Osama Bin Laden has been killed

[Player 0]

One thing I find more disturbing than other details is the fact that most spend their time criticizing Pakistani Intelligence for this foul up, but ignore the fact that western intelligence agencies didn't catch on either. With the vast coalition of allied nations who were dedicated from the beginning of the war on terror to hunting down and punishing Osama Bin Laden, how is it none of them caught onto this.

Otherwise I don't see this as valuable in real strategic terms, only as political capital for Obama to hoist reelection campaigns, Al Qaeda will probably have set up a number of contingency plans in the event that this happened, wiring Osama's assets away and having a whole line of worthy successors to take his place if need be.

 

[bluewater2012]

Wow. There were rumors years ago that he was dead or killed. Now the news of his death just come in time for the 911 10th anniversary. What coincidence good timing but with no picture to verify his death or tell when was his actual death. Really suspicious of this latest political move.

Edit: i know a lot of people overjoyed with the death of bin laden, but for some across the globe let me say that back in 2001 the U.S. was very hostile towards china with the 1999 belgrade embassy bombing making china look weak and then the e-spy plane downed on hainan island then followed by the attacks of 911. In a way osama bin laden helped china and the u.s. eased tensions and return normal relations druing the time for the world to cooperate in fighting terrorism. I just want to pointnthat out.

 

[Quickie]

Why is it that U.S. fighting assets always have mechanical failures at the scene of action? The most recent one in Libya, and now, in the thick of action. You get the hint that things were not reported as it is.

 

[Quickie]

Wow. There were rumors years ago that he was dead or killed. Now the news of his death just come in time for the 911 10th anniversary. What coincidence good timing but with no picture to verify his death or tell when was his actual death. Really suspicious of this latest political move.

Edit: i know a lot of people overjoyed with the death of bin laden, but for some across the globe let me say that back in 2001 the U.S. was very hostile towards china with the 1999 belgrade embassy bombing making china look weak and then the e-spy plane downed on hainan island then followed by the attacks of 911. In a way osama bin laden helped china and the u.s. eased tensions and return normal relations druing the time for the world to cooperate in fighting terrorism. I just want to pointnthat out.

I agree. If 911 didn't happen, I wonder how China will react to the tension and what sort of geopolitical landscape would come into being. It could be worse than how the events have actually turned out.

 

[bladerunner]

I dont think OBL death will affect the functionality of AQ. After all AQ was more like a franchise operation like MacDonalds withOBL adopting a hands off approach.

However as some commentators point out, its interesting they did not try to capture him and put him on trial.Perhaps it would have been too embarassing with his past connections with the West.

 

[bladerunner]

Seems like he's already buried at sea... and still no pictures of his body have come out... To be sure, I want to see pictures of his corpse to verify he's dead!

Heres a reputed photo of the corpse. It sorta looks like him

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[bd popeye]

Why is it that U.S. fighting assets always have mechanical failures at the scene of action? The most recent one in Libya, and now, in the thick of action. You get the hint that things were not reported as it is.

I don't think so. The helo malfunction may have been due to FOD. Rocks and sand flying about sucked up in the engine..Or perhaps something hit a rotorblade. I'm sure no LZ was completely cleared before the landing. My shipmates the US Navy SEALS destroyed the helo before they left the scene.

Bravo Zulu a job well done.

 

[Quickie]

I dont think OBL death will affect the functionality of AQ. After all AQ was more like a franchise operation like MacDonalds withOBL adopting a hands off approach.

However as some commentators point out, its interesting they did not try to capture him and put him on trial.Perhaps it would have been too embarassing with his past connections with the West.

It's much less riskier to terminate someone than to capture him or her alive. You have a better chance of saving yourself if you immediately react with your entire firepower at the first sign of resistance.

 

[SampanViking]

The Daily Mail picture looks like its been taken on the kind of shaky, low res and out of focus camera usually owned by UFO and Loch Ness Monster Enthusiasts.

 

[bladerunner]

It's much less riskier to terminate someone than to capture him or her alive. You have a better chance of saving yourself if you immediately react with your entire firepower at the first sign of resistance.

Thats true, but the reports say he was killed with a shot to the head. The type of situation that I think you are describing, should have resulted in him being riddled with bullets.