# Where is the proof of Bin Laden's death? Seriously? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510 "2011-05-02T20:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/21 "2011-05-02T21:36:04Z")
The only way this could be faked would be if Bin Laden or Al Qaeda were in on it. It would be so easy to disprove and cause the US to lose all respectibility. They would love it if it was faked. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/22 "2011-05-02T21:48:02Z")
I’m not exactly president of Obama’s fan club or anything, but I have no reason to believe he’d go on national television and blatantly lie about something like this. Not much of an upside, and huge downside. It wouldn’t make any sense, and Obama is a pretty smart guy. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/23 "2011-05-02T21:59:19Z")
Back in the 1930’s, the press carried photos of dead gangsters-I recall seeing morgue workers posing with Bonnie and Clyde’s bullet-riddled bodies. John Dillinger’s corpse was also photographed. Why doesn’t the gov just release a good quality photo of this pile of crap? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/24 "2011-05-02T22:04:25Z")
For the same reason we don’t have public executions anymore, I guess. My theory: as death becomes more distant from the beginning of life, thanks to medical advances and such, the more afraid of it we become, because we have more life to lose, and because it becomes more distant from our daily existences. Thus, we become more squeamish about it. (The above is a spontaneous WAT, completely unsupported by data or particularly deep thought.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/25 "2011-05-02T22:08:42Z")
We don’t want any tangible thing associated with his death to become a rallying point. Not his body, his clothes or a funeral picture. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/26 "2011-05-02T22:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] We don’t want any tangible thing associated with his death to become a rallying point. Not his body, his clothes or a funeral picture. [/QUOTE] Exactly. Plus, fish gotta eat too… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/27 "2011-05-02T22:12:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Why doesn’t the gov just release a good quality photo of this pile of crap? They will. Just have a little patience. [http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/02/bin\_laden\_corpse\_photos\_white\_house\_debates\_releasing\_photograph.html?GT1=38001](http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/02/bin_laden_corpse_photos_white_house_debates_releasing_photograph.html?GT1=38001) > [@](#): > > **UPDATED at 4:51 p.m.:** It looks like the White House doesn’t want to leave any room for doubt. > > Two Pentagon officials have told the Associated Press that Osama Bin Laden’s burial in the North Arabian Sea was videotaped and that it will likely be publicly released soon. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/28 "2011-05-02T22:20:46Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > For the same reason we don’t have public executions anymore, I guess. My theory: as death becomes more distant from the beginning of life, thanks to medical advances and such, the more afraid of it we become, because we have more life to lose, and because it becomes more distant from our daily existences. Thus, we become more squeamish about it. > > (The above is a spontaneous WAT, completely unsupported by data or particularly deep thought.) They like to show everything but, as with Saddam’s execution (IIRC), which is almost or perhaps just as bad. I’m not surprised there are no photos yet because I’m a conspiracy theorist, I just assumed that considering precedent and rate of information exchange there would be photos of soldiers Weekend at Bernie’s-ing him within 20 minutes of his death. ---
**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, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/29 "2011-05-02T22:23:08Z")
I assume they mean they would show him being wrapped up or however that works. Video of the disposal wouldn’t mean anything unless you see the thing in the oversized white sheet is him. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/30 "2011-05-02T22:26:21Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I’m not surprised there are no photos yet because I’m a conspiracy theorist, I just assumed that considering precedent and rate of information exchange there would be photos of soldiers Weekend at Bernie’s-ing him within 20 minutes of his death. These were not run-of-the-mill soldiers (much less the Iraqi soldiers that did the Saddam video, and seemed to muck it up). These are soldiers that can legitimately claim that their unit _doesn’t exist_. They don’t leak prank videos. It’s pretty clear they don’t want there to be a bloody shirt to wave. This is, in my opinion, a wise decision even if it leaves room for conspiracy theories. Any photo to be released would probably be pretty gruesome - at least one source indicated a good part of his face was shot off. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/31 "2011-05-02T22:27:01Z")
There are already supposed photos on the internet. Google image search: [Osama Bin Laden dead](http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=793&q=osama+bin+laden+dead&gbv=2&aq=2sx&aqi=g-s1g-sx9&aql=&oq=osams) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/32 "2011-05-02T22:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I assume they mean they would show him being wrapped up or however that works. Video of the disposal wouldn’t mean anything unless you see the thing in the oversized white sheet is him. [/QUOTE] They probably had a Muslim imam to give last rights or burial rights or whatever they do (no idea…never asked any of my Muslim friends). I’m sure they dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s…no cutting off of his head and dumping the body overboard, or whatever. Probably no Islamic equivalent of the Bell, Book and Candle treatment before casting him into the outer darkness either (assuming, again, that there is a Muslim equivalent). -XT ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/33 "2011-05-02T22:43:34Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > There are already supposed photos on the internet. > > Google image search: [Osama Bin Laden dead](http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=793&q=osama+bin+laden+dead&gbv=2&aq=2sx&aqi=g-s1g-sx9&aql=&oq=osams) [This one’s fake](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/osama-bin-laden-dna-confirms-death-but-photos-are-fake-should-white-house-release-actual-photos/2011/05/02/AFez6naF_blog.html), at least. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/34 "2011-05-02T22:47:24Z")
Yes, I hear they consulted a Muslim chaplain via phone and a Muslim sailor made sure it was all done right. Even though he too was probably wanting to sneak a few pork chops in the shroud on the way down–military guys loathed this coward. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/35 "2011-05-02T22:51:07Z")
The reason a Seal Team was used rather than rocket attacks or drones, was to identify and prove as well as killing innocents or the claim of innocents killed. It was a risk taken, because we could have suffered losses only to discover he wasn’t there. It’s still possible it was faked but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/36 "2011-05-02T22:51:27Z")
As I’ve pointed out in several other threads: If your government is sneaky enough to lie about killing Osama bin Laden, it’s sneaky enough to plant a Kalashnikov on some nameless Afghani hermit and shoot him in the head and tell everyone he’s OBL. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/37 "2011-05-02T23:03:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > As I’ve pointed out in several other threads: > > If your government is sneaky enough to lie about killing Osama bin Laden, it’s sneaky enough to plant a Kalashnikov on some nameless Afghani hermit and shoot him in the head and tell everyone he’s OBL. Seems to me if it was a political stunt it might be done closer to the elections, unless both parties are using it as a distraction to screw the working class even more. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/38 "2011-05-02T23:32:34Z")
my WAG is that they are carefully going through the video and images to be sure that they don’t show too much in the way of clues to the identity of the seal team. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/39 "2011-05-03T00:09:19Z")
Right, like conspiracy theorists will be satisfied with pictures video and sworn testimony. No one can _possibly_ doctor those. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510/40 "2011-05-03T00:10:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > As I’ve pointed out in several other threads: > > If your government is sneaky enough to lie about killing Osama bin Laden, it’s sneaky enough to plant a Kalashnikov on some nameless Afghani hermit and shoot him in the head and tell everyone he’s OBL. And has been pointed out in several other threads: You can lie about this and get the President all the PR he wants. Until Bin Laden goes on TV holding a copy of the New York Times printed a month after he was “killed.” The United States is the laughing stock of the world, and Obama doesn’t even get nominated to run for re-election. No upside for making this up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-proof-of-bin-ladens-death-seriously/580510.md?page=3)