Al Jazeera Spins the World's Reaction to Bin Laden's Death

Al Jazeera News, whose reporters are cozy enough with MSNBC to be called 'friends' (heard on Monday morning) has posted a summary of reactions to the news of Bin Laden's death. Most of these are predictable.

First up, Barack Obama - US president

Today, at my direction, the United States carried out that operation... they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date against al-Qaeda.

Tonight, we give thanks to the counter intelligence officials who have tirelessly worked, we give thanks to the men who carried out this operation.

Finally, let me say to the families, we have not forgotten your loss, today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country.

Tonight we are once again reminded that American can do whatever we set our mind to ... we can do these things not because of wealth and power but because of who we are.

Interesting choices of what to include and what to omit. There was no mention of the thousands of lives taken by the murderous actions of Bin Laden and his followers. And that last statement selected basically says that America is rich and powerful, doesn't it?

That was followed by a comment from Pakistan's Foreign Office

The death of bin Laden is a "major setback to terrorist organisations around the world".

"This operation was conducted by the US Forces in accordance with declared US policy that Osama bin Laden will be eliminated in a direct action by the US forces, wherever found in the world."

That one sounds a bit like the refrain from the song, 'It Wasn't Me.'

Just next door to Pakistan... Afghanistan. Here is the reaction from Hamid Karzai - Afghan president

The killing of bin Laden is very "important news".

OK, that's possibly the understatement of the day...

The Taliban must learn a lesson from this. The Taliban should refrain from fighting.

And this line sounds like something you tell to children. Is this a 'teachable moment?'

Of course the folks at Hamas issued a statement. Ismail Haniyeh - head of Hamas in the Gaza strip

We condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We ask God to offer him

mercy with the true believers and the martyrs.

We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.

Just a reminder, this was all posted by Al Jazeera, the news outlet that has a friend in MSNBC's Joe Scarborough.

The rest of the edited reactions are posted here.