# Bin Laden's body: now what? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441 "2011-05-02T03:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/81 "2011-05-03T04:29:26Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > A “bin Laden is alive!!!” conspiracy theory would be really stupid. If he’s alive, wouldn’t he just release a video in the next couple of days saying “I’m not dead! They didn’t get me!”? He has no interest in letting people think he’s dead, like Elvis or Hitler. So unless a new video comes out very soon, which it won’t, not only is he merely dead, he’s really most sincerely dead. It’s already started on jihadist websites from what I hear. And BBC says the residents of the neighborhood the mansion was located in are saying they don’t believe he was ever there, that the US is just scamming this because they’ve failed so miserably at finding him. > [@Magiver](#): > > So what became of the other casualties? Are they feeding the fish too? I guess they just left them behind. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/82 "2011-05-03T04:43:54Z")
In lieu of sea burial, I propose we should have stripped the flesh off his bones with [dermestid beetles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Human_Skull_being_cleaning_by_Dermestid_Beetles.jpg), articulated his skeleton, and turn it into a life-size marionette that can be paraded around each year on the anniversies of 9/11 and 5/1, and made to perform all manner of degrading acts with puppets of beasts and other perverse figures. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/83 "2011-05-03T04:49:28Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > Study his brain to find out whatever can be found out, biologically, about what might produce such a twisted psychological profile. > > I agree that the rest should be cremated and the ashes scattered in an undisclosed location. Meh, most American doctors I know would conclude that he was a psycho because he suffered a life-long problem with a .223 cal slug in his head. He was just a victim. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/84 "2011-05-03T06:25:34Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I guess they just left them behind. According to[this article](http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110502/pl_yblog_exclusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden), 22 people were killed or captured. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/85 "2011-05-03T12:50:25Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I know a few professionals that scream like idiots at football games, and you think it’s below professional soldiers to take a whiz on the body of a man that caused the murders of thousands of his (the US soldiers) wards? > > Best wishes, > hh Dentists at a football game are not the same as soldiers on a mission. (Although I wonder whether SEALS care to be called “soldiers”?) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/86 "2011-05-03T14:13:22Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Dentists at a football game are not the same as soldiers on a mission. (Although I wonder whether SEALS care to be called “soldiers”?) They prefer to be called SEALs, even though they’re Navy. Just like Seabees prefer to be called Seabees, not sailors. In any case, ‘soldier’ is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/87 "2011-05-03T15:37:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > They prefer to be called SEALs, even though they’re Navy. Just like Seabees prefer to be called Seabees, not sailors. In any case, ‘soldier’ is incorrect. Yeah, I figured that was the case. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/88 "2011-05-03T16:02:23Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would have weighed him down with a chunk of the WTC. Not a nice piece of steel, but a crappy piece of concrete with rebar sticking out of it. That could well have happened. From what I have read, they planned every part of this mission carefully, down to ensuring they had Muslims available to perform the rituals for burial. Sending him along to his watery grave with a souvenir of his evil wouldn’t violate Islamic practice. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/89 "2011-05-03T17:23:44Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Dentists at a football game are not the same as soldiers on a mission. (Although I wonder whether SEALS care to be called “soldiers”?) They might have pissed on him afterwards then. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/90 "2011-05-03T17:34:36Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In lieu of sea burial, I propose we should have stripped the flesh off his bones with [dermestid beetles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Human_Skull_being_cleaning_by_Dermestid_Beetles.jpg), articulated his skeleton, and turn it into a life-size marionette that can be paraded around each year on the anniversies of 9/11 and 5/1, and made to perform all manner of degrading acts with puppets of beasts and other perverse figures. Achmed the Terrorist? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/91 "2011-05-03T20:07:05Z")
Was it legal? Excuse me, the idea that the germans are lecturing ANYBODY about morality in war is just so funny!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/92 "2011-05-03T20:24:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Was it legal? There’s a discussion of this in Great Debates. > [@](#): > > Excuse me, the idea that the germans are lecturing ANYBODY about morality in war is just so funny!😉 Erm- you realize the Nazis aren’t in charge anymore, right? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/93 "2011-05-04T00:05:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There’s a discussion of this in Great Debates. > Erm- you realize the Nazis aren’t in charge anymore, right? What!? Wait until I tell the rest of the attic!!! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/94 "2011-05-04T02:19:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > According to[this article](http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110502/pl_yblog_exclusive/the-secret-team-that-killed-bin-laden), 22 people were killed or captured. BBC is saying bin Laden’s son was taken away alive. Go Seals! ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/95 "2011-05-04T11:59:19Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > DNA can be tested in as little as 4 hours. It usually isn’t because the testing is expensive and the back-log is often long. > He got pushed to the front of the line. Ah, OK. I thought it took a couple of days. I know that your average police department crime lab isn’t going to get the job done in 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/96 "2011-05-04T14:26:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is saying bin Laden’s son was taken away alive. Go Seals! I don’t think so. The government has said they didn’t take anyone else alive or dead. It’s possible they would have if the second helicopter hadn’t crashed - but Pakistan is said to be holding some of bin Laden’s relatives. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/97 "2011-05-04T16:54:19Z")
The last I heard, one of Bin Laden’s sons was killed, and one of Bin Laden’s wives was shot in the leg. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/98 "2011-05-05T01:46:42Z")
They’ve stopped saying that, so I guess not. But now they’re saying several bin Laden family survivors are being held by the Pakistanis. They’re also saying a treasure trove of information was recovered. Laptops, cellphones, something like 100 flash drives. ---
**Author:** ![Hennessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hennessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hennessy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/99 "2011-05-05T02:42:29Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > Study his brain to find out whatever can be found out, biologically, about what might produce such a twisted psychological profile. > > I agree that the rest should be cremated and the ashes scattered in an undisclosed location. They don’t want you to know about his psych, if that leaked out, the world would be doomed… Before you ask, they are they… They… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441/100 "2011-05-05T03:12:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They’ve stopped saying that, so I guess not. But now they’re saying several bin Laden family survivors are being held by the Pakistanis. They’re also saying a treasure trove of information was recovered. Laptops, cellphones, something like 100 flash drives. and in exchange we gave China our most secret stealth helicopter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-ladens-body-now-what/580441.md?page=6)