declared, “We will kill Bin know that it has, at times, compound where officials said he a 21st-century political plague. could truly count on, how many cans in an e-mail beamed by sat- Laden.” But as time passed, Bin frayed,” Mr. Obama said. “We are had been hiding. Groups calling themselves Al countries its cells had penetrat- ellite around the world. Al Qaeda Laden’s name had gradually fall- once again reminded that Amer- The was punctuated Qaeda, or acting in the name of ed, and whether, as Bin Laden members kept bomb-making en from presidential speeches ica can do whatever we set our by a December 2001 battle at an its cause, attacked American boasted, he sought to arm Al Qae- manuals on CD-ROM and com- and from political discourse, rais- mind to.” Afghan mountain redoubt called troops in , bombed tourist da with chemical, biological and municated with encrypted ing concern from critics that his The development is almost cer- , near the border of Pa- spots in Bali and blew up pas- nuclear weapons. memos on laptops, leading one administration was not sufficient- tainly one of the most significant kistan, where Bin Laden and his senger trains in Spain. He waged holy war with dis- American official to declare that ly focused on the . allies were hiding. Despite days To this day, the precise reach of tinctly modern methods. He sent Continued on Page A10 In delivering the news from the Continued on Page A12 Amid Cheers, a Message: ‘They Will Be Caught’

“I don’t know if it will make us ica, for people who seek peace By ELIZABETH A. HARRIS safer, but it definitely sends a around the world, and for all message to terrorists world- those who lost loved ones on Sep- In the midnight darkness, the wide,” said Stacey Betsalel, tember 11, 2001,” said former crowds gathered, chanting and standing in Times Square with President George W. Bush in a cheering, waving American flags, her husband, exchanging high statement. “The fight against ter- outside the front gates of the fives. “They will be caught and ror goes on, but tonight America White House. In Times Square, they will have to pay for their ac- has sent an unmistakable mes- tourists poured out of nearby ho- sage: No matter how long it tels and into the streets to cele- tions. You can’t mess with the takes, justice will be done.” brate with strangers. United States for very long and In the shadow of the World get away with it.” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Trade Center site, as the news of President Obama’s stunning whose city bore the brunt of the Osama bin Laden’s killing by announcement Sunday night that 9/11 attack, said in a statement: American special forces spread, a the terrorist who had eluded cap- “The killing of Osama bin Laden police car drove north on Church ture for almost 10 years drew an does not lessen the suffering that Street blaring the sound of bag- outpouring of emotion from polit- New Yorkers and Americans ex- pipes from open windows. Offi- ical figures and citizens alike. perienced at his hands, but it is a cers raised clenched fists in the “This momentous achieve- critically important victory for MANUEL BALCE CENETA/ASSOCIATED PRESS air. ment marks a victory for Amer- Continued on Page A12 A crowd outside the White House cheering Sunday night at the killing of Osama bin Laden.

INTERNATIONAL A4-12 NATIONAL A14-19 SPORTSMONDAY D1-8 ARTS C1-8 Allies Defend Libya Policy Fight on Deficit Spending Heat Quickly Leads Celtics Clown Posse Fans Plead Sanity NATO officials defended the aggressive With Congress returning on Monday, Miami’s collection of stars, led by The followers of Insane Clown Posse are airstrikes in Libya after the Libyan gov- Democrats and Republicans generally Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, near striving to transcend stereotypes and ernment said one barrage had killed agree that spending must be controlled, right, outperformed the Boston Celtics’ show that they are not the rowdy repro- four members of Col. Muammar el-Qad- but remain divided on how. PAGE A3 as the Heat won Game 1 of their N.B.A. bates depicted in the group’s cartoon- dafi’s family. PAGE A4 conference ishly gory lyrics. PAGE C1 BUSINESS DAY B1-8 semifinal, 99-90. U.S. Aid to Pakistan Founders The Memphis NEW YORK A20-22 Fears of corruption and incompetence Spill Clouds Shell Oil’s Plans Grizzlies cap- Seeking a Killer’s Online Trail have stymied $7.5 billion in American The spill in the Gulf of Mexico is compli- tured Game 1 on aid aimed at winning over , cating Shell Oil’s ambitious plans, to be the road for the Suffolk County detectives looking for officials of both nations said. PAGE A16 New Face of Military Blogging put forth this week, to drill beneath second consecu- whoever killed four prostitutes are pur- suing leads on the Web. PAGE A20 A gathering of people who blog about Alaska’s Arctic waters. PAGE B1 tive series, Another Side of an Ideal Fish the military made clear how much has beating the Oklahoma City Farmed tilapia is promoted as good for changed since soldiers began relating EDITORIAL, OP-ED A26-27 health and the environment, but re- their experiences online. For one thing, Thunder, 114- U(D54G1D)y+#!;!=!#!= searchers say it has drawbacks. PAGE A6 the military is now on board. PAGE A14 Paul Krugman PAGE A27 101. PAGE D1