# Osama bin Laden is Dead **URL:** \ **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:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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 2, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/81 "2011-05-02T04:47:57Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Good for Bush? Hardly, he never seriously tried to catch Bin Laden. At one point he said Bin Laden didn’t matter and had to be pushed by Congress into at least going though the motions. You funny man. 😃 Let it go, man…just let it go. Just be an American for one night…JUST one night is all we ask. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/82 "2011-05-02T04:50:16Z")
This isn’t all bad for Osama. Now he can have a career in entertainment. Achmed and Osama, the dead terrorists, “SILENCE! We kill you!” ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/83 "2011-05-02T04:53:05Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > He must have had some seriously good intelligence to know what would happen four years later. Bush wanted him dead. The CIA wanted him dead. The current administration wanted him dead. Obama has no more clairvoyance than Bush did. My guess is that Bin Laden lowered his guard and seriously underestimated Obama’s willingness to level him. Fatal error. as for Der Trihs, Let the Bush hating go. He wanted Bin Laden gone. It’s sad and as narrow minded as the Republicans you hate so much. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/84 "2011-05-02T04:54:36Z")
I never thought I’d see this on the news. Wow. It’s quiet where we are but it sounds like people are getting together to sing and party at the World Trade Center. While I wish it had been possible to capture him and put him on trial in front of the world, this is the end he chose for himself. I wouldn’t believe the bastard ever changed his convictions, but I would like to think it’s a good thing he lived long enough to see his dream die. There are fanatics and terrorist sympathizers in a lot of places still, but what we’ve seen in the Middle East this year has nothing to do with bin Laden’s view of the world - it’s about people in Muslim nations choosing a better way than what he had to offer and rejecting the murder and sectarian division of Al Qaeda. I don’t want to oversimplify but in a way, it almost feels fitting that bin Laden died after what happened in Tunisia and Egypt and what is happening in Libya and Yemen this year. More details are still coming out, and we’re hearing that the U.S. government became aware of this enormous walled compound last year, and using information from a detained Al Qaeda courier - I’m hoping this doesn’t mean torture was involved - two other couriers were tracked and it became apparent they were protecting or meeting with bin Laden at this large compound. Those two men were killed at the compound, and so was bin Laden, one of his sons, and a woman who one of the men used as a human shield. Apparently bin Laden himself was shooting back at the soldiers. The compound was built five years ago and I guess we can assume he was there since its completion. He wasn’t in a cave, that’s for sure. Although it’s also true that he had no phone or internet access (which makes sense but is surprising in its own way - everything leaves a trail). I hope we find out more about where he had been before that. Lastly I hope I’m not the only one wondering if Abbottabad is near Costelloabad. ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/85 "2011-05-02T04:56:14Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Bush wanted him dead. The CIA wanted him dead. The current administration wanted him dead. Obama has no more clairvoyance than Bush did. My guess is that Bin Laden lowered his guard and seriously underestimated Obama’s willingness to level him. Fatal error. > as for Der Trihs, Let the Bush hating go. He wanted Bin Laden gone. It’s sad and as narrow minded as the Republicans you hate so much. This is what you wrote (Emphasis Mine) > [@Lochdale](#): > > Look at it this way, Bush would have given his right nut to kill **Obama** before the '04 election. He was just responding to that, I assume 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/86 "2011-05-02T04:58:45Z")
> [@nani](#): > > This is what you wrote (Emphasis Mine) > > He was just responding to that, I assume 🙂 :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: I blame the iPad and my stubby fingers :). That or a very confused mind…details, details. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/87 "2011-05-02T05:00:46Z")
Let’s say we do this with Al-Zawahiri next week, OK? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/88 "2011-05-02T05:05:22Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Yeah, CNN is saying dude was in a really fancy mansion with twelve-foot walls (the Navy Seals used a helicopter, kick ASS!) and had been there for years. So much for the spiritual cave-dwelling aesthete. Yeah, sounds like some old fashioned James Bond shit went down. International terrorist living in a expensive, custom made compound and protected by one or two trusted bodyguards assassinated with a shot to the head. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/89 "2011-05-02T05:05:24Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > 01 May 2011 - Mission _truly_ Accomplished. What was that mission again? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/90 "2011-05-02T05:06:06Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > It was more an issue that they had Iraq and The Afghan war to deal with. Yeah, pity the Bush administration was forced into the Iraq war. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/91 "2011-05-02T05:06:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > More details are still coming out, and we’re hearing that the U.S. government became aware of this enormous walled compound last year, and using information from a detained Al Qaeda courier - I’m hoping this doesn’t mean torture was involved - two other couriers were tracked and it became apparent they were protecting or meeting with bin Laden at this large compound. Those two men were killed at the compound, and so was bin Laden, one of his sons, and a woman who one of the men used as a human shield. Apparently bin Laden himself was shooting back at the soldiers. The compound was built five years ago and I guess we can assume he was there since its completion. He wasn’t in a cave, that’s for sure. Although it’s also true that he had no phone or internet access (which makes sense but is surprising in its own way - everything leaves a trail). I hope we find out more about where he had been before that. Where are you getting the details about the couriers and who else was killed? I’ve been trying to follow the story online but haven’t seen any of this yet. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/92 "2011-05-02T05:06:52Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > You funny man. 😃 > > Let it go, man…just let it go. > > Just be an American for one night…JUST one night is all we ask. Yeah, you don’t see conservatives [taking cheap shots about this.](http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkjtlhtgPN1qz5ew6o1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1304399079&Signature=%2F8TiegoDliTcjeBmU6%2FVeXm7v5E%3D) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/93 "2011-05-02T05:07:56Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > What was that mission again? Cleaning up the previous administration’s messes. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/94 "2011-05-02T05:09:18Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Where are you getting the details about the couriers and who else was killed? I’ve been trying to follow the story online but haven’t seen any of this yet. [AP story](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_2fqvEVgEvrxRIAqYPc7ZKG-TnQ?docId=2cfbb4c4bff047c98842abbbf7053cdc) regarding the compound ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/95 "2011-05-02T05:09:40Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Where are you getting the details about the couriers and who else was killed? I’ve been trying to follow the story online but haven’t seen any of this yet. NBC/MSNBC. I don’t know what they’ve posted online, but they’ve been talking about it on air for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Ocardowin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ccd318/32.png) [@Ocardowin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ocardowin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/96 "2011-05-02T05:09:56Z")
Remember when Osama bin Laden was alive? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/97 "2011-05-02T05:12:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Yeah, you don’t see conservatives [taking cheap shots about this.](http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkjtlhtgPN1qz5ew6o1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1304399079&Signature=%2F8TiegoDliTcjeBmU6%2FVeXm7v5E%3D) Yes the Fox affiliate in Jackson, Ms is part of the conspiracy :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/98 "2011-05-02T05:14:53Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Yes the Fox affiliate in Jackson, Ms is part of the conspiracy :rolleyes: You said conspiracy, not me. It’s not as if Fox hasn’t pulled this kind of crap before, right? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/99 "2011-05-02T05:15:40Z")
> [@villa](#): > > That’s the whole point. It isn’t about respect for him. It’s about reinforcing the message that this isn’t a war against Islam. Despite what the freepers are saying. I’m going to vote for option C. drop him in the ocean in accordance with however Muslims deal with dead sailors. He doesn’t need a grave site as a focal point for those who support or despise him. That is all the explanation that needs to be made. ---
**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 2, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437/100 "2011-05-02T05:16:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Lastly I hope I’m not the only one wondering if Abbottabad is near Costelloabad. What I wanna know is who is the president that killed Osama? Obama. Right, who killed Osama? Obama. That’s what I’m asking! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-is-dead/580437.md?page=6)