After a relentless decade-long hunt, the architect of the horrific 9/11 attack, Osama Bin Laden, was brought to justice and killed in his Pakistani lair on May 2, 2011, during the daring Operation Neptune Spear by U.S. forces.
U.S. Intelligence and Navy teams concocted an intricate plot to snare the notorious terrorist leader following extensive recon of his hideout.
With the covert raid scheduled for the next day, then-President Barack Obama and key players had to maintain their composure during a White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, feigning normalcy to avoid arousing suspicion.
Intriguing details have emerged in ‘s newly released three-part documentary series, “American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden,” which aired today (March 10). Former CIA Director Leon Panetta shed light on that tense evening.
Panetta disclosed: “We all had to go because if we didn’t, questions would be raised. It was difficult, I had tremendous respect for his ability (Barack Obama) to basically play the part of President of the United States.”
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Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US raid in 2011 (Image: Getty)
Amid the high stakes, Obama managed to elicit chuckles during his speech at the dinner by quipping: “What a week,” unbeknownst to attendees that a monumental moment was mere hours away.
Comedian Seth Meyers also took the stage, unknowingly making a badly timed joke about Bin Laden, saying: “People think Bin Laden is hiding in the Hindu Kush, but did you know that every day from 4 to 5, he hosts a show on CSPAN?”
The joke was met with roaring laughter, and Obama awkwardly chuckled it off despite the immense pressure he was under.
Leon commented on the joke: “Everybody laughed and we all kind of deep down thought, ‘If only you knew what I knew what was going to happen the next day, the most classified operation in the last 20 years.”
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Seth Meyers made an ill-timed joke about Bin Laden (Image: 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.)
The US Navy SEALs who were tasked with the mission bid farewell to their families as there was a risk of losing their lives during the raid.
However, fortunately, the raid was executed successfully, and Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill shot Bin Laden dead, and his body was buried at sea, following Islamic traditions.
Obama made a live television appearance to inform the world that the decade-long manhunt had ended and the mastermind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks had been captured and killed.
American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden is now streaming on