OBAMA CONFIRMS BIN LADEN DEATH – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:  President Obama delivered an effective and disciplined speech a few minutes ago confirming that an American team operating in Pakistan killed Osama bin Laden today.  (Or, as some in the president's base might put it, Osama bin Laden's civil liberties were seriously violated by culturally insensitive members of America's industrial-military complex.  Demonstrations tomorrow.)

The president's speech did not go into much detail.   There was only one curious statement – that there was a firefight, and that bin Laden was killed after the firefight.  We'll want to know more about the timeline. 

Americans are understandably rejoicing at the news that the mastermind of 9-11 is now dead.  Obama made only one reference to President Bush in his statement – recalling Bush's admonition after the 9-11 attacks that we were not at war with Islam.  In my view Mr. Obama should have shared credit with Mr. Bush, but that has never been his style.

It is too soon to make any accurate assessment of the political implications of this major news.  The election is a year and a half away, but this won't hurt Obama's national-security credentials.  You may be sure that his handlers will bill him as the man who got bin Laden.

More in the morning.

May 1, 2011