commitment to see that justice is done. the world is safer. it is a better place because of the death of osama bin laden. reporter: the operation began over seven months ago. august, 2010, president obama is briefed about a rare lead after a bin laden courier is traced to a massive secure compound in pakistan. mid-february, 2011, after months of surveillance, u.s. officials conclude there s a strong likelihood bin laden is living at the compound. the president orders operational plans to capture or kill him. march and april, the president chairs a series of meetings with his national security team to finalize the plan. and this past friday, 8:20 a.m., minutes before leaving for alabama to survey tornado damage, the president orders the operation to proceed. the day arrives sunday, may 1. 10:06 a.m. the president goes golfing at a military base in maryland as he waits for the mission to begin. he plays only nine holes returning to the white house at 2:11 p.m. at 3:32, he ent
reporter: katie, this operation has been in the planning stages for more than eight months and president obama was deeply involved every step of the way. our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. the world is safer. it is a better place because of the death of osama bin laden. reporter: the operation began over seven months ago. august, 2010, president obama is briefed about a rare lead after a bin laden courier is traced to a massive secure compound in pakistan. mid-february, the 2011, after months of surveillance, u.s. officials conclude there s a strong likelihood bin laden is living at the compound. the president orders operational plans to capture or kill him. march and april, the president chairs a series of meetings with his national security team to finalize the plan. and this past friday, 8:20 a.m., minutes before leaving for alabama to survey tornado damage, the president orders the operation to proceed. the day arrives sunday, may 1. 10