Osama bin Laden: code for body was 'Fedex package'
Osama bin Laden's burial at sea was confirmed by a senior US sailor with the coded message "FedEx delivered the package", newly published documents have disclosed.
President Barack Obama in the Situation
Room of the White House watches the mission to catch Osama bin Laden
(right) on May 1, 2011. Photo: Reuters
Emails released by Barack
Obama's administration gave a glimpse of the scene in May last year,
when a US aircraft carrier secretly disposed of the al-Qaeda
chief's body in the Arabian Sea.
Only a handful of officials aboard the USS Carl Vinson witnessed the burial,
according to the memos. It was carried out in line with Islamic tradition
and kept secret from most of the ship's sailors.
Bin Laden was transferred to the carrier after being killed in a raid by US
Navy SEALs on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on the night of May 1,
and having his identity confirmed by US officials.
His arrival by helicopter was confirmed by Rear Adm. Samuel Perez, the
commander of the Vinson's carrier strike group, in an email to Rear Adm.
Charles Gaouette, the Vinson's public affairs officer.
Asked by Rear Adm. Gaouette for "any news on the package for us",
Rear Adm. Perez replied: "FedEx delivered the package. Both trucks are
safely en route home base."
The emails were released after freedom of information requests by The
Associated Press. They were heavily redacted by the Obama administration,
which declined to release photographs or video.
The Pentagon also said it "could not find" any autopsy report, results of DNA identification testing or death certificate for bin Laden.
Another email sent by Rear Adm. Gaouette to senior military officials described the 50-minute ceremony, which was carried out at about noon local time – 7am in London – on May 2.
"Traditional procedure for Islamic burial was followed," he wrote. "The deceased's body was washed (ablution) then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag.
"A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker. After the words were complete, the body was placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased's body slid into the sea."
The Pentagon also said it "could not find" any autopsy report, results of DNA identification testing or death certificate for bin Laden.
Another email sent by Rear Adm. Gaouette to senior military officials described the 50-minute ceremony, which was carried out at about noon local time – 7am in London – on May 2.
"Traditional procedure for Islamic burial was followed," he wrote. "The deceased's body was washed (ablution) then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag.
"A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker. After the words were complete, the body was placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased's body slid into the sea."
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