Osama Bin Laden Confirmed Dead

[Slinky]

Good catch!!! I noticed in most of the news last night it was spelled Usama bin Laden when I was always used to seeing it spelled Osama bin Ladin.

[Goofproof]

Obama's death is probably an automatic green light for sleeper cells to attack.

Good idea to bury him at sea, so that no one can worship at a physical burial place.

They should have put his remains on a cross mounted upside down and placed on the site of the Towers. In a glass case, to control the stink. Jim

I have trouble believing anything I see on the news or from our government, they are all ran by crooks and thieves.

[Slinky]

I disagree. Showing his body the decency and respect that "good" Muslims will appreciate by preparing his body according to the traditions of the Muslim faith and "burying" him w/in the 24 hour custom by dumping him at sea so there is no one spot to claim as a "shrine" or in any other way "worship" was a shrewd and excellent action. Very appropirate. An excellent contrast to the extremist fanatics defiling the true Muslim religion.

[Uncle_Bob]

[BleepingBeauty]

I disagree. Showing his body the decency and respect that "good" Muslims will appreciate by preparing his body according to the traditions of the Muslim faith and "burying" him w/in the 24 hour custom by dumping him at sea so there is no one spot to claim as a "shrine" or in any other way "worship" was a shrewd and excellent action. Very appropirate. An excellent contrast to the extremist fanatics defiling the true Muslim religion.

Two thumbs up, Slinky.

I love it!

[DoriC]

Our darling granddaughter is studying abroad in Madrid for her Junior year and all American students in the program were notified by email and text to be extra careful, don't go out alone or in crowds and try to avoid public transportation, and most importantly, don't display or wear anything with an American theme. All parents received the same notice. My daughter is pretty worried and was sorry afterwards that she even told me at this time, but I understand why she did, no matter how old one is,she still needs her mother. The world seems to be in crisis these days and with this news I'm worried about retaliation.

[dave01978]

Leave it to Faux News to get even THIS headline wrong!

Keep in mind CNN, and ABC had the same issues with saying it, and ABC also had it on there website.

[OutaSync]

Our darling granddaughter is studying abroad in Madrid for her Junior year and all American students in the program were notified by email and text to be extra careful, don't go out alone or in crowds and try to avoid public transportation, and most importantly, don't display or wear anything with an American theme. All parents received the same notice. My daughter is pretty worried and was sorry afterwards that she even told me at this time, but I understand why she did, no matter how old one is,she still needs her mother. The world seems to be in crisis these days and with this news I'm worried about retaliation.

Dori, I'm worried, too, with my son working on the Navy base there and my darling grandchildren nearby. Fortunately they don't have to take public transportation very often.

Bev

[DoriC]

Yes Bev, I know your family is there too so I was thinking of you as well. I pray that the leaders in all countries will protect our Americans overseas.

[BernieRay]

If she hasn't done so already, I recommend that your granddaughter contact the U.S. Embassy/Consular's office for 2 reasons - to get on their direct email list (if she isn't already and assuming that they still do this) for warnings/updates and to request any documents they may have regarding personal security recommendations. I'd even ask if they offer any training for U.S. Citizens.

While I was in the Middle East, I was fortunate enough to be given training in counter-surveillance and bomb detection by some very well-trained folks from the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Unfortunately, the reason it was made available was the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, which was just down the street from the compound I was living in.

While the things she was told in the email are a start, she needs to know more than that. Things like

1. Avoid public locations where Americans are known to frequent - bars, nightclubs, etc
2. If a strange package/object is spotted someplace out of the ordinary, someplace where such things aren't normally at, leave at once and then notify the authorities
3. If a package/object has loose wires or oily leaks, leave at once and then notify authorities
4. Always know where the closest police station is
5. Do not travel along the same routes - avoiding predictable patterns is a cornerstone to personal security
6. If someone discovers that they are being followed, proceed as quickly as possible to the closest police station (see #4 above) - do not stop for red lights if at all possible - a ticket is much better than being abducted, hurt, or killed
7. Always leave yourself an exit and always know where the exits are - avoid places with a single exit when possible or at least stay close to the exit
8. When driving, always leave enough room behind the car in front to turn and get out of dodge without using reverse
9. Keep an eye out for people who are out of place, especially if they are watching you -abductions are almost always preceded by surveillance
10. Learn your environment so that unusual changes will be easily noticed - be aware and don't assume any place is safe
11. Trust you instincts. If something catches your eye as odd or "raises the hair on the back of your neck", do not ignore it!
12. Identify the most likely threats - street crime, terrorist attack, abduction, etc - and have a plan in place before it's needed
13. Be sure someone (U.S. Embassy/Consular Office, family, etc) knows where you are and any travel plans away from your normal location - if something happens, this will speed up the process of knowing who potentially was and wasn't involved

Although I'm sure that I've left things off, these are the big ones that I remember. Although there are times some of them simply are not practical, I still follow most of these out of habit. They're good habits, even at home.

Also, you might suggest that she take a look at these Dept of State web pages:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/saf ... _1747.html (travel tips)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/eme ... _1212.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1764.html (Current travel warnings, none for Spain at this time)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1766.html (Current travel alerts)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1168.html (Travel Info, by country)
http://www.state.gov/countries/
http://www.state.gov/www/flo/paper10.html (a great list to have)
http://www.usembassy.gov/ (list of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Mission websites)

The more she knows, the safer she will be and the safer she will feel as well.

EDIT - Embassy registration has been replaced by Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

[chunkyfrog]

Seeing the videos of the al quaeda standing around talking and laughing;
I had an urge to grab a can of Raid or Black Flag.
Then came a RAID of four BLACK Hawks carrying our FLAG. . .
Close enough!

[DoriC]

Thanks for that good info Bernie. I believe her email also recommended that students contact the US Embassy again to assure that they are listed correctly on their records and that the Embassy has the correct information as to their living arrangements, school, parents, etc. She originally did this when she first arrived but I think she is going again on Thurs to update everything and ask questions. My granddaughter chose a home setting with her wonderful "Madre" in a residential section rather than a dorm in the heart of the city. She does walk with a friend through a big park,it's compared to Central Park, about 20minutes, to get to school and home. She'll be coming home in June, can't wait.

[JeffH]

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
Mohandas Gandhi

[LinkC]

Leave it to Faux News to get even THIS headline wrong!

That isn't FOX News. It's Fox40 News...their local Sacramento affiliate.

Several sources screwed it up, including CNN (an actual network). But, with similar names and similar goals, it's easy to confuse the two...

[Hosehead4ever]

The attacks directly effected myself, as well as family and friends in New York City and DC. My boyfriend was only a couple of blocks from the Pentagon when that plane went down, and my Aunt was in New York City within blocks of the twin towers. That day was terrifying and I'm glad that evil SOB is dead with his body dumped into the cold ocean depths. May he be forever tormented in the Hell he believed in!