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Osama bin Laden Killed by U.S. Troops in Pakistan; President Obama Awards Medals of Honor; U.S. Relations With Pakistan; Reaction To Bin laden's Death; Talk Back Question

Aired May 02, 2011 - 12:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: It is the top of the hour here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Drew Griffin, in for Suzanne Malveaux.

The news breaking since last night, Osama bin Laden, dead.

The president will appear live in a matter of moments in the White House. This is a Medal of Honor ceremony that was prescheduled -- prescheduled before the president made his announcement last night that Osama bin Laden has been killed.

However, we will be covering this event live. It will be the first time since that announcement that we have seen President Obama, and perhaps we'll get more details, or at least some questions as to what has been going on since the announcement of his death.

A senior administration official is telling CNN that DNA tests now confirm it, bin Laden is dead. U.S. Navy SEALs shot at killed the al Qaeda leader at a home in northern Pakistan. U.S. officials say the body has already been buried at sea.

Americans gathered at Ground Zero in New York today, celebrating the death of al Qaeda's founder and leader. This is the site where 2,752 people died at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001.

In Upstate New York, this was the scene at the United States military academy at West Point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK NADD, NADO.COM: Attention all cadets. Attention all cadets. Osama bin Laden is dead. We got him.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: USA! USA! USA! USA!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: This video obtained by ABC News is said to show a bloody bedroom inside Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. It's where U.S. Special Forces put a bullet in the terror leader's head.

9/11 family members say justice has been served.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARRIE LEMACK, 9/11 VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: I think we could say that we all feel a sigh of relief that no other family is going to suffer the way my family, the way so many families have suffered for so many years due to Osama bin Laden and the pain and misery that he tried to wreak across the world. And I just feel relief now that no other family is going to suffer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: The immediate reaction at Ground Zero, jubilation last night and early this morning. There is a more reserved crowd gathering today.

CNN's Deb Feyerick is there with the latest -- Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, and Drew, you know, it is a little bit of a more reserved crowd just in the sense that people are coming here because it is such an historic day. Some people holding up the newspaper in front of the Ground Zero site saying, "We Got Him."

I want to show you -- that's the Freedom Tower that's going up. That was obviously the subject of a lot of controversy, but now you can see how much progress has been made.

Next to it, the cranes. OK. What you don't see, that is where the towers were. Nothing will ever be built on those footprints, because if you were here on that day, and for the generations who follow, nothing ever will be built. That is a place that is sacred to many people.

But one person we want to speak to right now Nolan LaDago (ph), you were actually building the Freedom Tower. You're helping. You're one of the many people who have come to work to rebuild that. Tell me what it was like when you heard that bin Laden was dead.

NOLAN LADAGO (ph), CONSTRUCTION WORKER: Well, it's freedom of joy, of course. We felt very glad that it happened. I felt more like that the people that pass away, or the family members that pass away, the relief they must feel.

You know, it's very hard for what happened, and the stuff that they have to deal with every year. And day in, day out. So it was a relief.

FEYERICK: And for you, yourself, because you were here, you saw the first plane hit, and then you saw the second plane hit. And when that second plane hit, you realized it was no accident.

LADAGO: Yes, when the first one hit, I thought, oh, wow, it was a pilot. It must have been a mistake, something, a heart attack, something. But when the second one hit, we got really nervous and we said, oh, boy, something's really going on.

FEYERICK: And now, 10 years later, and you are here rebuilding that location.

Again, really historic. And when this area does reopen, one thing people are going to be able to see is the area, the very foundation of the World Trade Center towers. But right now, a sense of pride, quiet reflection, but also a sense that at least now bin Laden is dead -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Deb Feyerick, live.

Hey, Deb, we're going go live to a news conference now being held by the families of firefighters who were killed.

Let's just take a listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SALLY REGENHARD, MOTHER OF 9/11 FIREFIGHTER: -- our daughters and our loved ones.

We have been often asked if we have closure. While we can close the book on Osama bin Laden at present, for the parents and family there will never be closure. The loss of our loved ones, our siblings, our children, and our other loved ones, is something that we need to live with for the rest of our life.

It's a bittersweet day. It's good to see an evil person receive justice, but it's very bitter to realize that so many good people met a brutal and needless death at the hands of this monster.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Sally.

GRIFFIN: That is Sally Regenhard holding a picture of her son, a firefighter who was killed on 9-11-2001.

Wolf Blitzer, in Washington, was on the air last night as the president announced this news.

And Wolf, we're watching the president now -- it looks like there is a prayer going on. But, Wolf, the president is going to speak for the first time since the announcement last night.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This is a previously scheduled, as you've been pointing out, Medal of Honor ceremony that the president is participating in, leading over at the White House for two soldiers who were killed. He's going to cite their conspicuous gallantry, and awarding them, posthumously, the nation's highest Medal of Honor.

I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect at some point the president will make reference to the killing of bin Laden and the U.S. troops who were gallantly brave yesterday in undertaking this rather dangerous mission in Pakistan, as well. I suspect the president will say something about that. He will then honor these two U.S. soldiers who were killed in action but were incredibly, incredibly brave. This is the highest honor that the president of the United States can give U.S. military personnel. And so this ceremony will be very, very moving. The president will tell their respective stories of what they did, these soldiers, two private first class U.S. military, U.S. Army soldiers, and then he will at some point move on.

But here is the president. Let's listen in.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House.

To our many guests from Hawaii, Aloha.

And thank you, Chaplain Carver (ph), for that wonderful invocation.

I think we can all agree, this is a good day for America. Our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. The world is safer. It is a better place because of the death of Osama bin Laden.

Today we are reminded that as a nation there's nothing we can't do when we put our shoulders to the wheel, when we work together, when we remember the sense of unity that defines us as Americans. And we've seen that spirit, that patriotism in the crowds that have gathered here outside the White House, at Ground Zero in New York, and across the country, people holding candles, waving the flag, singing the national anthem, people proud to live in the United States of America.

And we're reminded that we are fortunate to have Americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours. They volunteer. They train. They endure separation from their families. They take extraordinary risks so that we can be safe. They get the job done.

We may not always know their names. We may not always know their stories. But they are there every day on the front lines of freedom, and we are truly blessed.

I do want to acknowledge before we begin the ceremony two individuals who have been critical as part of my team who are here today. First of all, I think somebody who will go down as one of the finest secretaries of defense in our history, Secretary Bob Gates, who is here.

(APPLAUSE)

And sitting beside him, someone who served with incredible valor on behalf of this country and is now somebody who I think whether will go down as one of the greatest secretaries of veterans affairs in our history, Eric Shinseki. (APPLAUSE)

Now, I have to say that, as commander-in-chief, I could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform. That is true now in today's wars. It has been true in all of our wars. And it is why we are here today.

Long ago, a poet at the of the First World War wrote of the sacrifice of young soldiers in war. "They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

Today we are joined by two American families who six decades ago gave our nation one of their own, Private First Class Henry Svehla and Private First Class Anthony Kaho'ohanohano. They did not grow old. These two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice when they were just 19 and 21 years old. Age did not weary them. In the hearts of their families, they remain forever young -- loving sons, protective brothers, hometown kids who stood tall in America's hometown -- in America's uniform.

Today we remember them, and we honor them with the highest military decoration that our nation can bestow, the Medal of Honor. In doing so, we also honor their families, who remind us that it is our extraordinary military families who also bear the heavy burden of war.

We are joined by members of Congress who are here. We are very grateful for you.

We're also joined by leaders from the Army and armed forces, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and the vice chairman, General Jim "Hoss" Cartwright. There they are right there.

(APPLAUSE)

And this is not in the script, but let me just acknowledge that, without the leadership of Bob Gates, Mike Mullen, Hoss Cartwright, today and yesterday would not have happened. And their steadiness and leadership has been extraordinary. I could not be prouder of them, and I am so grateful that they've been part of our team. So...

(APPLAUSE)

I especially want to welcome some of those who fought so bravely 60 years ago, our inspiring Korean veterans, Korean War veterans who have made the trip here. And I also want to acknowledge those who are welcoming two more American heroes into the ranks, members of the Medal of Honor Society. Thank you so much for your service. (APPLAUSE)

This past November, I paid a visit to South Korea, a visit that coincided with the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, as well as November 11th, Veterans Day. And I was privileged to spend part of the day with our troops and with dozens of veterans of the Korean War, members of a generation who, in the words of their memorial here in Washington, fought for a country they never knew and a people they never met. It was a generation that included Private First Class Anthony Kaho'ohanohano.

Tony grew up in Hawaii, in Maui. He learned early that we have a duty to others from his father, a dedicated police officer, and his mother, who devoted herself to their nine children.

Tony was a tall guy. He lived Hawaii, swimming in the ocean, playing basketball. Sounds like my kind of guy.

(LAUGHTER) His siblings remember him as the big brother, quiet, but strong, who took care of them, stood up for them in the neighborhood, and who would treat them to ice cream.

Tony's loyalty to family was matched by his love of country, even though Hawaii wasn't even a state yet. By 1951, the Korean War had been raging for more than a year, and Tony was part of the 17th Infantry Regiment -- 7th Infantry Division, which had been fighting for strategic hills that could shape the course of the war.

His squad was near a village called Chup'a-ri, when they came under ferocious attack. With the enemy advancing, with his men outnumbered, Tony made a decision. He ordered his squad to fall back and seek cover. And then Tony did something else. He stayed behind, machine gun in hand. He laid down fire so his men could get to safety. He was one American soldier alone against an approaching army.

When Tony was wounded in the shoulder, he fought on. He threw grenade after grenade. When his weapon ran out of ammunition, he grabbed another. And when he ran out of ammo, he reached for the only thing left: a shovel. That's when the enemy overran his position. And in those final moments, the combat was hand to hand.

It was that bravery, that courage of the single soldier that inspired his men to regroup, to rally, and to drive the enemy back. And when they finally reached Tony's position, the measure of his valor became clear. After firing so many bullets, the barrel of his machine gun was literally bent, but Tony had stood his ground. He had saved the lives of his men.

After his death, Tony was awarded the Army's second-highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, but his family felt he deserved more. And so did Senator and World War II vet Danny Akaka.

We're honored that Senator Akaka has joined us, as well as Mazie Hirono, and obviously we are extraordinarily grateful that we're joined by another senator and a Medal of Honor recipient Dan Inouye. Thank you so much for your presence.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, Hawaii is a small state, but the Kaho'ohanohanos are a very big family. In fact, I went to high school with one of their cousins, Whitey (ph). Tell Whitey (ph) I said how's it (ph).

(LAUGHTER)

This is a remarkable family. Service defines them. Tony's father and all six sons served in the military. Another member of the family has served in Afghanistan. Nearly 30 members of the family have traveled from Hawaii to be here, including Tony's sister, Elaine (ph), and brother, Eugene (ph). For the sacrifice that your family endured, for the service that your family has rendered, thank you so much. Mahalo nui loa. I would ask that you all join me in welcoming Tony's nephew, George, who worked for so many years to get his uncle the honor that he deserved. George?

(APPLAUSE)

(UNKNOWN): The president of the United States of America, authorized by act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chup'a-ri, Korea, on 1 September, 1951.

On that date, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano was in charge of machine gun squad supporting the defensive positioning of Company F when a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce attack. Because of the enemy's overwhelming numbers, friendly troops were forced to execute a limited withdrawal. As the men fell back, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force.

Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano gathered his supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone. As the hostile troops concentrated their strength against his emplacement, in an effort to overrun it, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano fought fiercely and courageously, delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed.

Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counter attack that completely repulsed the enemy. Upon reaching Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's emplacement, friendly troops discovered 11 enemy soldiers lying dead in front of the emplacement and two inside it, killed in hand-to-hand combat. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: About the time that Tony was inspiring his men, another young soldier was joining up with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, Private First Class Henry Svehla. He grew up in New Jersey. He loved fishing on the Jersey shore. He was one of six kids and the youngest son, but the one who seemed to take care of everybody else.

His sister, Dorothy, remembers how their mom would be in the kitchen at the end of a long day trying to cook dinner for six kids. Henry, a teenager, would walk in, grab his mother's hand, and dance her around the kitchen. If anybody needed him, said Dorothy, Henry was there.

And he was there for America in Korea, as the war neared its third and final year. Henry knew the dangers, and in one of last letters home he wrote, "I may not return."

That June of 1952, the heat was unbearable. The monsoon rains and mosquitoes were relentless. But the 7th Infantry Division pushed on, probing enemy lines, fighting bunker by bunker, hill by hill. And as Henry and his company neared the top of one hill, the rocky slopes seemed to explode with enemy fire.

His unit started to falter, and that's when Henry made his move. He stood up, he looked ahead, and he charged forward into a hail of bullets. Those who were there described how he kept firing his weapon, kept hurling grenades, and how, even after being wounded in the face, he refused medical attention and kept leading the charge.

That's when an enemy grenade landed among his men. Every human instinct, every impulse would tell a person to turn away. But at that critical moment, Henry Svehla did the opposite: He threw himself on that grenade. With his sacrifice, he saved the lives of his fellow soldiers.

Henry Svehla's body has never been recovered. It's a wound in the heart of his family that has never been fully healed. It's also a reminder that, as a nation, we must never forget those who didn't come home, are missing in action, or are taken prisoner of war. And we must never stop trying to bring them back to their families.

Henry was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but his family believed that he had earned this nation's highest military honor. They contacted their congressman and his staff who made it their mission, and we thank Representative Bill Pascrell for making this day possible.

Henry's parents and brother did not live to see this day, but two of his sisters, Dorothy and Sylvia, are with us. Dorothy, Sylvia, you remind us that behind every American who wears our nation's uniform stands a family who serves with them. And behind every American who lays down their life for our country is a family who mourns them and honors them for the rest of their lives.

Every day, for nearly 60 years, you have lived the poet's words, "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them." And so I want to conclude today by inviting everyone to join me in welcoming Henry's sister, Dorothy, to the stage for the presentation of the medal.

(APPLAUSE)

(UNKNOWN): The president of the United States, authorized by act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Henry Svehla, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private First Class Henry Svehla distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with F Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Pyongony, Korea, on 12 June, 1952.

That afternoon, while Private First Class Svehla and his platoon were patrolling a strategic hill to determine enemy strength and positions, they were subjected to intense enemy automatic weapons and small-arms fire at the top of the hill. Coming under heavy fire, the platoon's attack began to falter. Realizing the success of mission and the safety of the remaining troops were in peril, Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions, firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced.

In the face of this courage and determination, the platoon rallied to attack with renewed vigor. Private First Class Svehla, utterly disregarding his own safety, destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties, when suddenly fragments from a mortar round exploding nearby seriously wounded him in the face. Despite his wounds, Private First Class Svehla refused medical treatment and continued to lead the attack.

When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades, Private First Class Svehla, without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of extreme danger, threw himself upon the grenade. During this action, Private First Class Svehla was mortally wounded.

Private First Class Svehla's extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Let's give both families a big round of applause, for Anthony and for Henry.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please join me in prayer.

Gracious God, you've stirred our hearts once again today, as we've heard the accounts of two great American soldiers who valued the lives of those under their care more than their very own. You've told us in the Holy Scripture that there's no greater love than this, and so --

GRIFFIN: Wolf Blitzer joining us now from Washington, D.C. Wolf, I know we were going to interrupt and break into the president if he said anything about Osama bin Laden, but that turned into quite an emotional ceremony honoring veterans of the Korean War. I enjoyed hearing that.

The president, though, on Osama bin Laden did say that the world is safer, it's a good day it for America and this proves that there is nothing we can't do.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": He was very blunt. This is the same room, as you know, Drew, that the president was in last night when he made the dramatic announcement around 11:30 p.m. Eastern time. He's back there today honoring these two U.S. soldiers who died very courageously during the Korean War so many years ago, but he did use this moment to speak about what has happened.

The president is now speaking again. Let's hear what he's saying.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

OBAMA: -- this country's safer. Tony and Henry stand as a model of courage and patriotism. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you, everyone.

(APPLAUSE)

GRIFFIN: OK, there's the president wrapping up this ceremony. Wolf, any more scheduled events of the president that you know of came?

BLITZER: He's going to have a dinner later tonight with the congressional leadership, Democrats and Republicans. But that's all previously scheduled. And that's designed to try to get a more conducive atmosphere for dealing some - with the budget, some of the huge deficit-related issues. There was going to be an effort to see if some sort of social events might in fact ease some of the tensions, the bitterness in the battle over the budget. What to cut, what not to cut, how to deal with the long-term entitlements issues, and of course, trying to raise the debt ceiling. I suspect now, Drew, this subject, bin Laden's death, will certainly be high on the agenda, as well.

But there's no doubt they have a lot of work to do. Right now the focus is on bin Laden, the aftermath, will there be some sort of retaliatory strike by bin Laden's al Qaeda supporters or other sympathizers. There is a heightened sense of security as a result of this, not only here in the United States, but around the world, especially at U.S. diplomatic military installations, cultural installations. There's concern no actionable intelligence, no specific threats, as they say, but they're worried about it. So they're dealing with it.

But right now, the immediate issue is bin Laden and what's going to be the fallout. Let's remember, also, bin Laden may be dead, but Ayman Al Zawahiri, the number two al Qaeda leader, the Egyptian who was so much involved in operational planning, he remains at large somewhere. We have no idea where. But you have to be sure that with bin Laden dead, Ayman Al Zawahiri now, Drew, becomes target number one for the U.S. and others in the search for terrorists.

GRIFFIN: Yes, absolutely Wolf. Hey, we'll see you tonight, 5:00 to 7:00 Eastern time. Wolf Blitzer, "THE SITUATION ROOM." All the latest. And I'm told, Wolf, you'll have an exclusive with Colin Powell. So, we'll look forward to hearing what Colin Powell has to say about this capture as certainly, he was early going on the way - on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, which is now over.

Wolf Blitzer joining us from Washington. Thanks. Everybody else, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We continue with our breaking news by going to the Pentagon. And our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, with new information coming out about - I guess details, Barbara. More and more about this operation.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Drew. Administration officials just finished a background briefing with the news media here to explain what more they could. And very interesting, they had some images to show us.

Let's put up first a satellite image of the compound that was just distributed to the news media. This is the area north of Islamabad. A number of satellite images over the months and years showing increased building in the area and showing the compound growing and added security there.

Now, second, after you see these satellite images, there is a drawing that was distributed of the compound itself that tells us a good deal about how this unfolded. Let's put that up and leave it up for a few minutes so we can walk people through what transpired when the helicopters got there. So, stay with me, Drew, and look at that image. According to officials, Osama bin Laden was living in that center building you see, a tall building -

GRIFFIN: Right. Looks like it has a balcony.

STARR: --- living on the second and third floor - right - living on that second and third floor area. Now, I don't know if you can see, Drew, but at that tall building, you see what looks like a red stripe, but actually, that's a representation of a seven-foot security wall it that was around that upper floor of the building and the compound already had 18-foot walls. So, this was a very secure area. That's where bin Laden was.

When the U.S. troops landed there, the Navy SEALs brought in by Army helicopter, they went through these buildings and cleared room by room as the firefight was breaking out. But officials telling us a short time ago that upper floor was one of the last areas they got to, one of the last areas they cleared. That's where they found bin Laden.

They say he did put up resistance, and that he was killed in the firefight, but they refuse to offer very many details. Was he firing, because he running away, was he making a last stand? But it was inside the area on that upper floor of that building where finally the U.S. military got Osama bin Laden.

GRIFFIN: So, it's your impression, Barbara, they didn't land on that roof, they didn't drop on the roof? They came from the ground up?

STARR: Well, we believe is there were several helicopters, and they landed in a number of places around there. You know, that's a really good - there's -- I don't know if you can see, Drew. There this are satellite dishes, there are wires, there's a number of obstructions. In fact, one helicopter did go down to a mechanical failure, the military says. So, they lit that one on fire so no one could get to it. Torched it. And the assault team got on other helicopters to fly away. But landing in these areas where there's these high walls, you run the risk of blowing dirt, blowing sand. This is very tricky business for helicopters. They like a nice, clear, hard surface to land. Pilots like to see exactly where they're going, of course. And you can see this is a pretty rural type of situation in terms of there's - there's residences around, but it's not all that built up. So, this was dicey business to get in and dicey business to get out, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Not to mention just utility wires. Barbara, the burial at sea, a lot of people I've been talking to, still not clear why that took place. In your background briefing, did they give you any information?

STARR: Well, yes. The administration's walking a fine line here between wanting to tell people or say they want to tell people what has happened and diplomacy, to say the least. They say they could find no land alternative for Osama bin Laden. But the fact is in a they didn't have much time to even think about it because they didn't want to warn any other countries this was underway.

Some discussion out there that they might have thought about approaching the Saudis to take his body. We don't know if they asked the Saudis. We know they thought about it. So, the next alternative was burial at sea because they did not want bin Laden's body to become a shrine, a sanctuary, a rallying point for militants or for al Qaeda that might make pilgrimages, if you were, essentially to his burial site.

So, he was brought on to the aircraft carrier Karl Vincent, which was out in the North Arabian sea. The Pentagon going to great lengths to say the burial at sea followed all Islamic religious practices. He was wrapped in a white cloth. Prayers were said and translated in to Arabic. They say the body was weighted, put on a planning and basically tipped out into the sea in terms of the physical. That's the end of Osama bin Laden. In terms of his spiritual strength, his appeal to the militant world, that still remains to be seen.

GRIFFIN: Barbara, let me ask you one more question. You may not know the answer. The helicopters -- how far did they travel? Was there a via point? Because that's a long way from this town to the sea, to where a ship might be.

STARR: Right. I'm going to be very candid and say we don't really know the answer to that yet. There has been discussion they came from the sea. There is also discussion they came from Afghanistan or even inside Pakistan. Inside Pakistan is not likely because the military and the intelligence community is going to great lengths to say they did not inform Pakistan about this assault mission. It there has been continuous concern, as we know, Drew -- you've reported a lot on this -- that the Pakistani military and intelligence services are infiltrated, and if the U.S. had let the Pakistanis know anything about this that the word might have been leaked and bin Laden might have gotten away. So, they told nobody.

This I would have to say is one of the most closely held military and security operations I think we've seen in years.

GRIFFIN: Barbara Starr. Fascinating details on what took place in Pakistan, including the burial at sea. Weighed him down and throw him overboard into the Arabia Sea. Barbara Starr, thank you so much.

Here is your chance to "Talk Back" on the big story today, Osama bin Laden's death. Carol Costello been following this all morning.

CARL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, fascinating details coming out. But let's talk about how this has united Americans because Americans are united again. Maybe just for today. And maybe it will last. But for today, justice. The death of Osama bin Laden has brought us together in a way we haven't seen since the days after 9/11.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(AUDIENCE SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: United. The president said as much as he made his dramatic announcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Most Americans have not believed that, though. According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll last September, 67 percent of us thought it was not likely the United States would capture or kill Osama bin Laden.

As for what it means for American's prolonged war on terror, we don't know. But just for today, Americans are united in the fact that justice has finally come for bin Laden's victims. So, our "Talk Back" question is simple. What does Osama bin Laden's death mean for you? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read some of your comments in just a couple of minutes.

GRIFFIN: Carol, thanks. You know, it's a hugely busy day and all evening long, we'll be covering this, as well. Today at 5:00 Eastern, an exclusive interview. Wolf Blitzer will talk with Colin Powell. Powell served as President Bush's secretary of state at the time of the 9/11 attacks. You can tune in "THE SITUATION ROOM" for that interview later today.

Also on CNN tonight, for worldwide reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden, Eliot Spitzer "IN THE ARENA" will be from the memorial at Ground Zero. That's at 8:00 Eastern. At 9:00 Eastern, Piers Morgan is going to have former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, followed by "AC 360" and more details on the Navy SEAL raid that lead to the death of Osama bin Laden. "AC 360" starts at 10:00 Eastern Time. We'll be right back.

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GRIFFIN: Boy, the more we learn, the more many people are convinced that Osama bin Laden was being protected by Pakistani officials. The terrorist mastermind living in a palace basically just 31 miles from Pakistan's capital. Not cowering in a cave. Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. disputes that interpretation. He spoke earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMB. HUSAIN HAQQANI, PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. (voice- over): All the major personalities -- al Qaeda personalities currently in Guantanamo were arrested by Pakistani authorities in cooperation with the United States. So if we had really known where bin Laden was, we would have (INAUDIBLE). We are very glad that our American partners did. They had superior intelligence. They had superior technology. And we are grateful to them and to God for having given us this opportunity to bring this chapter to an end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joins us from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Nick, this potentially very embarrassing for Pakistani officials at least.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think if it were proven that Pakistani military intelligence officials knew bin Laden was here for a long time and were in fact sheltering him, that would be hugely significant. So there's no indication of that at the moment. In fact, very early this morning, one senior Pakistani intelligence source was very quick to say that Pakistani intelligence operatives have been on the ground during the American operation. That was denied by U.S. officials and subsequently he then said actually that was not the case.

But Pakistanis are clear here the same source suggesting they provided some of the raw data, the phone intercepts which may have allowed the Americans to kind of drill down and find this particular compound and, importantly, the courier, who they say was coming back and forth from the compound and perhaps gave bin Laden away.

But certainly the issue of trust between the U.S. and Pakistan has been absolutely vital here for months and reached really its worst low of quite some time only last month, frankly, with the Pakistani military demanding that America curtail its drone strikes here and really a sense that both sides were not seeing eye to eye, were not the allies they claimed to be and, frankly, had stopped communicating and cooperating. So the idea of today's strike being a unilateral American operation which the Pakistanis didn't know about until it was over does make some sense. Drew.

GRIFFIN: Well, Nick, at the very least it would be embarrassing that the Pakistani intelligence would not know that Osama bin Laden was living so extravagantly so near a military base.

WALSH: I think that's true. And I think also you have to bear in mind, I'm not standing up for Pakistanis entirely here, but I mean this is a busy military town. Many other individuals. If bin Laden never left his walled compound, it's possible nobody could have known. But, yes, absolutely, the Pakistanis pride themselves of being very pervasive with their intelligence services. So an awful lot of questions to be answered. But as it stands in the moment, Pakistani officials very keen to point out they're the allies and one intelligence source even keener to say they provided the raw data that led this operation to bin Laden.

Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right, Nick Paton Walsh in Islamabad. The truth will bear out as we deal with the facts in the coming days. Thanks, Nick.

We'll be right back.

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GRIFFIN: You know, one of the first strikes in this war on terror began many say 10 years ago when United Flight 93 was forced into the ground by passengers. That was the fourth plane that did not reach its target on 9/11. Instead, it hit the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the National Park Service is building a permanent memorial. And there's where Jim Acosta is today.

And, Jim, I imagine people are visiting there today with varying feelings about what happened to bin Laden over this weekend.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It's really a mixed bag of feelings out here, Drew. We've seen it all morning long, people streaming into this site here at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to remember the lives lost on Flight 93. As you mentioned, were it not for the passengers and crew members aboard that aircraft, the 9/11 Commission concluded that it would have perhaps hit the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Instead, it hit this ground here. And so we've seen people streaming into this site, which is now a National Park Service site, all morning long. Not only expressing their feelings for the victims of September 11th, but also to express a lot of relief that Osama bin Laden is now dead.

And I talked to one woman earlier this morning who could not help but being brought to tears by the memory of the people who lost their lives here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those brave people, I can't imagine what that must have been like being in the back of that plane. And the fact that they knew what they had to do to save another catastrophe from happening. And I just -- I don't know. I just don't have words.

ACOSTA: Ten years later, it still brings tears to your eyes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And she's not the only one who had tears in her eyes this morning. We've seen families bringing their children, people praying at this site, leaving messages and flowers and flags. Drew, this will be going on all day long. The National Park Service expects to exceed the normal number of people who come to this site every day. And we should mention, it's going to be a permanent National Park Service memorial. The first section of this site opening up on September 11th, the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Drew.

GRIFFIN: Jim Acosta, live in Shanksville. Thank you so much, Jim.

These are the celebrations that erupted outside the White House and Ground Zero as President Obama announced Osama bin Laden had been killed, which brings us to today's "Talk Back" question and Carol Costello.

COSTELLO: Yes, "Talk Back" question simple today. What does Osama bin Laden's death mean for you?

This from Art. "I lost two friends on 9/11. Bin Laden's death won't bring them back, but it does give me a tremendous feeling of relief and closure."

This from Lauren. "I am proud to be an American and an Army wife. All the hard work my husband has done overseas finally has some piece of justice and victory."

This from Peter. "It means George Bush can take that big 'mission accomplished' banner out of his closet. After a lot of waiting, it's finally correct."

And this from Jennifer. "It tells us what Obama meant when he said there were more important issues than dealing with Trump's silliness over his birth certificate."

And this from Kimm. "On our drive to school this morning, I asked my daughter this question. For your whole life we've been looking for Osama bin Laden. Does anything feel different to you now that he's been found and killed? She told me that she felt relief. Me, too, sweetie. Me, too."

Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn, facebook.com/carolcnn. And, as always, thank you so much for your comments. A lot of them were quite moving. Brought tears to my eyes.

GRIFFIN: That last one was pretty good.

COSTELLO: Yes.

GRIFFIN: Carol, thanks a lot.

COSTELLO: Sure.

GRIFFIN: The tweets continue, the answers continue and so does the news continue in just a few minutes now with Randi Kaye. She'll be live from Ground Zero.

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