Lone Courier Led The U.S. To Bin Laden's Hiding Place
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- The U.S. was able to take down one of the world's most wanted terrorists, Osama bin Laden .
The CIA will brief lawmakers on how it all happened, but new details of the capture have already leaked out.
Andrea Fujii reports the Navy SEALS' operation was one of the most covert in U.S. history.
In the end, President Barack Obama got confirmation that bin Laden was dead with just one word "Geronimo."
The president is receiving praise from both Republicans and Democrats on bin Laden's death.
It took nearly 10 years, but in the end bin Laden was hiding in plain sight.
The president watched the military operation unfold in real time, with his closest advisers huddled around him in the Situation Room.
A lone courier apparently led U.S. forces to bin Laden's hiding place in the million dollar Pakistani home.
"What we see in this compound is different from anything that we've ever seen before," said John Brennan, White House adviser.
Officials tracked the courier's cell phone, but he didn't make it easy. He would turn it off and remove the battery every time he got near the complex.
Eventually, officials zeroed in on the location and bin Laden was shot twice in the head.
"I want to again recognize the heroes who carried out this incredibly dangerous mission, as well as all the military and counterterrorism professionals who made the mission possible," said Obama.
After the mission, bin Laden's body was buried at sea, consistent with Islamic tradition.
His identity has been confirmed with DNA matching.
"There will be mounting pressure to release more proof since there is no body," said Juan Zarate, CBS news security analyst.
Still, experts say the fight against terror isn't over.
"It was important to get bin Laden, it will have an effect. It is not the time to spike the football and do one of those celebratory dances in the end zone. This war is still on," said General Michael Hayden, former CIA director.
Officials say they discovered a significant amount of data inside the compound. Intelligence officials are now digging through those documents, looking for any new information.
Photos were taken of bin Laden's body before it was buried at sea. The Obama administration is still deciding whether or not to release those photos to the public.
Click here for a slideshow of how the world reacted to news that Osama bin Laden had been killed.
