White House: No real firefight at bin Laden compound
I wish someone would get their story straight on what really happened in Abbotabad. Here is yet another version of what took place:
According to the AP there was fire, but no real firefight. That’s the latest revision in the White House’s version of events during the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound. The fire came from some 20 Navy Seals who shot dead bin Laden and three other men and a woman, only one of whom was armed, officials say now. Bin Laden’s courier, Ahmen al-Kuwaiti, fired on the Seals as they launched the raid. After he and his wife were shot dead, the Americans weren’t fired on again, reports AP. The others were killed because US forces believed they all posed a “serious threat,” said a federal source. Initially, White House officials said the special forces came under heavy, prolonged small-arms fire as they moved into bin Laden’s hideout.
Instead of chaos amidst a hail of gunfire, the team moved methodically from room to room in what the New York Times characterizes as a “one-sided” 40-minute operation, confronting bin Laden aides and gathering some 22 children and women, some of whom were placed in plastic handcuffs. The US forces ended up in bin Laden’s bedroom, shooting his wife in the leg and the apparently pajama-clad al-Qaeda leader in the head and chest, reports MSNBC. Bin Laden was shot as he appeared to be reaching for a nearby weapon, said a spokesman. CIA Chief Leon Panetta had reported that the men were “engaged in a firefight throughout the operation.” White House officials said all details of the raid were not initially clear. “They were in a threatening and hostile environment the entire time,” one official told the Times.
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Does it really matter. Had I been part of that squad the results would have been the same, armed, unarmed, open handed, whatever. Anyway other than that would have created far too many problems plus none of the people he targeted were armed. Shoot the bastard and be done with it. If the squeamish don’t like it they don’t have to watch.
I can certainly understand the desire for his death – I think every sane person shared that desire but, capturing him, parading him around Guantanamo in orange overalls and in chains prior to trying him and then, after due process, executing him would have been a far greater PR coup.
The only reason I’ve heard for that not being a good idea is the prospect of hostages being taken by Al Qaida to be killed if he wasn’t released – an option that they have regardless if they feel like chopping western heads off.
He’s dead so what the hell. I suppose we should move on. Just left a few paople puzzled over the inaccuracies.
They aren’t confusing stories, they are very worrying stories indeed.
Originally old Bin Liner was in a firefight and used a wife as a shield and had his head blown off. Great! Loved it!
Now, it begins to appear, he wasn’t armed and, according to his 12 year old daughter, was captured unarmed and then executed.
I have no idea if Bin Liner’s 12 year old daughter is being truthful but, if she is…IF she is…then it is unforgivable.
Bin Liner and his entire amorphous evil organisation are an affrontery to humanity let alone democracy, but IF his daughters supposed statement is true then America – or at least America’s leaders are no better.
I’m not a religious man but I pray whatever the truth is it isn’t the apparent evidence of his daughter.
Executing him in the way supposedly described by a 12 year old puts the perpetrators on a par with Bin Liner.
Please say we haven’t sunk so low.