Victim speaks out about McDonald's slashing

  Matt Kozar, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The victim of a hate crime slashing in Greenwich Village is speaking out about what led to the attack.

24-year-old Jamar McLeod told Eyewitness News he was uncomfortable talking on-camera about what happened to him, how he was attacked, both verbally and physically.

But he and his girlfriend agreed their story was an important one to tell, how deep seeded hatred can be so dangerous.

His scars were caused by hate.

Doctors used stitches to close Jamar McLeod's wounds to his neck and elbow.

The gash on his face shows just how close his attacker came to cutting his neck.

"If it could have been a couple inches over, God forbid he could have hit my jugular vein and I could have been dead," McLeod said.

McLeod was slashed Wednesday night outside a McDonald's in Greenwich Village, one of the city's most tolerant neighborhoods.

He says it all started when a man hurled gay slurs at him and his girlfriend, Jaslisa Griffin, who is transgendered.

"He said sir, you're going to the wrong bathroom, the men's bathroom is over here," Griffin said.

Upset that Griffin was using the women's bathroom, the couple says the man taunted them inside the McDonald's and then followed them outside where they say the verbal assault escalated into a physical one.

"Out of nowhere he pulled out a straight razor," Griffin said.

"He sliced me in the back of the neck, and then when I backed up a bit, he sliced me on my face," McLeod said.

NYPD Hate Crimes is leading the investigation.

They say the suspect is a black male around 35 to 40 years old, about 5'10", and between 300 and 350 pounds.

While his weapon was sharp, McLeod says the man's words hurt just as much. "We're all human beings. It doesn't matter what sexuality what race, we're just human beings, so you should be able to respect the person for who he is," McLeod said.

This is the same McDonald's where a year ago an employee and a customer brawled behind the counter.

The owner has since added more security and cameras and has closed the upstairs portion at night.

---
Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »

new york city, manhattan, greenwich village, hate crime, stabbing, new york news

View the original article here

Unordinary Facts About President's Mom

Five Unordinary Facts About President Obama's Mother - ABC News BETA Home> Politics>OTUS NewsFive Unordinary Facts About President Obama's MotherBy AMY BINGHAM (@Amy_Bingham) May 12, 2012

Obama Presidential Campaign/AP Photo

This Mother's Day, as Sasha and Malia Obama present their mom with handmade gifts at the White House, the stark contrasts between President Obama's family now and his family as a child growing up in Hawaii could not be more apparent.

Whereas the president and the first lady have been married for 20 years, his mother and father were married for four. Throughout the first decade of his daughters' lives the family has lived in two cities, Chicago and Washington, D.C. By the time he was 10, Obama had lived in two countries.

While Obama has put down the strongest of roots, his mother opted for wings, never staying in one place, let alone one country, for long.

"I never imagined that an American president would have a mother who had done the things that she did," Janny Scott, who wrote a biography of Obama's mother, told The New York Times.

And in her biography, "A Singular Woman," Scott quoted the president. His mother had given him, he said, "a sense of unconditional love that was big enough that, with all the surface disturbances of our lives, it sustained me, entirely."

Here are five facts that make President Obama's mother no ordinary mom.

1. She lived in five states and three countries

Ann Dunham's family moved five times before Ann, or Stanley, as she was called in her childhood, turned 18, bouncing from Wichita, Kans., to California to Texas to Seattle and, finally, to Hawaii.

As an adult Dunham adopted her parents' knack for nomadism, splitting most of her adult life between Hawaii and Indonesia, and briefly taking up residence in Pakistan, where she helped establish a microfinance program for women.

Her son, on the other hand, took the opposite approach, putting down roots in Chicago and firmly planting himself and his family in the U.S.

"We've created stability for our kids in a way that my mom didn't do for us," Obama told Time magazine during his 2008 presidential campaign. "My choosing to put down roots in Chicago and marry a woman who is very rooted in one place probably indicates a desire for stability that maybe I was missing."

2. Her first name is actually Stanley

President Obama's mother's full name is Stanley Ann Dunham. Although she used her middle name for the majority of her adult life, Dunham went by Stanley throughout grade school, the name that her father, who wanted a son, gave her.

Over the course of Dunham's short life -- she died when she was in her early 50s -- she went by four different names. Growing up it was Stanley Dunham. In college she was Ann Dunham. During her first marriage, to Barack Obama's father, she was Ann Obama. And after her second marriage she was Ann Soetoro.

3. She was 18 when Barack Obama was born

President Obama's mother married his father at the ripe young age of 18, after the two met in a Russian-language class at the University of Hawaii. At the time, interracial marriage was illegal in most states.

Dunham was three months pregnant when the two tied the knot in a ceremony so discrete that her son never uncovered any records of the event, according to Scott's biography of Dunham, "A Singular Woman."

By the time Obama was a year old, his father, Barack Obama Sr., had moved from Hawaii to Massachusetts to get a masters degree from Harvard. By the time he was six, he had moved with his mother to Indonesia after she married Lolo Soetoro. The couple had a daughter, Maya Soetoro, before they divorced in 1980.

4. She was only five years older than Hillary Clinton

Born in 1942, as World War II was ravaging the world, Obama's mother was a mere five years older than Hillary Clinton, whom he would later defeat in a bitter Democratic primary during his race for the White House.

Dunham died a few weeks short of her 53rd birthday, of uterine and ovarian cancer, two years before her son was elected to the Illinois state senate.

5. She had a Ph.D. in anthropology

It may have taken her two decades and countless trips back-and-forth between Indonesia and the University of Hawaii to complete, but in 1992 Ann Dunham was awarded her Ph.D. in anthropology.

Her 1,000-page dissertation explored the indigenous craft of blacksmithing in Indonesia, a topic she had studied for more than 20 years. She died two years after completing it.

She had instilled in her son the importance of education, making him rise before the sun came up to do his homework. She would tell people that her son was gifted, "that he can do anything he ever wants in the world, even be president of the United States."

More from ABC News Five Facts About Mitt Romney's MomPresident Obama, Daughters Make 'Handmade' Mothers' Day GiftsNew Pro-Romney Super PAC Ad Uses Rosen Comments to Wish Happy Mom's Day Related Topics: Ann Dunham, Hillary Clinton, Mother's Day 2012, New York Times, White House, Barack Obama, Washington D.C., U.S., Ovarian Cancer, Indonesia Comment & ContributeDo you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News. View All Comments (60) View All Comments (60)   Watch Mornings on ABC Watch the Full Episode GMA 5/11: Emeril's Mother's Day... Robin Roberts RecommendsMother's 'Magnificent 7' Defy All OddsTim Tebow Shares Mother's Day Memories WATCH: Obama Discusses N.C. Marriage Ban ABC News on Facebook Follow Us External links are provided for reference purposes. ABC News is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. Copyright © 2012 ABC News Internet Ventures. Yahoo! - ABC News NetworkBack to top

Sections

NewsPoliticsInvestigativeHealthEntertainmentMoneyTechnologyTravelRecipesBehind the ScenesNews Topics

Shows

Good Morning AmericaWorld News with Diane SawyerNightlineThis Week with George Stephanopoulos20/20PrimetimeWhat Would You Do?ABC News NowABC.com

Tools

iPad AppMobileRegisterSign InFacebookTwitterBlogsEmails & News AlertsMessage BoardsRSS Headlines

About

Contact UsFeedbackAdvertisingPrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsTerms of UseABC News StoreSite MapSite IndexAuthors List function fbInit(){if(!window.fbLoaded || window.fbLoaded == undefined){FB.init({ appId : 'fa71b3ce3ced40d47a4850f185b245d9', channelUrl: 'http://a.abcnews.go.com/assets/static/perm_cache/channel.html', cookie: true, xfbml : true // parse XFBML});fbLoaded = true;}}

View the original article here

Eva Longoria talks about cheating and denies 'Desperate Housewives' feud

Eva Longoria is making media rounds for the upcoming series finale of "Desperate Housewives" on May 13 and the actress recently dished about how she dealt with being cheated on and an alleged feud between the "Desperate Housewives" cast.

In an interview on the Lifetime talk show "The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet," Longoria talked about recovering from infidelity.

Longoria does not mention her ex-husband, NBA player Tony Parker, by name during the episode but Longoria reportedly found hundreds of text messages from another woman on Parker's phone, who turned out to be the wife of one of the NBA player's teammates. The reports were never confirmed by Longoria, Parker or their spokespeople.

Longoria and Parker, who met in late 2004, wed in Europe in 2007. The couple's divorce was finalized in January 2011. The two had no children. This was Longoria's second marriage. She was married to actor Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004.

"I am so secure in who I am. I really am! And I'm not conceited. I just think, 'Wow, okay, that's the life you want to live,'" she told host Amanda de Cadenet. "It wasn't about who he chose. I mean, I had moments, 'Am I not sexy enough? Am I not pretty enough? Am I not smart enough?' But in so many of those questions, I immediately stopped and said, 'No, don't start doing that.'"

The interview aired on May 10 and Longoria explained after she confronted the person about why they cheated, "It was definitely not about me and 'the why' did say that."

"It didn't make me feel better but it helped me understand," she added.

Longoria also appeared on "The Late Show With David Letterman" on May 9 and the 37-year-old actress was asked about by Letterman if the "Desperate Housewives" cast gets along.

We all get along," Longoria said.

"I thought there were fights and stuff," Letterman asked.

"I know, everyone says that," Longoria added.

Letterman then asked, "Didn't one get fired?"

Longoria laughed and said, "Yes, I forgot about that one."

Letterman was referring to Nicollette Sheridan, who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit regarding her exit from the ABC show. A judge declared a mistrial in March and Sheridan was granted a retrial for the lawsuit, which is scheduled for September.

Sheridan had claimed that her character, Edie Britt, was killed off in retaliation for complaining about a confrontation with show creator Marc Cherry. She had demanded $6 million in damages for alleged battery and wrongful termination.

Longoria reportedly split from her boyfriend Eduardo Cruz in March. The "Desperate Housewives" actress had been romantically linked to Cruz, a 26-year-old singer and the younger brother of actress Penelope Cruz, since early 2011.

Check out Longoria's appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman" below.

(Copyright ©2012 OnTheRedCarpet.com. All Rights Reserved.)

View the original article here

Ben Flajnik explains why he chose to do 'The Bachelor': 'I thought long and hard about this decision'

After Ben Flajnik was rejected on national television by Ashley Hebert on the season finale of "The Bachelorette," Flajnik had to give a lot of thought about going through the process again as the bachelor.

"I thought long and hard about this decision and how it was going to shift and change my life," Flajnik told OnTheRedCarpet.com recently. "In the end I have my family and friends and support and the people that matter to me."

"They encouraged me to do it and I had such a great experience with the last one and really working with Chris and the producers and everyone," he added. "It is a big family and it's like coming into a big family and they make you feel very comfortable."

Flajnik was confirmed as the bachelor for season 16 in September. The 28-year-old winemaker from Sonoma, California had fallen for recent "Bachelorette" star Ashley Hebert and made it down to the final two. He proposed but she picked J.P Rosenbaum over him. They are now engaged. (Check out a recap and photos from the finale.)

Now Flajnik will take a chance on finding love through the reality show and have his pick of 25 women to find "the one." Meet the 25 contestants here and check out some sneak peek photos from the premiere.

"The Bachelor" host Chris Harrison said that because Flajnik was a little reluctant, he knew Flajnik was the right person to fill the bachelor spot for the show's 16th season.

"It would worry me if someone wasn't skeptical and wasn't worried about coming in. If we said, 'Hey do you wanna come in' and they said 'Of course I'd do it!' That's not the kind of person we're looking for," Harrison said. "This was a long process to get him to be the bachelor but I very much respect that and I very much worry about a man or a woman that didn't think twice about doing this."

Harrison also said that fan input is important to the show.

"One example of listening to fans is sitting right next to me. There's a reason he's the bachelor," Harrison said. "It's a delicate little waiting proposition where you gotta listen to the fans but at the same time they don't necessarily know exactly what great TV will be and so, you know, the fact that they did choose Ben and there are certain things they want more of, you try and appease them but at the same time you have to stick to your guns and you know what good television is."

The host also dished about one of the older contestants seen in the promotional ads for the show. "People should know we take his journey very serious and we would not take up an entire spot on the show as a gag or a bit," Harrison said. "And you should know while it seems sensational in the ad, the purpose behind it is romantic and very sweet ... and Ben does hook up with her."

Flajnik quipped, "Yeah, I'm into older women. I'm into much older women."

"The Bachelor" season 16 premieres on January 2 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Check out scenes from the upcoming season in the video below.

ABC is the parent company of OnTheRedCarpet.com.

Reporting by Cari Skillman of KABC Television, which produces the entertainment show "On The Red Carpet" (check for local TV listings).

(Copyright ©2012 OnTheRedCarpet.com. All Rights Reserved.)

View the original article here

All About Five Star New York Hotels

If You Think You Know About New York City, Then Read This

Amy Smart talks about '12 Dates of Christmas'

  Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Amy Smart spoke to 7online about starring in the new ABC Family original movie "12 Dates of Christmas".

Smart stars alongside Mark-Paul Gosselaar ("Franklin & Bash," "NYPD Blue"). She plays Kate, a young woman infatuated with Christmas and trying to find true love. She wants to win back her ex, but Miles (Gosselaar) is in her way. Her mother set her up with him on a blind date on Christmas Eve.

She gets to relive that day 12 times in order to not miss out on finding her real love! Smart says getting to kiss Gosselaar was a tiny perk of her job, but quickly stated that they are both happily married to other people.

In fact, Smart got married just this past November and says that like her character, she is looking forward to sharing Christmas traditions and starting her own with her husband.

Smart's character Kate goes on a shopping spree, gets a tattoo and alters her appearance drastically, while reliving Christmas Eve over and over. In addition to improving herself, she starts to help others and decides to make this Christmas Eve what she wants it to be. By letting go of her controlling ways and fear of being alone, Kate not only helps others find their happiness, but finds her own by finally trusting fate.

Don't miss "12 Dates of Christmas" on ABC Family Sunday, December 11 at 8 p.m.!

Amy Smart as Kate Stanton on ABC Family's "12 Dates of Christmas"
Amy Smart has emerged as one of Hollywood's brightest talents on both the silver screen and on television.

Amy is currently starring opposite Ryan Kwanten and Leslie Bibb in CBS Film's "Flight 7500", a thriller that is being directed by The Grudge helmer Takashi Shimizu. The focus is a group of passengers who encounter what appears to be a supernatural force while on a transpacific flight. She is also recurring on the John Wells series "Shameless" on Showtime opposite William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. She recently completed the ABC Family Christmas Movie "12 Dates of Christmas" in which she stars opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

In 2009, Amy reprised her role in "Crank 2: High Voltage," reteaming her with both Jason Statham and directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine. Previously she was in the horror film "Mirrors" opposite Kiefer Sutherland, directed by Alexandre Aja.

Amy has been in several high profile projects over her career such as New Line Cinema's romantic comedy, "Just Friends" opposite Ryan Reynolds, "The Butterfly Effect" opposite Ashton Kutcher and "Starsky & Hutch" opposite Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.

Additional film credits include Crank, Peaceful Warrior, Project Greenlight's Battle of Shaker Heights, Rat Race, Roadtrip, Outside Providence, Varsity Blues and Starship Troopers.

On the small screen, Smart previously starred in the John Wells' series, "Smith" on CBS opposite Ray Liotta, Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen. Amy's additional television roles include "Scrubs", "Felicity" and the NBC miniseries "The 70's."

Amy also participates in various non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Environmental Media Association.

She currently resides in Los Angeles.

For more information on "12 Dates of Christmas" please visit: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/12-dates

(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
Get more Entertainment »

movie, christmas, entertainment
// perform JavaScript after the document is scriptable.OTV.common.modules.promoCarousel.promoCarouselInit("/wabc/xml?id=5758260&ptnr=promoCarousel");

View the original article here

Steven Spielberg talks about War Horse

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Steven Spielberg's new movie "War Horse" doesn't open until Christmas Day.

The director is at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side Sunday night for the world premiere.

Eyewitness News entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon was on the red carpet and spoke with the legendary director.

---
Please visit Sandy Kenyon's blog for more entertainment news at wabc.typepad.com/whatsandysays

(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
Get more Entertainment »

entertainment, sandy kenyon
// perform JavaScript after the document is scriptable.OTV.common.modules.promoCarousel.promoCarouselInit("/wabc/xml?id=5758260&ptnr=promoCarousel");

View the original article here

Time to Think About a New York Vacation

Do you want to take a truly memorable vacation? Then it is time to think about a New York vacation which could be an exciting way to spend your free time this year. New York has so many fantastic sites and recreational activities that tourists will never forget the splendid time they had there! In fact, with only one visit to New York, tourists will find themselves longing to return again and again, and may even find themselves planning a vacation to New York each and every year!

What can an individual or family do while on a New York vacation? You will be pleasantly surprised. Beyond the vast landscapes and gorgeous scenic views that New York has to offer, one can find numerous sites of historical interest and a number of unbeatable recreational activities to engage in. Further, the accommodation in New York is nothing but the best and there is fine dining to be found too.

There are a number of incredibly attractive regions that can be visited in New York. These are but a few: The Adirondacks region, Saratoga, the Capital Region, the Catskills, the Central New York region, the Chautauqua Region, the Allegheny Region, the Finger Lakes, the Greater Niagara Region, the Hudson Valley, New York City, the Thousand Island Region, and the Seaway Region. All of these areas are chockfull of activities.

The types of accommodation that can be found are equally diverse. Local Bed & Breakfasts, cabins, cottages, campgrounds, condos, apartments, dude ranches, farms, hostels and hotels are all available for the weary New York traveler. Moreover, there is a type of affordable accommodation for every visitor to New York and many are located near the tourist hotspots of the state. There are many popular cities in New York for the tourist to choose from. In fact, Albany, Alexandria Bay, Buffalo, Cooperstown, Fire Island, Lake George, Lake Placid, Long Island City, Montauk, New York City, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Sag Harbor, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and Watkins Glen are among the most popular. These fine cities have some of the most famous attractions that tourists head for and you are bound to find suitable accommodation in or nearby these cities.

Finally, fine dining is definitively a feature of New York. Steak houses, bars, grills, and indoor and outdoor eating facilities are scattered throughout the state. In fact, after a day filled with touring, shopping and exploring, there is absolutely no end to the places that the tourist can find a find meal to appease their appetite.

In the end, visiting New York can indeed, be a once in a lifetime experience. Tourists can visit famous museums, art galleries, historical sites and more, all while they enjoy the vast scenery that the state of New York has to offer.

-------------------------------------------------------
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to New York Vacations
-------------------------------------------------------

9 Facts About New York You Must Know Before You Go There

I had the pleasure recently to go on a holiday trip to New York. And this is what I discovered. Everything about New York is complex. To fully appreciate the magnificent place, you must know a bit about New York. Here are the top nine little-known facts about New York which I think everyone planning to go there should know:

1. Everyone calls New York City the 'Big Apple'. But why? Where did it come from? The phrase was first popularized by a newspaper editor, John Fitzgerald, who titled his column: Around the Big Apple. He first heard the term, the 'Big Apple', being thrown around by Black stable boys which they used to describe New York City as place of monetary abundance and opportunity.

2. The state of New York has the most extensive and oldest transportation system in the whole of North America. New York City, itself, is home to more than 12,000 yellow cabs, 120,000 bicycles, a huge subway system, bus and railroad systems, large airports, massive bridges and tunnels, ferries, and a aerial commuter tramway (think of a oversized cable car).

3. New York hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. The US Ice Hockey team, consisting of collegiate and amateur players, was to be up against the favoured Soviet Union team, which had legendary players in world ice hockey. To put it in the words of the New York Times: "Unless the ice melts, or unless the United States team or another team performs a miracle...the Russians are expected to win the Olympic gold medal for the sixth time in the last seven tournaments." The US won and went on to win the gold medal. This victory was one of the greatest sporting moments in the twentieth century and was dubbed "Miracle on Ice".

4. New York State is best know for the urban landscape of New York City. However most of New York State is dominated by farmland, forests, rivers, mountains and lakes. Even in built-up New York City there are more than 12,000 acres of undeveloped natural land and 26,000 acres of parkland. Who would have thought that rivers, estuaries, beaches, saltwater marshes, forests, grasslands, sands dunes, ponds, and lakes could be found in New York City? Apart from the aesthetic appeal, these natural habitats have performed, and continue to perform, vital ecological services for the city including providing clean air and water, absorbing pollutants, lowering temperatures on summer days, and improving public health and welfare.

5. The Erie Canal was built in the nineteenth century and was an important step in creating the international trading center, New York City, that we know today. It was a marvel of its day and was often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Erie Canal was enlarged a number of times to keep up with increased trading. The 'final' achievement was a canal 12 to 14 feet deep, 120 to 200 feet wide, and 363 miles long. Today the Erie Canal is largely used for recreational purposes.

6. Who coined the name 'New York'? The land was first explored by an Italian, Giovanni da Verrazzano, who named it New Angouleme in honor of the French king Francois I. Then, the Dutch claimed the land and called it New Netherlands. Finally, the Duke of York from England bought Long Island and took possession of the rest of the land by the brute force of an army. The Duke of York called the land New York (what a surprise).

7. New York was the first state to employ license plates for automobiles. They first appeared in 1901, however the government did not issues the plates as they do today. In fact they required the owners to make their own plates. From 1901 to 1902 the plates had no numbers - all they had were the initials of the owner. It was only until 1910 when the state of New York began issuing license plates.

8. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been put up every year since 1931. The tradition began when construction workers of the Rockefeller Center decorated a small balsam fir tree with cranberries, paper, and tin cans. Nowadays, the Rockefeller Tree is usually a Norway Spruce which have a life span of 80 to 110 years and grows 1 foot a year. The dimensions of the tree must be a minimum of 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide to qualify for the Rockefeller Center. After the season is over, the tree is often mulched and donated to charities. One tree can yield almost 3 tonnes of mulch.

9. The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building from 1931 to 1972. It was surpassed by The World Trade Center which became the tallest building in New York. After the bombings, the Empire State Building was announced and now remains the tallest building in New York. Just as an aside, the tallest building in the world is the Sears building in Chicago. However this record is expected to be surpassed by the Burj Dubai which will be, once completed, about 1.5 times the height of Sears!

There you have it! The top nine facts about New York I discovered on my trip to New York. Everyone knows New York is a global leader in business, finance, fashion and the arts. However this is just the 'mask' of New York. By reading this article, you have taken your first step to appreciating this great city.

"I love NY". Share the love and find out more about New York at my blog:

http://factsaboutnewyork-kit.blogspot.com

Wary of security, Navy won't talk about bin Laden

Osama bin Laden was born into one of Saudi Arabia's most prosperous families, but he left home in search of revolution, found a path of fanaticism, inspired a murderous organization that terrorized the West, and ultimately became the most wanted man in the world. The most intense manhunt in history finally caught up with bin Laden, whose money and rageful preaching inspired the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which killed almost 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, and ripped a hole in America's sense of security in the world. Bin Laden, 54, was killed in an operation led by the United States on Sunday, May 1, 2011, touching off scenes of jubilation at the site of the World Trade Center, in Washington and elsewhere. A small team of Americans carried out the attack early Monday in Pakistan, and took custody of bin Laden's remains, which were quickly buried at sea. (ABCNews Photo)

  By JIM GOMEZABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON -- American servicemen aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, which buried Osama bin Laden's body at sea, basked in their history-making mission Sunday but refused to discuss the attack that killed him, reflecting concerns over possible retaliation.

U.S. defense officials are taking measures to ensure the security of the operatives involved in the May 2 assault on a walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, particularly the Navy SEAL team that killed the world's most-wanted terrorist.

The massive aircraft carrier dropped anchor under heavy guard at Manila Bay on Sunday at the start of a four-day routine port and goodwill visit. It's the first break for Carl Vinson's 5,500 sailors, pilots and crew after months of war in Iraq and Afghanistan that was capped by their support to the commando strike that killed bin Laden.

All those aboard the warship were ordered not to discuss operational details as they come into contact with the public for the first time since the covert strike, officials said.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, accompanied by senior members of his Cabinet and military chief of staff, were flown to the Carl Vinson on Saturday as it traveled in the South China Sea toward the Philippines, a key Asian anti-terrorism ally. Then a group of journalists were invited the next day.

Discussions about the slain al-Qaeda leader were taboo in both visits. American servicemen did not show any overt sign of celebration over their triumph.

Asked how he felt being a part of the history-making mission in Pakistan, Rear Admiral Samuel Perez, who headed the carrier strike force that included the nuclear-powered Carl Vinson, refused to be drawn in.

"You know I'm not going to comment on that," Perez told journalists aboard the 97,000-ton carrier, but added that "everyday that you're a sailor in the U.S. Navy, you're a part of history."

Filipino-American Navy Corpsman Liberty Raposas said morale was "very high" among her colleagues.

Perez said hundreds of servicemen and women who trace their roots to the Philippines welcomed Aquino, who was given a tour of the ship and an exhibition of fighter jets landing and taking off.

Aquino, at one point, sat in the cockpit of an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet in a hangar bay as sailors snapped pictures.

But the one thing on everybody's mind - bin Laden's burial from the Carl Vinson just 12 days earlier - was not raised by either side, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

"We did not ask for a briefing because it was too sensitive," Gazmin told The Associated Press on Sunday. "It was a friendly visit and we let it stay that way."

In impromptu remarks on the ship, Aquino reaffirmed the "historic, defense and cultural ties" between the United States and the Philippines, his spokesman, Ricky Carandang, said.

U.S. forces have been training and arming Filipino soldiers battling al-Qaeda-linked militants in the south.

The Carl Vinson came from the North Arabian Sea, where it had received the SEAL team that carried bin Laden's body after his death in his compound near a Pakistani military academy.

Pentagon officials have said that on the carrier, bin Laden's body was placed in a "weighted bag," an officer made religious remarks and the remains were put on a flat board and tipped into the sea.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that during a recent meeting with SEAL members who attacked bin Laden, they expressed concerns about their families' security.

American officials agreed shortly after bin Laden was killed not to release any details on the commando assault, Gates said, but added "that fell apart - the next day."

"We are looking at what measures can be taken to pump up the security," Gates said.

The U.S. Embassy said Carl Vinson's servicemen will take part in sports events and civic projects with Filipino counterparts.

Philippine police have stepped up security in the capital, where left-wing groups have threatened to stage anti-U.S. military protests and al-Qaeda-linked militants have previously staged bombings.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more U.S. & World News »

osama bin laden, barack obama, afghanistan, pakistan, u.s. & world news

View the original article here