# Osama bin Laden is Dead

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 2, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437 "2011-05-02T02:46:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 22

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**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/421 "2011-05-15T15:19:24Z")

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Its a BBC production, if that helps. And remember, when we get to Hell, it will always be Pledge Week.

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**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/422 "2011-05-15T23:45:54Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Does that mean that the guards at Auschwitz could have just dropped their rifles at the arrival of Allied forces and said, “Whoa, pal, we’re civilians!” ? 🙂

[QUOTE=Commisar]  
Sure, why not? This would not change their Geneva Conventions status, but it would obligate the Allies to detain them rather than shoot them in the head.  
[/QUOTE]

The act of dropping their rifles pretty much is an act of surrender, and this WOULD change their status from hostile to detainees…unless they worked for Ross, of course. 😉

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/423 "2011-05-16T01:32:00Z")

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> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> The act of dropping their rifles pretty much is an act of surrender, and this WOULD change their status from hostile to detainees…unless they worked for Ross, of course. 😉

But they wouldn’t get off. If the SEALs had come for them and they didn’t surrender, they would have been shot.

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/424 "2011-05-16T09:09:37Z")

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I think [Uncle Jay’s take](http://unclejayexplains.com/2011/05/08/uncle-jay-explains-may-9-2011/) says it all.

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**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/425 "2011-05-16T16:42:34Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> If the SEALs had come for them and they didn’t surrender, they would have been shot.

Exactly.

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**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/426 "2011-05-17T03:26:03Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> 7:00 on Sunday morning and I’m [searching](http://www.npr.org/templates/search/index.php?searchinput=bin+laden&sort=match&tabId=pCasts)NPR…I need breakfast.  
> I don’t see a program called “The World”.

Sorry about the confusion.

It’s “Worldview” and the report was from a Harper’s Magazine editor.

The broadcast is on iTunes podcasts. look for Worldview Podcast, 5.6.11 (May 6, 2011)

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