Newspapers from around the world shared the same story on May 3 and that was the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the Sun had a headline of “Obama ‘Watched him Die’” with a slightly altered photo of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and various other government and military officials watching the operation in progress on a monitor.
The Sun’s article, heavy with graphics, detailed the events leading up to the capture of bin Laden. “Mr. Obama could not hide his relief when he realized the deadly reign of Bin Laden – codenamed Geronimo by US officials – was finally over,” the article said. “The breakthrough in the hunt for the evil warlord came after detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison camp were tortured, it was revealed last night.”
Asian Age in New Delhi, India, perhaps influenced by strained relations between India and Pakistan released a headline of “U.S. Kills Bin Laden in (You Knew It) Pakistan.”
Accompanying the headline was a photo of the $1 million compound where bin Laden had been residing. “The Al Qaeda chief had been living in the heavily fortified three-storied house on the Kakul road some 150 km from Islamabad for quite some time,” the story said. “His hideout was not as many believed, some where in the tribal regions but in Abbottabad, an hour’s drive from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.”
On the flip side, the Express Tribune in Karachi, Pakistan says the country is still dealing with the after effects of Bin Laden with the headline of “Even in death, Osama haunts Pakistan.” The paper indicated what Asian Age was alluding to; bin Laden had help in hiding out in Pakistan.
“John Brennan, President Barack Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser said during a White House briefing on Monday that it was ‘inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country to allow him to stay there for an extended period of time,” the Tribune reported.
The United Arab Emirates’ Gulf News headline was in concert with the positive relationship the country has shared with the West as “End of a Terrorist” adorned the front page of the paper. It was accompanied by a large photo of bin Laden and smaller photos of his compound, a map of the area where he was hiding and the Times Square celebration in the early morning hours of May 2.
“In a statement, Dr. Tareq Al Haidan, foreign minister’s assistant for political affairs, said: “Terrorism had a negative impact on the reputation and image of Islam and Muslims, apart from the killing of thousands of innocent people,” the paper reported.
The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia lead with “Vengeance at Last” and a large photo of bin Laden with facts from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. “2976 innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2001. In Iraq and Afghanistan 7000 coalition troops and some 100,000 civilians have since died. The wars combined have cost America $1.2 trillion and counting,” the Morning Herald said.