Bin Laden is dead

[strange6]

very good news is this and the whole world can feel cleaner as a result. Notice how Obama, in his speech, said, 'After a firefight, they killed Bin Laden and took custody of his body'.
Now this suggests to me that they caught him alive and delivered 'justice' thereafter! There is already an horrific picture going about that shows him bloodied with an horrific expression on his face according to radio 5 live.
Good riddance

 

[TGV]

It is good news however I can't see it ending terrorism overnight. The world is better without him though.

 

[Hydro]

I think it's more of a symbolic victory, it won't change much. Al Qaeda is too decentralised to ensure that any one figure being taken out of the equation will stop them. Someone will step into his shoes and become the AQ figurehead and mouthpiece.

Good riddance though. Even if symbolic, it is a powerful statement.

 

[Minilad]

Get ready for all hell to break loose. Ever heard of the mythical beast the Hydra. Cut off one head and eight grow in it's place.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Here come the revenge attacks. I expect the sleeper cells are being activated right now.

 

[chris89]

Good that he is dead, but their will be 'return' attacks from them now at somepoint.

Im wondering will Cameron issue an aplogy to the British people for giving all that money in aid to Pakistan?

Chris

 

[ushawk]

Good news, but terror risks will go up in retaliation now, i fear. Its more of a trophy to the US i think. Al Qaeda will keep operating anyway.

 

[me123]

It's good to see that Bin Laden himself has been found and no longer poses a threat (I can't bring myself to say that it's good someone has died, no matter how evil). However, I worry that the cringe-worthy US celebrations are just going to further antagonise the terrorists. Let's just say I'm glad I'm not in America just now...

To be honest, I was surprised that he was still alive. Like many others, I was convinced that he was dead and that Al-Qaeda were just trying to hide that fact to prevent showing any weakness. Al-Qaeda will undoubtedly continue, but to what extent? There's going to be a short-lived period of heightened alert without a doubt, and the terrorists will understandably be keen for retaliation. However, in the longer term, will Al-Qaeda continue to be such a strong power, and such a serious threat to the West?

Interestingly, there's speculation that the Royal Honeymoon was postponed due to this, in case such a high-profile couple were put at any risk, although I think that's just rumours.

 

[wintonian]

very good news is this and the whole world can feel cleaner as a result. Notice how Obama, in his speech, said, 'After a firefight, they killed Bin Laden and took custody of his body'.
Now this suggests to me that they caught him alive and delivered 'justice' thereafter! There is already an horrific picture going about that shows him bloodied with an horrific expression on his face according to radio 5 live.
Good riddance

Even Bin Laden should be entitled to a trial by jury, in my opinion.

 

[Darandio]

Even Bin Laden should be entitled to a trial by jury, in my opinion.

The official line is that he resisted and was shot. I cant have imagined him going easily to be honest, not with the cause they fight for.

 

[wintonian]

The official line is that he resisted and was shot. I cant have imagined him going easily to be honest, not with the cause they fight for.

True, but couldn't they just shoot him in the leg or something?

However in reality I know this is rather too simplistic.

 

[me123]

The official line is that he resisted and was shot. I cant have imagined him going easily to be honest, not with the cause they fight for.

We haven't heard much yet, but I reckon he'd have been heavily guarded. It won't have been a case of walking into a room and shooting him. There would obviously be quite a bit of resistance. I don't believe for a minute that the Americans would have killed him unless it was necessary. If possible, they would have arrested and tried him under their judicial system.

Interesting to see that some Americans still don't know the difference between their president, and the (former) head of Al-Qaeda. :roll:

 

[MidnightFlyer]

BBC News said he was asked to surrender, but refused, and was shot. I can imagine that it would be fairly tricky to get him out of there to stand trial etc.

 

[Hydro]

True, but couldn't they just shoot him in the leg or something?

You can't just pause and take some careful aim at a body part in a fast moving assault where you are under fire. Military training always emphasises aiming at centre mass, the torso, as it's distinct, large and will incapacitate.

 

[SS4]

Like he'd ever be found not guilty anyway :roll:

Can't see anything changing now though, they're nutters and will continue until their justification (Islam) is exhausted or until they're all dead
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Although I must extend my praise to the Americans, they've really outclassed us and our wedding

 

[wintonian]

Admittedly it would have been a show trial, with all the media attention and strength of feeling around most of the world add in the fact that I don't think USA are signed up to the international court the chances are the hearing would have been held after the sentence was carried out.

 

[Nick W]

Im wondering will Cameron issue an aplogy to the British people for giving all that money in aid to Pakistan?

Generally, to be able to have any influence in Pakistan, we need to show our support the them. Obviously the jury is out there as to whether the authorities are really against terrorism, and also wanted Bin Laden dead, but we've got much more chance of having the authorities on our side against terrorism if we're contributing. Plus, the richer a society is, monetary and in terms of access to essential services, the fewer people turn to terrorism!

It's a great shame it wasn't the Pakistani authorities who captured Bin Laden and that he couldn't be trialled by his own people!

 

[SS4]

Generally, to be able to have any influence in Pakistan, we need to show our support the them. Obviously the jury is out there as to whether the authorities are really against terrorism, and also wanted Bin Laden dead, but we've got much more chance of having the authorities on our side against terrorism if we're contributing. Plus, the richer a society is, monetary and in terms of access to essential services, the fewer people turn to terrorism!

It's a great shame it wasn't the Pakistani authorities who captured Bin Laden and that he couldn't be trialled by his own people!

We could never trust them to give a fair trial, they'd probably consider him Muslim first and terrorist second and therefore acquit him or at least not give him a fair trial.

Wouldn't surprise me if us and the US aid is the only reason Pakistan is notionally in our fold
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I'm also kind of worried about the effect this could have on civil liberties too, clamp down due to "possible terrorism" and never lift them.

 

[HST Power]

I was watching the story unfold on Sky News. An American Journalist was being interviewed, and he said 'US Forces have disposed of the body of Obama.'

'I meant of course, Ossama.'

 

[wintonian]

See:
http://anthonywindram.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fox40-bin-laden-death-008.jpg

And and older blooper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos

 

[SS4]

See:
http://anthonywindram.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fox40-bin-laden-death-008.jpg

And and older blooper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos

Since when did Fox "news" care for the truth

 

[Yew]

Bin Landen? Pah! Its that Alan Qaeda you need to get!

 

[HST Power]

Bin Landen? Pah! Its that Alan Qaeda you need to get!

This it the big problem. Bin Laden may be dead, but that doesn't eliminate the threat from Al Qaeda. They'll doubtlessly be plotting a retaliation strike against the death of their leader. The Taliban also announced a new offensive earlier this week, so we still have drastic steps to take in the war against terror.
Nonetheless, this a very good day for the families of the victims from 9/11, and also rather convenient for the highly unpopular Mr Obama. I'm not suggesting anything, but you know how it is..:roll:

 

[Oswyntail]

We could never trust them to give a fair trial, they'd probably consider him Muslim first and terrorist second and therefore acquit him or at least not give him a fair trial.

Wouldn't surprise me if us and the US aid is the only reason Pakistan is notionally in our fold
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I'm also kind of worried about the effect this could have on civil liberties too, clamp down due to "possible terrorism" and never lift them.

Well, the West seems to have given him a less than fair trial. While I agree that any trial would have been a pre-ordained show, I should imagine there would have been a fair number of people bricking it about what might have come out. Bin Laden's death is very convenient all round. But what, IMHO, is utterly stupid is the burial at sea. Apart from being a deliberate and massive insult to Islamic sensitivities (and so apparently designed to stir up retaliation), a public restoration of his body to his family for an appropriate burial would a) have possibly calmed things down and b) made it impossible for anyone to claim he was not dead. Do these people never think things through properly:roll:?

 

[SS4]

Well, the West seems to have given him a less than fair trial. While I agree that any trial would have been a pre-ordained show, I should imagine there would have been a fair number of people bricking it about what might have come out. Bin Laden's death is very convenient all round. But what, IMHO, is utterly stupid is the burial at sea. Apart from being a deliberate and massive insult to Islamic sensitivities (and so apparently designed to stir up retaliation), a public restoration of his body to his family for an appropriate burial would a) have possibly calmed things down and b) made it impossible for anyone to claim he was not dead. Do these people never think things through properly:roll:?

Corruption is endemic in Pakistan though, much more than it is here. While I agree that it would never have been fair (like Saddam's was a farce). Burial at sea was the wrong thing to do though since it will prove impossible to verify whether or not he's dead.

 

[thefab444]

I think the thinking behind burial at sea was to prevent his grave from becoming an 'attraction' for extremists.

 

[yorksrob]

I'm sure the Americans will have taken adequate photographs and DNA samples to verify Bin Laden's identity.

Any sort of funeral would have quickly become a rallying point for extremists all over the world and a security nuisence to whichever country was unlucky enough to host it. Far better to dispose of the remains quickly.

 

[moonrakerz]

Donald Trump is saying that it hasn't really happened - he is demanding to see the Death Certificate

 

[Yew]

I think handing the body to his family wouldhave been best, to show that ameica does respect muslim beleifs. The incereas in general goodwil across the wider muslim community (those on the edge of supporting terrorisim) compared to the shrine for extremists, I think it would have had a net benefit to the west, and in turn the arabic states

 

[Darandio]

I think handing the body to his family wouldhave been best, to show that ameica does respect muslim beleifs.

Could they have done that within 24 hours, safely?

By burying at sea, within 24 hours, they have respected those muslim beliefs.