# How was it established that the dead person was Ben Laden? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485 "2011-05-02T16:11:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/21 "2011-05-03T15:24:14Z")
There are lots of photos and videos of OBL…it’s not like we don’t know what he looks like. Even identical twins have distinguishable features. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/22 "2011-05-03T16:28:13Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I was reading a report (spin, maybe) that there’ll be a mass-denial of his death by radical Muslims (and perhaps Republicans) unless an official photo of his corpse is released. I’m not surprised. But it doesn’t matter. He really is dead, so he isn’t around to plot and (even more important) fund major attacks. Other people may be as motivated as him but they aren’t as capable. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/23 "2011-05-03T16:42:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > How do you ID a dead Osama? > How do you ID a dead Osama? > How do you ID a dead Osama? > Ear-lie in the morning? (chorus) Weigh heigh and up she rises. Weigh heigh and up she rises. Weigh heigh and up she rises, ear-lie in the morning! Take him to the lab at Qua-an-ti-co. Take him to the lab at Qua-an-ti-co. Take him to the lab at Qua-an-ti-co, ear-lie in the morning! (chorus) Put him on display in New York City. Put him on display in New York City. Put him on display in New York City, ear-lie in the morning! (chorus) That’s what you do with a dead Osama. That’s what you do with a dead Osama. That’s what you do with a dead Osama, ear-lie in the morning! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/24 "2011-05-03T17:06:17Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Put him on display in New York City. > Put him on display in New York City. > Put him on display in New York City, ear-lie in the morning! I’m sad to report that this was [the first part](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/03/2267763/james-sea-burial-was-undeserved.html) of what one of my local government officials wanted to do. ---
**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, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/25 "2011-05-03T17:14:44Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I was reading a report (spin, maybe) that there’ll be a mass-denial of his death by radical Muslims (and perhaps Republicans) unless an official photo of his corpse is released. You don’t have to look very far. There was [a letter](http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2011/05/letters_osama_bin_laden_the_q.html) in this morning’s Oregonian claiming that this was a Big Lie by the ‘Obama administration’ (scroll down page to second letter). ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/26 "2011-05-03T17:53:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You don’t have to look very far. There was [a letter](http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2011/05/letters_osama_bin_laden_the_q.html) in this morning’s Oregonian claiming that this was a Big Lie by the ‘Obama administration’ (scroll down page to second letter). Only one letter out of six denied it. Incidentally, I know Michael Meo, who called America a “well-armed lynch mob.” He was a teacher at my HS. He ran for Congress in '08 as a Green, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/27 "2011-05-03T18:23:14Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Not too many men are that size. [TRELAINE] You _must_ try harder; this is _too easy_! [/TRELAINE] ---
**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, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/28 "2011-05-03T22:50:56Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Only one letter out of six denied it. Incidentally, I know Michael Meo, who called America a “well-armed lynch mob.” He was a teacher at my HS. He ran for Congress in '08 as a Green, IIRC. Hey, it works for the Israelis. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/29 "2011-05-04T02:56:45Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I’m looking for an Obi-Wan Laden. Is he a relative of Ben Laden? Do you know who I’m talking about? _This is not the terrorist you’re looking for._ ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/30 "2011-05-04T03:34:34Z")
all it takes is a pre-recorded speech from him just outside his usual mountain-cave hideout; that the attampt on his life “the previous week” was a failure, that he and his family was well, and that he will continue the fight. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/31 "2011-05-04T11:53:00Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Let’s also remember that Bin Laden was 6’6" tall. Not too many men are that size. I’ve also heard 6’8" and 6’4" in various news broadcasts. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485/32 "2011-05-04T15:16:14Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I’ve also heard 6’8" and 6’4" in various news broadcasts. tEACH THE CONTROVERSY!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-it-established-that-the-dead-person-was-ben-laden/580485.md?page=1)