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White House Watched Bin Laden Raid Live; Security Officials Concerned About New Threats; Inside Bin Laden's Compound

Aired May 03, 2011 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The mission to kill Osama Bin Laden 10 years in the making, and now one day later, a new objective takes shape. Good morning to you. Welcome to our continuing coverage. I'm Carol Costello.

This morning, U.S. intelligence officers are combing through computer equipment and the data seized from the Pakistani compound where the al Qaeda founder was hiding. They're searching for leads on other al Qaeda or possible attack plots. We'll take a closer look at those threats in just a minute.

A U.S. counterterrorism official says the hall was larger than expected since the compound had no phone or internet service. Bin laden relied on storage media like CDs and DVDs. A CNN source says it is not clear who will replace bin laden because al Qaeda apparently had no clear succession plan in place.

But let's begin this hour with compelling, new information on the raid itself. A special operation forces burst into Bin Laden's compound, President Obama watched the assault unfold. Live, 7,000 miles away.

Is it a remarkable twist in this developing story. CNN's Brianna Keilar is at the White House. Brianna, you have new details and new pictures to show us. So take it away.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, some photos that the White House has officially released. And we heard from the president's counterterrorism chief, Jim Brennan, that for the people in "the situation room." This was one of the most anxiety-filled moments of their lives. Watching this operation unfold, getting real- time updates.

Of course, you had Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary Gates, secretaries of State and of Defense, along with Vice President Biden, accompanying the president. You also had his top counterterrorism and National Security advisers in that room.

And Brennan said that there were times where people were holding their breath. He said, minutes were passing like days and he recalled specifically the president being concerned for the safety of those Navy SEALS.

So what about if there was some of an aha moment where it became clear that Osama Bin Laden had been captured? Brennan actually said there wasn't one. He described sort of a growing confidence.

At first there was the visual identification of Bin Laden. That was one thing then the height matched out. And then they had the preliminary DNA analysis that had them pretty certain or had them very certain that Osama Bin Laden was their man and that they could all breathe a sigh of relief, Carol.

COSTELLO: So they had the pictures and they had the DNA analysis and it's all done. But there were some still demanding that the White House release this photo of the dead Bin Laden to prove, once and for all that he is indeed dead. Will that photo ever be released?

KEILAR: We know that they're considering it. I think it's important to note that the White House hasn't ruled it out. We heard Brennan say that certainly some people would desire visual proof, but he feels that people are convinced that Osama Bin Laden is, indeed, dead.

That you don't necessarily need that photo out there to prove to them and of course, what the White House is weighing right now is whether that would create kind of a propaganda tool to put out what is no doubt would be a very gruesome photo of a dead Osama Bin Laden.

Then when it comes to the actual burial at sea, it's unclear at this point, Carol if there is video of that, if there are still photos of that, let alone if this administration would want to release those.

COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar, live at the White House. Thank you.

It has been nearly two days since Americans first learned that Osama Bin Laden was dead. The initial euphoria has faded and many Americans are now facing sobering concerns that al Qaeda could strike back and retaliation.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve shows us the intelligence and law enforcement communities are on heightened alert.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Pentagon memorial to 9/11 victims the parents of Chris Romeo celebrated Osama Bin Laden's death with champagne.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's gone.

MESERVE: But throughout government, the celebration is tempered by concerns at what al Qaeda, its affiliates or sympathizers might do next.

JOHN BRENNAN, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It may be a mortally wounded tiger that still has some life in it and it's dangerous, and we need to keep up the pressure.

We cannot relent because there are individuals in that organization that are determined to try to carry out attacks and murder innocent men, women, and children. MESERVE: There is no specific, credible information about a possible counterpunch, so the Department of Homeland Security has not raised the threat level. But security in some places was ramped up anyway. In New York, for instance, where Bin Laden struck his deadliest blow.

RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: There are no specific threats against New York City as of this moment, but we certainly are not taking any chances. Our assumption is that Bin Laden's disciples would like nothing better than to avenge his death by another attack in New York.

MESERVE: And on the D.C. metro system --

CHIEF MICHAEL TABORN, WASHINGTON METRO TRANSIT POLICE: This increase is not related to any specific threat to our system, rather than it is out of an abundance of caution.

MESERVE: But elsewhere, officials took a wait and see attitude. In Los Angeles, for instance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the need arises, we will change our posture. But thus far, our posture remains the same.

MESERVE: Even if aviation, which al Qaeda and its affiliates have attacked repeatedly, some passengers saw no signs of increased security.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There don't seem to be any problems. As a matter of fact, I don't see any armed guards around.

MESERVE: Meanwhile, an intelligence community task force is sifting through what's called a robust collection of materials found at the compound where Bin Laden was killed. Officials hope it will lead them to other members of al Qaeda.

BRENNAN: Al Qaeda is something in the past and we're hoping to bury the rest of al Qaeda along with Bin Laden.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve is in our Washington room. She joins us now. So Jeanne, have there been any specific threats at all?

MESERVE: At this point in time, at least one has surfaced. It's from the Pakistani Taliban, a leader of that says we shall definitely take revenge on America. Carol --

COSTELLO: But no action? I just was curious as to why they wouldn't raise the threat level.

MESERVE: Well, you know, they just changed that whole threat alert warning system, and the secretary -- Secretary Napolitano said, they will only raise it if they have very specific intelligence. At this point in time they are looking for that intelligence, the intelligence and law enforcement communities are carefully analyzing communications, movements, all sorts of things to see if they come up with something.

At this point in time, no specific threat of information that would trigger that warning system, Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeanne Meserve, live in Washington. Thank you.

Also new this morning, video from within the Bin Laden compound. It provides an eerie glimpse into the refuge where he lived and died. CNN Nick Payton Walsh is in the city of Atibad. He's very near that compound. Can you describe the city for us, Nick?

NICK PAYTON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I mean, this does not look like a city, frankly, which recently discovered the world's most-wanted man was living inside it. When we arrived here this morning, very calm, life going on, frankly, as normal.

Just behind me, over the trees, is the compound in question. I think it's also important to point out, a massive military town, just over there we have two or three substantial military bases and academies.

And that's really fueling some of these suggestions that Pakistanis -- Pakistan security establishment, must have known something about Bin Laden being here.

But just simply looking at house where he lived for so long, it is not that indiscrete. It has obviously big walls, significant security, but that's not particularly abnormal for wealthy Pakistanis living in this part of the world.

So absolutely Abbottabad, its place in history more or less assured as being the place where Bin Laden was killed but not reeling from that as such. Carol --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We have some video that we're showing our viewers now from inside that house. We see blood on the floor, briefly in the kitchen where the sink is full of food, the pantries are supposedly full. Can you tell us what else besides those CDs and DVDs that American officials already confiscated, what else was inside that house?

WALSH: We're talking about a treasure trove, seeing the pictures on the floor, we're talking about a standard things of daily life, food, possessions, clothing, that sort of thing, strewn on the floor in the video that we had filmed by a third party in that particular compound.

These are all part of the clues, which the United States will be combing through. They swept up an awful lot in the 14 minutes he they were there. An awful lot left behind. This video shot today suggesting perhaps that Pakistanis have not begun the forensic cleanup.

And sort of hovering up every possible detail that Bin Laden left behind of his lifestyle, they're very much keeping the compound themselves. Media kept at arm's length, out on the gate recently, but not actually inside to see frankly quite monumentous building.

COSTELLOS: How many people where inside that building and the ones who did survive, where they are now?

WALSH: I don't know the token number inside that building that remains unclear. What I do know is that a senior Pakistani intelligence sources saying there were eight to nine children, now in their custody who were inside that house.

Also saying two women were inside the house, one of whom we believe from U.S. officials to have been Bin Laden's wife, who was injured in the firefight.

We're also talking about four to five men apparently there as well. That figure could be larger. Some reports suggesting as many as 22 people inside the compound when the U.S. launched their operation, Carol.

COSTELLO: And the other thing I'm wondering about, those people in custody in Pakistan, what might -- not the children, but what might happen to the adults they have in custody? Will they be charged with anything, do you suppose?

WALSH: I have to tell you, I don't know that. Yes, on the Pakistani due process they will eventually face charges. I'm not quite sure what they could be charged with, living in a house with Bin Laden, not sure if that's a crime or assisting some act of terrorism or insurgency here.

I mean, I imagine they'll be held in custody for some period of time, looking at what information they can provide the Pakistanis or perhaps even the Americans, if cooperation is functioning again. But certainly, yes, these eight or nine children in custody now, exactly who they are, how they came to be in the compound, unclear, but Pakistani officials confirming eight or nine children in their custody, Carol.

COSTELLO: Nick Payton Walsh from Pakistan, thanks so much.

American intelligence officials didn't trust the Pakistani government enough to reveal its plans to take out Bin Laden. Two days after the world's most sought after terrorist was killed by U.S. commandos, both sides trying to soothe rankled feelings.

Zain Verjee in London now. So Zain, what are the headlines out of the Middle East? What are the newspapers saying?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's go straight to the United Arab Emirates. This is the national and this is the headline why, was Bin Laden exposed so far from his base of power? They have a guest editorial where a former Pakistani Infantry officer says, those who might believe that any cooperation in this operation between the United States and Pakistan will improve bilateral relations are doomed to be disappointed.

Here, too, it will be business as usual. And then, check out Gulf news, its headline "Terror Kingpin's Deadly Legacy to Live On." It goes on to say, the danger now is the manner in which Bin Laden died, fighting off U.S. secret forces as they stormed his home, will lead some to believe that he's a martyr and to take revenge.

And then, Carol, let's take a look at the Jerusalem post. The headline reads "the symbol is dead, but the global network lives on." The article says, al Qaeda has become a world view to which anyone can subscribe and in whose name anyone can act. It stopped relying on its centralized leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan years ago.

Carol, that's going to create many more challenges and already has for the United States, because al Qaeda has really morphed into so many different entities, it's become to diffuse that even if you cut Bin Laden's head off, the top of al Qaeda.

It's still the various entities in which it functions within and all of the different parts of the world makes a dangerous threat and tougher for the U.S.

COSTELLO: Right. There are so many other terrorist groups throughout as well. Zain Verjee, live in London, thank you.

Now that Osama Bin Laden is gone, there is a leadership vacuum at the top of al Qaeda. Who could take over as head of the world's most hated organization? We'll take a look at the possible successors when we come back.

Can you remember a time when people were so happy euphoric is more like it, to hear about someone's violent death? That is OK in Osama Bin Laden's case? We'll take a closer look at that later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: For most people, for a decade now, al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden were one in the same. Now that he's gone, the terror group's got a serious leadership vacuum. CNN's Brian Todd looks who might fill Bin Laden's shoes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With al Qaeda decapitated, experts believe this is now a terror network in crisis.

(on camera): What kind of a hole is al Qaeda in now as far as leadership is concerned?

PHILIP MUDO, FORMER CIA OFFICER: They've been in a hole for some time. They've suffered a lot of operational setbacks because of things like predator strikes, operational leadership is decimated. Now the spokesman is gone.

TODD (voice-over): Phillip Mudd, former CIA officer and counterterrorism official, says Osama Bin Laden is irreplaceable. With so many jihadists having to look to Bin Laden for operational direction, for inspirational command, filling his void will be a disjointed, messy undertaking.

(on camera): Al Zawahiri, Bin Laden's long time deputy, a legendary al Qaeda leader who's also been on the run since September 11th and al Awlaki, the American-borne cleric a key leader in one of the networks most dangerous branches, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Experts say both are capable, but they also have drawbacks that Bin Laden didn't have.

(voice-over): Al Zawahiri has the strategic background to lead the network, but analysts say he lacks Bin Laden's charisma and --

MUDD: Viewed as a polarizing figure, not easy to deal with, not a good manager.

TODD: Al Awlaki is seen as a master recruiter, internet sensation who inspired the Christmas day airline plot and at tempted cargo bombing last year, his Achille's heel.

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Awlaki is not a fighter. He's a cleric. He's a speaker, and not a fighter. And al Qaeda, over the years, have wanted to be led by a fighter.

TODD: Credentials Bin Laden had from his years battling the soviets in Afghanistan. But other dangerous figures could surface, including Saif Al Adel who one analyst calls al Qaeda's chief of staff, believed to have played a key role in 1998 African embassy bombings.

Al Libbi once a battlefield commander in Afghanistan who rose to prominence from Bagram Airbase. And a well-connected Bin Laden favorite, mastermind of a plot last year to target Europe. It will take a herculean effort for any of them to manage the network like Osama Bin Laden did.

MUDD: They don't have anybody now who will have the star power, the brand name of Bin Laden, and it's not good to have six people trying to fill in his shoes.

TODD: Analysts say if no leader steps to the fore immediately it doesn't make al Qaeda less dangerous. At least in the short term, they say, look for the threats to spike as the network seeks to avenge Bin Laden.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Brian Todd joins us from Washington. Brian, other potential al Qaeda leaders would be hard pressed to bring in the same kind of money that Bin Laden did, right?

TODD: That's right, Carol. That's something that's not talked about right way in these days after Bin Laden's death. He was a really effective funnel for cash for al Qaeda for many, many years. He had wealthy Saudi contacts who would send him money.

He had family connections from a very wealthy Saudi family, and most of his family had cut him off, but he had some family members who would be able to kind of facilitate him getting a lot of cash from Saudi Arabia. So that may dry up a bit.

Experts say that a lot of the funding for al Qaeda may shift toward that one wing of al Qaeda that we mentioned in the piece, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula because they've proved effective in launching attacks, launching plots.

But some of the other al Qaeda affiliates may see cash dry up a little bit now that Bin Laden is out of the scene.

COSTELLO: Yes, makes you wonder who built -- who funded the $1 million house he was hiding in Pakistan. Maybe that will come out. Brian Todd, live in Washington.

After the killing of Osama Bin Laden the country of Pakistan is the Taliban's number one target. Leaders have been praised by leaders in the United States, but at least one senator wants the U.S. to withhold aid to Pakistan, American aid, I should say, until he hears answers from the Pakistani government. The senator and his questions, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: After the death of Osama Bin Laden, the cheering from America's street is all about a fading echo. But what does remain are questions about how much members of Pakistani's -- Pakistan's government knew about the operation and about the hideout of Osama Bin Laden.

On "THE SITUATION ROOM," Wolf Blitzer challenged the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. to answer those questions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: He was within a two-hours' drive of Islamabad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wolf, that is not the point. The point is that he has been eliminated in a successful operation by the United States.

BLITZER: Which --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Pakistan has expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the operation. And any questions about intelligence failures will be addressed by us jointly. As I said, only two or three days ago in your program, we are allies. We want --

BLITZER: Why didn't the U.S. trust Pakistan to share anything about this operation until all of those U.S. troops were out of your airspace?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The United States didn't share information on this operation with the Australians, the British, and the Canadians. It did not because president --

BLITZER: Pakistan, not Australia or Britain --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My point is the United States made a critical decision. President Obama decided the success of the operation was far more important than niceties and that said --

BLITZER: Even those helicopters were flying back to Afghanistan, or to -- they still didn't tell you until you were -- they were completely out of your airspace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pakistan and the United States have a lot of things to work out, as we move forward.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Now the one thing Pakistan does not have to work out is which country is at the top of the Taliban's target list. In an op-ed Pakistan's president wrote, only hours after Bin Laden's death the Taliban reacted by blaming the government of Pakistan and calling for retribution against its leaders and specifically against me as the nation's president.

We will not be intimidated. Pakistan has never been, and never will be, the hotbed of fanaticism that is often described by the media. Keep in mind the United States gives about $3 billion to Pakistan every year and so far, in 2010 the U.S. spent more than $1.5 billion in non-military aid to Pakistan.

Senator Frank Lautenberg is a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee. The senator thinks maybe we ought to rethink sending any money to Pakistan until some very important questions are answered. Thanks for joining us, Senator. We appreciate it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Glad to be here.

COSTELLO: So what sorts of things should the leaders of Pakistan stay to you, say to the U.S. government that would answer your questions adequately?

SENATOR FRANK LAUTENBERG (D), NEW JERSEY: Well, they can say it to me or to the administration, but we have to find out what it is that they're up to. Are they on our side all the time, because this morning I heard a couple of comments coming from Mr. Musharraf, who used to be president, questioning the trust that the United States wants to place in Pakistan.

I think that's relatively speaking observed. Here's this building, all they need was a neon sign to be identified. A giant building in the middle of lots of military activity and this comes as a surprise? It doesn't -- it doesn't test well. And we want to find out what the real truth is. COSTELLO: The Obama administration has said, you know, despite the questions that have to be answered by the Pakistani government, without Pakistan's help, the United States could never achieved what it did by killing Osama Bin Laden, after all, we landed military helicopters in Pakistan. Doesn't Pakistan deserve some credit for that?

LAUTENBERG: Well, they might get some, but we ought to find out how much credit they're due. We know how much cash they're looking for but we also ought to find out what the credit they get, how much is deserved. This really staggers the imagination.

That all of this was going on, here was a man who killed almost 3,000 Americans in a single day, killed other Americans in Tanzania, and in Kenya, and we did what we had to do, and we ought to get plaudits and not criticism if that's what they're trying to do.

COSTELLO: Do you think we should suspend giving any money to Pakistan until certain questions are answered?

LAUTENBERG: I think we should hold up any funding. The year's not there yet. It has not begun yet, but I think that we ought to find out exactly what their role was. They don't have to tell the public and they don't have to tell me, but they have to tell someone we trust, like President Obama and the administration.

COSTELLO: Senator Lautenberg, many thanks for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

Focusing on the war on terror after Bin Laden's death, Condoleezza Rice has an answer to those seeking a quicker U.S. pullout in Afghanistan. We'll hear from the former secretary of state next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: This is day two of the post-Osama bin Laden world. Here's a quick look at what's happening now.

U.S. intelligence officers are combing through the computer equipment and the data seized from the compound where bin Laden lived and died. They could hold priceless intelligence on al Qaeda's plans and where its other leader are.

Remember the $25 million bounty on bin Laden? It's not clear how much, or if any of it, will get paid out. And we know there are photographs of bin Laden's body with a gunshot wound to the head. The U.S. government has not decided if it's going to make the picture public. But the pictures of the burial at sea from the USS Karl Vincent, those might be released today. A government official says the final decision has not been made.

The death of Osama bin Laden will likely have a significant impact on the war on terror. Earlier this morning, Zain Verjee spoke with former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice about one key battlefront. Zain joins us live from London. What did she say? ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we talked about Afghanistan and the fact that there is so much debate right now on whether there's going to be a lot more more pressure on President Obama to now pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan a lot faster than previously intended now that Osama bin Laden isn't there anymore. Mission accomplished.

I asked Condoleezza Rice this question. Listen to her response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: Should President Obama order U.S. troops out faster?

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: No. Look, we are making some progress in Afghanistan. We're about to send one of the best foreign service officers I've ever known, Ryan Crocker, to be the ambassador there. We can help the Afghans have strong security forces that can prevent the Taliban from being an existential threat. We can help them get more decent governance, and then the United States will have finished its job. I think we're very much on the road to doing that, and we can't afford to let Afghanistan return to its failed state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: She also had some pretty sharp words for Pakistan, Carol, essentially saying what everyone else is saying as well: how could Osama bin Laden have hidden in plain sight without key high- ranking officials in Pakistan even knowing? She said it raises a lot of serious questions for Pakistan, and they need to take a long, hard look at their own internal situation.

COSTELLO: Zain Verjee, live in London. Many thanks.

The Army Corps of Engineers has begun blowing up levees in a desperate attempt to save Cairo, Illinois. The plan is to divert floodwaters from the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers onto nearby farmland. Joining us by phone is Jim Pogue. He is the spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Welcome.

JIM POGUE, SPOKESMAN, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (on the phone): Good morning.

COSTELLO: So, is it working? You're blowing holes in the levees, right? How big are those holes?

POGUEE: Yes. This is all part of the plan that has been in place since the 1920s and was actually used once in 1937 successfully. The upper opening in the levee is two miles wide, and that's what we did last night. And that is allowing water to flow into this 130,000- acre floodway that was designed for this purpose.

We're in the process now of completing the preparations to open up two additional openings in the levee at the south end of the floodway; each of those will be about a mile wide. We expect to detonate those two later today. But the project is working as it was intended. In the first hour, the river levels dropped about a half foot, and as of 6:00 this morning, it was down a little bit more than a foot.

COSTELLO: The people of Cairo are pretty happy about this, but the people of Missouri certainly are not. They say that 130,000 acres is fertile farmland that if you flood that land there, you'll destroy the farmland.

POGUE: Well, that's -- that's what made the decision so difficult for General Walsh, the president of the Mississippi River Commission, who had that responsibility. He said it was a heart-wrenching decision. But the reality is the pressures on the flood risk management system, the system of levees and flood walls in this area was so great, and all of the criteria for operating the floodway had been met, and he really had no choice but to go ahead and order it be operated.

COSTELLO: Well, we hope it continues to work. Jim Pogue, from the Army Corps of Engineer, many thanks for joining us this morning.

Like the rest of us, celebrities have a lot to say about the demise of the world's most wanted terrorist. We'll talk live to "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: From the headlines to the big screen, Hollywood is already trying to figure out how the death of Osama bin Laden will play out in a theater near you. "Showbiz Tonight" host A.J. Hammer, live in New York. You're kidding?

A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, really, Carol, the Hollywood treatment of bin Laden's killing is inevitable because you really need to remember, there were already movies in the works about the search for the al Qaeda leader. The Oscar-winning director of "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow, she already working on a film which was tentatively titled "Killing Bin Laden." It was all about the search for bin Laden in the early days of the Afghanistan conflict. No word yet on exactly what they plan to do with that film at this point. But I assume they're going to advance the story.

And while the real story will undoubtedly get the big-screen treatment, I think this is a story line, a concept that we're going to see pop up in a lot of plot lines in forthcoming films and TV shows. And as a lot of people have noted, Carol, this whole thing plays out like an episode of "24." So, who knows? Maybe it will inspire the upcoming "24" film. What do you think, Carol? Jack Bauer versus bin Laden.

COSTELLO: It could work. I love anything Jack Bauer does, so it could work for me. What has the reaction been like in Hollywood to the news, anyway?

HAMMER: Hollywood's been reacting to the news like the rest of the country. Some relief, some excitement, and, yes, plenty of jokes as well. They were inevitable, too. Last night, we were at the Metropolitan Costume Ball in New York City, and we asked a few stars for their reaction. Now, Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas gave us a real thoughtful take, but some other stars, well, they were a little more glib. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FERGIE, SINGER: I think all of the New Yorkers who had found these in 9/11 are very happy that justice was served. And although for me, it's hard to praise the death of someone, I think that a lot of people have lost a lot of lives and a lot of family members in New York. and I just feel for that.

JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN: I think Obama, first of all, he got Osama bin Laden, and he cut off "Celebrity Apprentice" by 15 minutes. So, I think it's a win-win for Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Yes, the breaking news preempted the conclusion of "Celebrity Apprentice" on Sunday. So, while certainly not intentional, Carol, nobody would suggest that. Once again, Obama within the course of a few days managed to stump Trump.

COSTELLO: I couldn't help but notice Trump was right next to Fergie. Would have been interesting --

HAMMER: He's everywhere.

COSTELLO: Yes. I know. A.J., many thanks. We appreciate it. If you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J.'s got it tonight on "Showbiz Tonight," at 5:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 p.m. on HLN.

Time for sports. Starting with the NHL plaayoffs. Philadelphia's Danny Briere is a point per game guy in the playoffs. Taking the last shot, right in front, open net, and he misses. Puck goes right under his stick. So, the Flyers and the Boston Bruins go to overtime. In their second-round series, 14 minutes in, David Krejci takes the pass, he shoots! And you see he scores.

But does he? The Bruins raised their arms. But Breire (ph) goes on. Time is eventually called for areview. Watch this. The camera does not lie. Bruins score. They win, 3-2. And they're up 2-0 in the series.

The Oakland A's hosting the Texas Rangers. Bottom of the tenth inning, and Godzilla strikes. That's Hideki Matsui, starting slowly in his first season with the A's. But oh boy, does he get all of that. This is a walk-off homer, wouldn't you know it? Matsui's teammates come out to greet him as the A's win, 5-4.

One analyst says the raid - oh, now we're on to serious news -- one analyst says the raid that killed Osama bin Laden was the most historic in America's 235 years. Had it gone poorly, it could have been a disaster on many levels. But as you know, it was a huge success. And it could be the defining moment of Barack Obama's presidency. We'll take a closer look coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Remember the failed operation to rescue American hostages in Iran? It was a disaster that left eight American troops dead and probably sealed President Jimmy Carter's fate in the 1980 election. The raid to kill Osama bin Laden had a much different outcome, and right now at least, it could be the defining moment in Barack Obama's presidency. More now from CNN's Candy Crowley.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT(voice-over): Ten years and more than 7,000 miles from New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon, U.S. Navy SEALs raided a mansion complex in Abbottabad, Pakistan, delivering the moment.

OBAMA: After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

CROWLEY: It was breathtaking and the moment of Barack Obama's presidency so far. Criticized as naive and timid in foreign policy, President Obama was steely in the crunch, approving a risky U.S.-only mission inside a sovereign country. Imagine if it had all gone wrong. Instead, we're told it all went right.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: 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.

CROWLEY: This will help him politically because it helps Americans psychologically. Their moment is his and vice versa.

Jim Deloughery lost a brother-in-law and cousin on 9/11.

JIM DELOUGHERY, RELATIVE OF 9/11 VICTIM: It helps. It helps. But it's not going to bring him back. But it helps.

CROWLEY: Bob Lynch just got back from duty in Afghanistan.

BOB LYNCH, RECENTLY RETURNED FROM AFGHANISTAN: I was awestruck. I was relieved. This part -- this portion this that started so long ago is over.

CROWD: USA! USA!

CROWLEY: It was as though 10 years of grief, anger and frustration were given some relief, a moment that produced a rock concert atmosphere near Ground Zero in New York City, Pennsylvania, and outside the White House gates.

However heinous the person, there is something dystonic, uncomfortable about celebrating a death. It was a mixed moment for the mother of a fallen fireman.

SALLY REGENHARD, MOTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: 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.

CROWLEY: Osama bin Laden brought us to a place where we are told to report suspicious activities at airports, train stations, even malls. He sparked the global battle against the unknown and the unthinkable in a struggle with no boundaries, and for a decade, the U.S. has lived with two wars that defy the standard definition of victory.

So perhaps this is a celebration of clarity in a world where there is little. Our guys killed a bad guy.

Winston Churchill once said of a key battle victory, "Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Whatever it is or will become, this is a moment to take notice.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Can you remember a time when so many people were so happy, so euphoric, to hear about someone's violent death? So, is that OK in Osama bin Laden's case? We're going to take a closer look at that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Osama bin Laden's death. The news seemed to change the country's mood in an instant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: USA! USA! USA!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: It was an outbreak of national pride in places like Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, other places around the country. And some places, it was a party-like atmosphere, all over one man's violent death. And when it comes to Osama bin Laden, there's no such thing as too soon for the late-night comedians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": They were telling me that there's already been some trouble for Osama bin Laden in the afterlife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, is that so?

LETTERMAN: Apparently he was - it was a mix-up. It happens all the time, just a paperwork kind of deal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Uh-huh.

LETTERMAN: He was greeted by 72 vegans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!

(LAUGHTER)

JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON: The U.S. said that bin Laden was actually buried out at sea today. Man what a tough year for the ocean. Huh? First, BP pumps oil into it, then radiation seeps in from Japan. Now we're like, hey, do you mind? We're going to put Osama bin Laden in there.

(LAUGHTER)

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": To avoid ruffling turbans, the burial was done with adherence to Islamic custom. The body -

(EXPLOSION SOUND)

(LAUGHTER)

KIMMEL: was blown (ph) off a U.S. military ship, and Osama bin Laden got his first bath in almost ten years.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

COSTELLO: I know many of you were laughing. Jeff Gardere is a clinical psychologist. And Jeff, as you watched comedians joking about Osama bin Laden's death, you do laugh. And I guess the question for you is, should we be laughing over something so morbid?

JEFF GARDERE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: It is something that's very morbid. And there's a real dichotomy here in that this terrorist is evil is now ended, and for that, we should be happy. But to celebrate the death of anyone, someone who has been killed, I think goes against who we are as Americans but also who we are as a species.

So, yes, humor is good, we should laugh about some of these things. And I think it's actually even better than celebrating the death of bin Laden. But I think that we need to be careful about this and we need to be careful with our children with this.

COSTELLO: Speaking of children, a lot of the demonstrations, you know in Washington and in New York and Pennsylvania, young people gathered and were chanting "USA, USA," and that was where the rock party-like atmosphere came in. And these young people were children when 9/11 happened. So, why do you suppose that they feel the need for this sort of catharsis?

GARDERE: Well, it is a catharsis. And they, in many ways, have been affected by their parents who are horrified by what Osama bin Laden has done over the years. And I think it's very important that we look -- that this may be more of nationalism than anything else. This is about relief more than anything else because this person will no longer be alive to perpetrate evil and terrorism and injury and death. So, this is what, I think, we're seeing more than anything else versus the killing of another human being. At least that's what I hope that we're looking at and are more happy about.

COSTELLO: Because when you interview people who lost loved ones in 9/11, they're really conflicted about this. And I just wonder how they feel when they watch these kinds of celebrations where people are happy and smiling and laughing and joking.

GARDERE: Well, again, the celebration is appropriate because bin Laden has become more of a caricature than anything else, or personification of evil if you will. So, it's quite natural people would celebrate that.

But for people touched personally by this, by 9/11, who have lost family members, friends and so on, for them it's something where they are in touch with much deeper emotions. And so they understand that this does bring closure for them, but it doesn't bring that person that they lost. It doesn't bring them back, and if nothing else, it reopens those emotional wounds, and it's important that they discuss this with other loved ones, with other friends, with support groups. Because this is something that they still need to work through.

What I'm hearing from a lot of people, Carol, is that yes, they wanted to see bin Laden dead. But now that he's dead, they don't feel so satisfied. The reality is that he's gone and thank goodness for that, but now they have to deal with the raw emotions of the person who was killed, that loved one.

COSTELLO: Yes. They have to relive it all over again. Jeff Gardere, thank you so much for joining us this morning. Thanks, Jeff.

Right out to the White House now and Brianna Keilar because Brianna, you have information on the photos of bin Laden's body? Has there been a decision?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There hasn't been a decision, as we understand it, but at this point the White House is leaning towards releasing those photos. That is coming from a government official familiar with intelligence matters. And I should tell you that CNN's John King came by this information.

He's also reporting that a senior government official says they could be released today, Carol. If they are released, they would come out through the CIA. There are a number of photos, as you can imagine. The source is saying they are very graphic. But a number of photos to choose from to be released.

Now, that government official familiar with intelligence matters also saying right now that while the deliberations, people who are talking about whether to release this photo, while they are leaning towards releasing it, there isn't consensus. There is some hesitancy, and right now, they're trying to figure out what their final decision will be.

The official word from the White House, there is no decision. But it will ultimately be the White House's decision, Carol, if these photos are to be released. But again, one of these sources telling CNN's John King we could see a photo release today. COSTELLO: Interesting. We'll keep our eyes out. Brianna Keilar, thank you.

The Army blows up a levee to save a town in Illinois.

(VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Now farmland in Missouri at the mercy of the river. Coming up in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM, Drew Griffin will speak with a farmer about flooding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In our "Daily Dose," a California company is recalling grape tomatoes because they may be contaminated by salmonella. The tomatoes were used in dozens of different prepackaged salads sold by six store chains in 13 Western states. These salads have expiration dates of April 27th to May 9th. You can find more details online at fda.gov.

Taking a story -- take a look at stories making news later today. President Obama recognizes Maryland high school chemistry teacher Michelle Shearer as this year's teacher of year. The event being held in the White House Rose Garden at 11:25 Eastern.

Britain's Prince Charles is making a three-day visit to the States, his first since 2007. He's at the British ambassador's residence for a wounded warriors event at 6:15 Eastern.

And from the state capital in Montgomery, Alabama, Governor Robert Bentley talks tornado damage and his state's response. That speech coming at a joint session of the state legislature, 6:15 Central time.

Now it's time to throw it over to Drew Griffin, who is sitting in for Suzanne Malveaux. And I'll join you in just a couple of minutes to talk about Pakistan and whether the United States should maybe suspend aid going to Pakistan until many questions are answered about what went down in Pakistan.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's certainly the big question around the United States and on Capitol Hill today. And a lot of people are weighing in on that. We're also going to be having developing news on the photos released, perhaps, of Osama bin Laden, which we're developing.

Thanks, Carol. We'll see you in a little bit.