live tweet while US military attacks and kills osama bin laden

IT consultant inadvertently livetweets attack on Osama bin Laden’s compound

Living just 250m from the location where head of Al-Qa’ida was killed in attack by US forces, Sohaib Athar noticed helicopters overhead at 1am local time as attack started.

Sohaib Athar, an IT consultant living in Abbottabad, discovered on Monday morning that he had live-tweeted the fatal raid on Osama bin Laden‘s compound by acccident.

Athar, who lives near the Jalal Baba Auditorium – about 250m from bin Laden’s compound – put out his first tweet relating to the attack at about 9pm on Sunday BST, or 1am local time, when he noticed a helicopter hovering overhead: “a rare event”, he commented.

That was followed by “A huge window-shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope it’s not the start of something nasty.”

But he mused that something odd must be going on: “Since taliban (probably) don’t have helicpoters, and since they’re saying it was not “ours”, so must be a complicated situation,” he pondered.

The downed helicopter also puzzled him: “people are saying it was not a technical fault and it was shot down. I heard it CIRCLE 3-4 times above, sounded purposeful.” He added “it was too noisy to be a spy craft, or, a very poor spy craft.”

The Pakistan army put out suggestions that the helicopter crash was “accidental” and not an “attack”.

But the misdirection didn’t fool many. Reports that the army had cordoned off the crash site arrived from a taxi driver, and then that it was conducting a door-to-door search suggested the crash was no accident. Soon another rumour surfaced: that two helicopters that followed the crashed one were “foreign” (ie not Pakistani).

He awoke to discover “interesting rumours” about the events – and then realised, from reading Twitter, that “the helicopter crash in Abbottabad, Pakistan and the President Obama breaking news address [which at that stage was had not announced bin Laden’s death] are connected.”

The realisation hit him at about 6am UK BST (10am Pakistan time): “Uh oh, now I’m the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-twitter-attack-inadvertenet

president obama’s speech on death of osama bin laden announcement, watch video & read transcript here

a brilliant speech. you hear what you want to get. it captured very well the spirit of the people and the meaning of this achievement by the american military. this is a big win for america!

——

from news reports:

• osama bin laden was shot in the head
• his body has already been buried at sea (so that no one can dig it up?). it is a custom among muslims that the dead be buried within 24 hours of death.
• bin laden was hiding in a $1M mansion with high walls and barbed wires built in 2005. was bin laden living there since 2005?
• and the pakistan government never knew he was there? really??
• the house did not have telephone and internet service. such an expensive house and no telephone and internet. perhaps to avoid being traced or bugged?
• because of no internet and telephone, couriers were instead used to communicate to the outside world. and these couriers were what the intelligence units looked into.
• unlike the neighbors, trash from the house was not thrown but burned inside the house.  this was to prevent intelligence units to track down bin laden through the trash?

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release May 1, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON OSAMA BIN LADEN

East Room 11:35 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.

It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory — hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.

And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.

On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.

We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda — an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.

Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.

Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.

And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.

Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.

Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must — and we will — remain vigilant at home and abroad.

As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not — and never will be — at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.

Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.

Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.

So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.

Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.

We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.

Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.

And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.

The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

END 11:44 P.M. EDT

source : http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/05/obama_bin_laden_killed_by_us_f.html

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read about it here: http://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/

headlines on obama win

Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) headline : black in white house

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WAWAM! will be looking at exactly the same things that a political analyst or strategist will be looking at in analyzing the campaigns. but WAWAM! will look it at from the eyes of a marketing and advertising man. these strategies and analysis can be written into marketing plans of brands and it will make sense and most likely work.

or in this case not work.

we’re on strategy # 2 in mccain’s losing marketing strategies – srah palin.

read about it here : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

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if obama was a consumer brand, we will describe strategy # 3 as excellent down-scale distribution where the brand is made available and sold in down-scale retail stores, those located right beside homes of consumers or mom and pop stores (sari-sari stores in the philippines).

obama is not a consumer brand, but the same marketing strategy has been applied here. read about it here: http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

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we have started to look at the obama winning marketing strategies. WAWAM! now momentarily shifts to mccain’s losing marketing strategies.

we are looking at what the campaigns have done and extracted the marketing strategies as if they were cosumer brands.

 

read about it here : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

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barack’s 30 minute infomercial was a ratings success – 33.55 million people worth of success. this is the first time something like this has been done in US politics but that’s just one of a string of first the obama campaign has been doing since day 1.

the numbers are there, now we need to watch out for the effect. the infomercial has been largely praised and admired by many and we will know if they are right about that in the coming days poll results.

 

Infomercial for Obama Is Big Success in Ratings

By BILL CARTER

Published: October 30, 2008

Television networks needed a hit, and Barack Obama gave them one.

An infomercial on behalf of Mr. Obama was a smashing ratings success on Wednesday night, proving to be more popular than even the final game of the World Series — and last season’s finale of “American Idol.” The audience for Mr. Obama’s program far exceeded the expectations of television executives — and many political pundits who questioned whether Mr. Obama was engaging in overkill in buying a half hour on so many networks.

Mr. Obama’s 30-minute commercial, which played on seven networks, broadcast and cable, was seen by 33.55 million viewers, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. On the three broadcast networks that carried the special, the audience totaled more than 25 million, easily surpassing the number for the last World Series game on Fox, which averaged 19.8 million viewers. The special was also available on Univision, and three cable networks, MSNBC, BET and TV One.

“I was shocked by the number Obama was able to draw,” said Leslie Moonves, the chairman of CBS. “It’s just a stunning number.”

read in full here : http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31rate.html?ref=politics

2008 US Presidential Election : Obama’s November Surprise vs. Mccain’s November Surprise

the US presidential elections has reached a now or never phase. the very last chance will be this week-end, while that time frame is most likely too late already, there are just one more thing that the obama campaing and the mccain campaign can do. for obama to seal the deal. and for mccain to shake up the race and fashion a come from behind win to upset the leader.

each has one last chance – a November Surprise for each. the question of course is can each pull it off. and if both do theirs, which will give them the win.

Obama’s November Surprise vs Mccain’s November Surprise at : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

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on october 15, we predicted in WAWAM!, senator barack obama will win the election on the strenght of a brilliant marketing effort by the obama campaign and blunders of the mccain campaign.

we will be looking at the whole thing from a marekting and advertising stand point and extracting the marketing strategies from this campaign. these are strategies and learnings that any brand manager can re-apply to his/her own marketing plans for his brands.

view it here : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/search/label/barack%20obama or read it here: http://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/obamas-winning-marketing-strategies/

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we think mccain did better, but obama wins just the same! obama continue to be on track to win this election.

obama-mccain 3rd debate : 2 very different acts

in a few hours time, the 3rd debate will begin. obama and mccain will take two very different approaches but with the same objective – win this debate.

obama should just stay the course and avoid catastrophic blunders. mccain should clarify his message, so far voters are unclear on it. he is on a catch up and will need to be more aggressive. but it’s a tough balancing act – he needs to calibrate just how aggressive he can be. so far negatives they have hurled on obama have backfired.

read more here : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

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this man gave the democratic convention a big push with his huge  heart, courage and determination. it’s an excellent example of how each person should be in the convention. the other hard part is the challenge of delivering messages on a multi-level stage. read it here : http://the-wawam-file.blogspot.com/

source of picture : http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26dems.html?adxnnl=1&ref=us&adxnnlx=1219752250-UmDDPfEd9mAlKpRcfy6rzQ

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