Beloved character actor Osama bin Laden, star of TV's "Fox News", dies age 54

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Has it been explained why this was a kill mission as opposed to capture? And why would they dump his body in the sea? This is odd.

All reports I've seen have said that the operation was in the works for a while. Training exercises were apparently conducted by the SEALS as a kill exercise, not capture.

People are kidding themselves if they thought that Osama bin Laden would ever be taken alive.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Has it been explained why this was a kill mission as opposed to capture? And why would they dump his body in the sea? This is odd.

Speculation on my part, but I suspect the mission was to take him alive if possible, but kill him if not. Since preliminary reports indicate there was a gunfight with Osama himself returning fire, I'm guessing the special forces team couldn't capture him alive.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Well I have morals and I value sovereignty.

You're right that it is not conventional warfare...

Not sure why people think it's okay to just bomb any country that they have not declared war on, to get a few bad guys and killing innocents in the process. What is wrong with having these people arrested and brought to justice in other ways, or using force other than dropping highly destructive bombs?

I don't think Pakistan is harboring these people,...they are supposed to be an ally.

Exactly. They are an ally that has allowed the US to strike at targets that are hiding in their borders.

It's not like the US is randombly bombing Pakistani cities and civillians.
Hell, for the most part, they aren't even attacking Pakistani citizens.

[HotHotHeat]

Pretty bad ass team... This is worth reading

http://www.nationaljournal.com/white...laden-20110502

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

All reports I've seen have said that the operation was in the works for a while. Training exercises were apparently conducted by the SEALS as a kill exercise, not capture.

People are kidding themselves if they thought that Osama bin Laden would ever be taken alive.

Why is that? They took Saddam alive.

[Log]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Has it been explained why this was a kill mission as opposed to capture? And why would they dump his body in the sea? This is odd.

Dumped in the sea so there would be no grave site supporters could "rally" around.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

They took Saddam alive.

Saddam is not Osama. Saddam didn't have the network of friends that Osama had. Saddam is also a far bigger coward.

Originally Posted by Log

Dumped in the sea so there would be no grave site supporters could "rally" around.

I thought the same thing - like Hitler's body not becoming a shrine. However, I read a quote somewhere that no other country would take OBL's body.

[PackersFan]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

What's the significance of burrying him at sea? Is it so that no state can claim him (or wants to claim him)?

They should have dropped his a$$ into a live volcano

[Street Pharmacist]

Lost in the sensationalism of Osama's death is the "enormous trove" (CNN) of information they found at the compound. How many future attacks may now be prevented and what does this do to the group as a whole?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Why is that? They took Saddam alive.

To be honest, I was really surprised that they managed to capture Saddam alive. It is really rare to capture people like Saddam or Osama or other equivalent type people in history.

[mykalberta]

While I am glad he is no longer living, the "cheering" seemed to sour my viewing of it. No matter the horns on the man, to cheer the death of someone seems strange to me.

Also the real "victory" would have to bring him before the Kangaroo court. I guess the thinking against that is then he does get one last moment in the sun and one could be worried that it ends up like the OJ trial.

The "burial at sea" seems strange. Why even take his dead body to a ship, if you have time for that then you have time to shoot him in the kneecaps and elbows and take him alive. A single shot to the head seems almost a too quick a death for him. At least with the electric chair the prisoner does suffer for his/her actions.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Well I have morals and I value sovereignty.

You're right that it is not conventional warfare...

Not sure why people think it's okay to just bomb any country that they have not declared war on, to get a few bad guys and killing innocents in the process. What is wrong with having these people arrested and brought to justice in other ways, or using force other than dropping highly destructive bombs?

I don't think Pakistan is harboring these people,...they are supposed to be an ally.

I never said it was ok to bomb a country that they haven't declared war on. I haven't said any of these things, so please quit drawing such conclusions.

I do agree that it's not ok to be bombing civilians or to pass through the borders of an allied country in order to conduct these acts. I also think that it would be great if there would be no evil in the world, and we could all be happy. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

I don't know the reasons they conducted those cross-border missions, I won't pretend to know either. All I'm saying is those acts do not make it a "war on Pakistan." They are military operations. I don't consider Canada to be "at war" with Iraq despite their participation in a few SF operations.

It's not a war. It's not good, but it's not a war.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Why is that? They took Saddam alive.

The USA hasn't been taking prisoners for a number of years now, but particularly in this Administration.

Gitmo and the inmates in it is an ongoing hot potato and moving trials to the USA are a platform for propoganda spewing as well as doubtful outcomes.

You really don't see people being added to Gitmo. They're all being killed by drones and in other raids.

There is a realization that they are sacrificing possible intelligence information in taking this tactic but that consideration is outweighed by other political considerations.

No prisoners. There was no chance at all that Osama Bin Laden was going to be taken alive, even if he wanted to be.

Cowperson

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I guess you have never heard of the Dixie Chicks or the republican defence of questions regarding the Iraq war.

It's not pertinent to this discussion. Who on the board said that? I can quote from thousands of sources against/for Bush and against/for Obama. Personally, I can't stand politicians of either party, but it seems that if anyone questions Obama they immediately turn into a 'Dixie-chick-lovin, WMD believing, FOX NEWS advocating idiot.'

Debates are much more sensible if you stick to what's being said by the posters on the board, instead of generalizing and stereotyping.

[MelBridgeman]

What happened to common sense? Jesus people...take someone alive who is shooting back at you? Bury him in the ground so that it becomes a shrine? Obama Lying for political gain? WOW

[sureLoss]

Reason to why a burial at sea:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/02...pt=T1&iref=BN1

Osama bin Laden's body was buried at sea according to Islamic law because no country was willing or able to take his body for burial on land, senior Defense officials said. "When there is no land alternative, Islamic law dictates that the body be buried within 24 hours, and that was the basis," one official said. "
A second senior Defense official said there was no country willing or able to accept the body for burial, and U.S. forces "took pains to observe Muslim law."

[MarchHare]

The "burial at sea" seems strange. Why even take his dead body to a ship, if you have time for that then you have time to shoot him in the kneecaps and elbows and take him alive.

Stop armchair quarterbacking. The US special forces took him down in a firefight; you're never trained "shoot to wound", but doing so would be especially stupid when he's armed and returning fire.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by valo403

The vast majority of my office, New Yorkers who have a heavily vested interest in this, wasn't awake for the announcement. If this is all some big conspiracy you don't make the announcement when half the country is in bed.

Quite frankly, the questioning here is downright pathetic.

That's what people said about Bush's war on terror. I remember people on the sides of the roads holding up posters that said 'Against the War= For Saddam'

Always question your assumptions. Believing the government without questioning is downright pathetic.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

While I am glad he is no longer living, the "cheering" seemed to sour my viewing of it. No matter the horns on the man, to cheer the death of someone seems strange to me.

i understand where you are coming from, but as I mentioned last night....there hasnt beeen a lot of good news for the USA of late and people have been looking for something to rally around and lift morale. It was just a spontaneous and massive sigh of relief as much as anything else IMO.

The "burial at sea" seems strange. Why even take his dead body to a ship, if you have time for that then you have time to shoot him in the kneecaps and elbows and take him alive.

the burial at sea makes sense...no grave, no shrine.

This was a firefight inside a large home. When someone is shooting at you, you dont take time to aim at kneecaps, you shoot to kill.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by valo403

The vast majority of my office, New Yorkers who have a heavily vested interest in this, wasn't awake for the announcement. If this is all some big conspiracy you don't make the announcement when half the country is in bed.

Quite frankly, the questioning here is downright pathetic.

New York last night:

http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...cle/id/202110/