News Osama Bin Laden killed by US in Pakistan

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mech_Engineer
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bin
Click For Summary
Osama bin Laden has been confirmed dead, reportedly killed by a U.S. bomb during a military operation in Pakistan, with President Obama set to address the nation. The operation marks a significant moment nearly a decade after the September 11 attacks, which initiated the hunt for the Al Qaeda leader. While some believe his death may weaken terrorist operations in the region, others argue it is primarily a political victory for Obama with limited long-term impact. Concerns have been raised about the quick burial at sea, with calls for transparency regarding the identity confirmation process. Overall, bin Laden's death is seen as a major milestone, but the implications for global terrorism remain uncertain.
  • #241
turbo-1 said:
Dropping a 2000# bomb on the compound would not have been too smart.

But if they had missed the compound and wiped out the nearby military academy instead, they could always have claimed it was an attack by Al Quaeda.

My suspicion is that the US has been wasting its time chasing an irrelevance for the last few years. Why? Count the number of protest demonstrations sweeping across the Islamic world. There was a statement from Hamas ... and that's about it.

What does everybody apart from Hamas know, that the USA doesn't? Possibly, who is REALLY running Islamic terrorism right now?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #242
AlephZero said:
But if they had missed the compound and wiped out the nearby military academy instead, they could always have claimed it was an attack by Al Quaeda.

Pakistan is quite weak nation. US carried out a ground operation in a sovereign country without informing it and best response Pakistan came up with was it is ashamed that it was unaware of Osama's location.

What does everybody apart from Hamas know, that the USA doesn't? Possibly, who is REALLY running Islamic terrorism right now?

There is no centralized agency behind the terrorism.
 
Last edited:
  • #243
I have to say, I'm not very impressed in the quality of the operation. If they truly did meet no armed resistance, and Bin Laden was unarmed and in bed when they killed him, why didn't they get him alive? Surely he would be worth more alive than dead right. I wonder what instructions they received? Who's orders/instruction, or lack of, lead to such a mistake?
 
  • #244
jreelawg said:
If they truly did meet no armed resistance, and Bin Laden was unarmed and in bed when they killed him
Wait, did I miss this?
 
  • #245
jreelawg said:
I have to say, I'm not very impressed in the quality of the operation. If they truly did meet no armed resistance, and Bin Laden was unarmed and in bed when they killed him, why didn't they get him alive? Surely he would be worth more alive than dead right. I wonder what instructions they received? Who's orders/instruction, or lack of, lead to such a mistake?

Except for the loss of a helicopter the operation went off exactly as planned. The Navy Seals mission did not include negotiating a surrender.
 
  • #246
jreelawg said:
I have to say, I'm not very impressed in the quality of the operation.

Wow, tough crowd!
 
  • #247
JaredJames said:
:smile:

I just got a picture in my head of Michael Jackson 'doing the walk' with an AK47 on guard duty.

Michael was a man of PEACE! :!) ... Unless he wasn't in the mood. :shy:
 
  • #248
I heard on the Dennis Miller show today that there is a new drink now called the Bin Laden Martini.

It's made with two shots and a splash.

*rimshot*
 
  • #249
AlephZero said:
But if they had missed the compound and wiped out the nearby military academy instead, they could always have claimed it was an attack by Al Quaeda.

My suspicion is that the US has been wasting its time chasing an irrelevance for the last few years. Why? Count the number of protest demonstrations sweeping across the Islamic world. There was a statement from Hamas ... and that's about it.

What does everybody apart from Hamas know, that the USA doesn't? Possibly, who is REALLY running Islamic terrorism right now?

Well, you could either believe this theory of a puppet-master behind terrorism that the entire Islamic world knows about but we, somehow, don't (you think with a BILLION people belonging to Islam, we might not figure it out?)... or you can believe that maybe, just maybe, most Muslims didn't support Osama bin Laden.
 
  • #250
Char. Limit said:
Well, you could either believe this theory of a puppet-master behind terrorism that the entire Islamic world knows about but we, somehow, don't (you think with a BILLION people belonging to Islam, we might not figure it out?)... or you can believe that maybe, just maybe, most Muslims didn't support Osama bin Laden.

I don't believe all Muslims support Bin Laden, particularly in the US, but it's not hard to believe that many if not most Muslims outside of our country like the fact that he was responsible for hurting the big bad USA. This is evident to me by the lack of outrage and the celebratory response after 9/11 in the ME.
 
  • #251
drankin said:
I don't believe all Muslims support Bin Laden, particularly in the US, but it's not hard to believe that many if not most Muslims outside of our country like the fact that he was responsible for hurting the big bad USA. This is evident to me by the lack of outrage and the celebratory response after 9/11 in the ME.

I loved the Historian View in this article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13259869

Although Bin Laden prided himself on his strategic genius, and did undoubtedly succeed in inspiring many angry young Muslims to heed him, in reality the US deposition of the Afghan Taliban government was a disaster for him and his organisation, forcing them to rely on affiliated actors whose priorities were often more local than al-Qaeda's.

More important is the question whether in a few years Bin Laden sinks into relative obscurity among young Muslims around the world - apparently his visage disappeared from T-shirts in Pakistan and Palestine long ago.

I have always believed that youth and illiteracy are a poison to this world.
 
  • #252
jreelawg said:
It was really stupid to dispose of the body the way they did. A lot of people are going to be skeptical it really happened. All we have left now to prove we got him, is the prospect of a photograph being released. And in my opinion they really ought to release the photography.

So far I have heard- That they wanted to dump the body in the Sea to give Osama a dignified muslim burial while preventing a shrine from forming. Are you serious?!
Why not? Anyone who thinks we faked killing him wouldn't be swayed by a claim that we still have his dead body, anyway. Were we supposed to embalm it and display it for inspection?

What possible reason would we have to violate muslim burial tradition by keeping the body?
 
  • #253
Al68 said:
Why not? Anyone who thinks we faked killing him wouldn't be swayed by a claim that we still have his dead body, anyway. Were we supposed to embalm it and display it for inspection?

What possible reason would we have to violate muslim burial tradition by keeping the body?

Since when do we give terrorists and mass murderers proper traditional burials. I just think that they should have held onto the body at least until after they announced he was dead.

I mean come on, were celebrating his death in the streets. It just sounds like BS that we would be concerned about giving a mass murderer a dignified and proper burial. What does he need one for anyways? What do we want to make sure he can go to muslim heaven?

I don't know it just seams ridiculous. On the other hand, maybe there is some kind of classiness in doing it like this? To me it's like throwing flowers on hitlers grave.
 
  • #254
jreelawg said:
Since when do we give terrorists and mass murderers proper traditional burials. I just think that they should have held onto the body at least until after they announced he was dead.

I mean come on, were celebrating his death in the streets. It just sounds like BS that we would be concerned about giving a mass murderer a dignified and proper burial. What does he need one for anyways? What do we want to make sure he can go to muslim heaven?

I don't know it just seams ridiculous. On the other hand, maybe there is some kind of classiness in doing it like this? To me it's like throwing flowers on hitlers grave.

Obama doesn't want to piss off those of Islamic faith. It was a strictly political decision I'm sure.
 
  • #255
jreelawg said:
Since when do we give terrorists and mass murderers proper traditional burials. I just think that they should have held onto the body at least until after they announced he was dead.

I mean come on, were celebrating his death in the streets. It just sounds like BS that we would be concerned about giving a mass murderer a dignified and proper burial. What does he need one for anyways? What do we want to make sure he can go to muslim heaven?

I don't know it just seams ridiculous. On the other hand, maybe there is some kind of classiness in doing it like this? To me it's like throwing flowers on hitlers grave.

Some jackhole burnt a Koran and seven UN contractors (along with however many Afghan civilians) ended up dead in the ensuing riots. Why make a mountain out of a molehill, or a martyr out of a corpse?

I don't believe the US has ever desecrated the remains / graves of its enemies or criminals (even the ones it executes--e.g. Timothy McVeigh). Why start now? What matters is that he's dead--why give him power beyond the grave?
 
  • #256
5680724572_d4696d593d.jpg


President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

To have been in that room...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/5680724572/sizes/o/in/set-72157626507626189/

Who's the cutie in the back? :biggrin:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #257
Pengwuino said:
Who's the cutie in the back? :biggrin:

Things you can think about after the fact? :rolleyes::wink: Apparently, you're not the only one asking:
http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/politics/audrey-tomason-situation-room-mystery-woman-1687402.story
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #258
MATLABdude said:
Things you can think about after the fact? :rolleyes::wink: Apparently, you're not the only one asking:
http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/politics/audrey-tomason-situation-room-mystery-woman-1687402.story

Yah I've been looking around and she's like a ghost!

If I were part of the White House, I would have all the pics photoshopped and have her removed and be like "Audrey who? What woman? We don't know what you're talking about. Stop asking questions or you're next".
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #259
MATLABdude said:
Some jackhole burnt a Koran and seven UN contractors (along with however many Afghan civilians) ended up dead in the ensuing riots. Why make a mountain out of a molehill, or a martyr out of a corpse?

I don't believe the US has ever desecrated the remains / graves of its enemies or criminals (even the ones it executes--e.g. Timothy McVeigh). Why start now? What matters is that he's dead--why give him power beyond the grave?

IMO - there's no reason to release any additional details. The most wanted man in the world resisted and was shot. He died and was buried at sea - NEXT!

Every additional statement will fuel speculation - IMO.
 
  • #260
DaveC426913 said:
Wait, did I miss this?

According to today's papers, the White House has confirmed he was unarmed.

His wife rushed a soldier and got shot in the leg.

He didn't use anyone as a shield.
 
  • #261
Does anyone know what the operation code name was? A lot of places are reporting that it was Geronimo but, the evening news last night stated a different name for the operation and that Geronimo only referred to bin Laden. I can't remember what it was or find anything other than Geronimo.
 
  • #262
JaredJames said:
According to today's papers, the White House has confirmed he was unarmed.

His wife rushed a soldier and got shot in the leg.

He didn't use anyone as a shield.

How do you know he didn't run into the bedroom to hide? How do you know he didn't train his "wife" to act in this manner? Again, any additional statements from the White House will result in speculation.
 
  • #263
From the Chive:

[PLAIN]http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/2696/savethese1.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #264
WhoWee said:
How do you know he didn't run into the bedroom to hide? How do you know he didn't train his "wife" to act in this manner? Again, any additional statements from the White House will result in speculation.

If you start with the assumption that everyone is lying, you get nowhere fast.

Why go halfway? Why not assume the soldiers chased down and shot his puppy too?
 
  • #265
DaveC426913 said:
If you start with the assumption that everyone is lying, you get nowhere fast.

Why go halfway? Why not assume the soldiers chased down and shot his puppy too?

Let's clarify - please!

I first posted this: (my words in bold)
"WhoWee Re: Osama Bin Laden killed by US in Pakistan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by MATLABdude
Some jackhole burnt a Koran and seven UN contractors (along with however many Afghan civilians) ended up dead in the ensuing riots. Why make a mountain out of a molehill, or a martyr out of a corpse?

I don't believe the US has ever desecrated the remains / graves of its enemies or criminals (even the ones it executes--e.g. Timothy McVeigh). Why start now? What matters is that he's dead--why give him power beyond the grave?

IMO - there's no reason to release any additional details. The most wanted man in the world resisted and was shot. He died and was buried at sea - NEXT!

Every additional statement will fuel speculation - IMO.
"


Then I posted this: (my words in bold)
"WhoWee Re: Osama Bin Laden killed by US in Pakistan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by JaredJames
According to today's papers, the White House has confirmed he was unarmed.

His wife rushed a soldier and got shot in the leg.

He didn't use anyone as a shield.

How do you know he didn't run into the bedroom to hide? How do you know he didn't train his "wife" to act in this manner? Again, any additional statements from the White House will result in speculation. "


We need to stop second-guessing the original story and move on. I'm not questioning the President or the military. The bad guy is dead - no explanation required (IMO) - NEXT!
 
  • #266
An al-Qaida member on the Saudi most-wanted list has turned himself in.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_saudi_al_qaida;_ylt=AqiphA_m5wy31riNk0ap.FSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNjMWYwOGpwBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNTA0L3VzX2Jpbl9sYWRlbgRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzcEcHQDaG9tZV9jb2tlBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA3NhdWRpcG9saWNlYQ--
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #267
WhoWee said:
How do you know he didn't run into the bedroom to hide? How do you know he didn't train his "wife" to act in this manner? Again, any additional statements from the White House will result in speculation.

I was only answering DaveC regarding his question as to where the new info came from. Dave asked where, I answered there. That's all. No need for debate, none required.

In fact, the only one coming close to "second-guessing the original story" is you in your response to my answer. If you don't want it, why bring it up in this manner? No one else was.
 
  • #268
JaredJames said:
I was only answering DaveC regarding his question as to where the new info came from. Dave asked where, I answered there. That's all. No need for debate, none required.

In fact, the only one coming close to "second-guessing the original story" is you in your response to my answer. If you don't want it, why bring it up in this manner? No one else was.

Yet you found it necessary to comment that "He didn't use anyone as a shield"?

BTW - you forgot to support your comment with a link to the story you cited? I agree - no debate required.
 
  • #269
WhoWee said:
Yet you found it necessary to comment that "He didn't use anyone as a shield"?

I'm writing what's in the newspaper in front of me. "Reports the alqaeda chief used a human shield were dismissed by the whitehouse".

That's all I commented on, the new info coming out and where it came from in response to the question.
BTW - you forgot to support your comment with a link to the story you cited?

Yes, here's the link: www.jareds-lap.com/dailymirror/"hewasunarmedduringshootout"

For those of you wondering, "he was unarmed during shootout" is the name of the story.

I'm sure you can find it on their website or any other news agency. If you really insist, I'll take a picture of it and post it here.

Ridiculous isn't it? Well, like I said, just answering the question of what and where, not putting it in for debate or to stand up to any scrutiny, nor was it meant to stand up here as some form of citation.
 
  • #270
JaredJames said:
I'm writing what's in the newspaper in front of me. "Reports the alqaeda chief used a human shield were dismissed by the whitehouse".

That's all I commented on, the new info coming out and where it came from in response to the question.


Yes, here's the link: www.jareds-lap.com/dailymirror/"hewasunarmedduringshootout"

For those of you wondering, "he was unarmed during shootout" is the name of the story.

I'm sure you can find it on their website or any other news agency. If you really insist, I'll take a picture of it and post it here.

Ridiculous isn't it? Well, like I said, just answering the question of what and where, not putting it in for debate or to stand up to any scrutiny, nor was it meant to stand up here as some form of citation.

I heard about the "human shield" initially as well. I wonder where that really came from. I doubt anyone was grabbing nearby women and using them as shields. You only see that in crappy movies.

Personally, I don't care if he was armed or not. They may have just told him to get down and he refused. Reason enough to end it right there to me. You don't send a SEAL team into arrest people. They either extract or kill their targets.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
7K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
6K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
6K
  • · Replies 52 ·
2
Replies
52
Views
6K
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K