Not everyone believes bin Laden really is dead

ROBERT BURNS and CALVIN WOODWARD, AP

WASHINGTON — Knowing there would be disbelievers, the U.S. says it used convincing means to confirm Osama bin Laden's identity during and after the firefight that killed him. But the mystique that surrounded the terrorist chieftain in life is persisting in death.

Was it really him? How do we know? Where are the pictures?

Already, those questions are spreading in Pakistan and surely beyond. In the absence of photos and with his body given up to the sea, many people don't believe bin Laden —the Great Emir to some, the fabled escape artist of the Tora Bora mountains to foe and friend alike — is really dead.

U.S. officials are balancing that skepticism with the sensitivities that might be inflamed by showing images they say they have of the dead al-Qaida leader and video of his burial at sea. Still, it appeared likely that photographic evidence would be produced.

"We are going to do everything we can to make sure that nobody has any basis to try to deny that we got Osama bin Laden," John Brennan, President Barack Obama's counterterrorism adviser, said Monday. He said the U.S. will "share what we can because we want to make sure that not only the American people but the world understand exactly what happened."

In July 2003, the U.S. took heat but also quieted most conspiracy theorists by releasing graphic photos of the corpses of Saddam Hussein's two powerful sons to prove American forces had killed them.

So far, the U.S. has cited evidence that satisfied the Navy SEAL force, and at least most of the world, that they had the right man in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The helicopter-borne raiding squad that swarmed the luxury compound identified bin Laden by appearance. A woman in the compound who was identified as his wife was said to have called out bin Laden's name in the melee.

Officials produced a quick DNA match from his remains that they said established bin Laden's identity, even absent the other techniques, with 99.9 percent certainty. U.S. officials also said bin Laden was identified through photo comparisons and other methods.

Tellingly, an al-Qaida spokesman, in vowing vengeance against America, called him a martyr, offering no challenge to the U.S. account of his death.

Even so, it's almost inevitable that the bin Laden mythology will not end with the bullet in his head. If it suits extremist ends to spin a fantastical tale of survival or trickery to gullible ears, expect to hear it.

In the immediate aftermath, people in Abbottabad expressed widespread disbelief that bin Laden had died — or ever lived — among them.

"I'm not ready to buy bin Laden was here," said Haris Rasheed, 22, who works in a fast food restaurant. "How come no one knew he was here and why did they bury him so quickly? This is all fake — a drama, and a crude one."

Kamal Khan, 25, who is unemployed, said the official story "looks fishy to me."

The burial from an aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea was videotaped aboard the ship, according to a senior defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because a decision on whether to release the video was not final. The official said it was highly likely that the video, along with photographs of bin Laden's body, would be made public in coming days.

The swiftness of the burial may have raised suspicions but was in accord with Islamic traditions. Islamic scholars, however, challenged U.S. assertions that a burial at sea was an appropriate fate for a Muslim who had died on land.

The act denied al-Qaida any sort of burial shrine for their slain leader. Once again, bin Laden had vanished, but this time at the hands of the United States and in a way that ensures he is gone forever.

 

Read the rest here

Views: 57

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by youhavetoforgiveme on May 4, 2011 at 6:41am
Until I see a dead body-- and not a picture of one-- that son of a bitch is still alive. Period.

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis favorited Sandy's photo
16 hours ago
tjdavis favorited cheeki kea's photo
16 hours ago
tjdavis favorited tjdavis's video
16 hours ago
tjdavis posted photos
16 hours ago
tjdavis posted blog posts
yesterday
cheeki kea favorited tjdavis's video
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

Prime clown idiot of the year.

" Stay tuned this prime clown might just resign from his own circus as his Finance Minister…"
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

The Orb & David Gilmour - Metallic Spheres In Colour: Movement 1 - Excerpt (4K Official Music Video)

The 2010 album Metallic Spheres by The Orb and David Gilmour has been reimagined and remixed as Metallic Spheres In Colour. Out now: https://theorbdg.lnk.to/...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Real Explanation of the Mystery Drones over New Jersey

 Keep in mind all of the possible implications around the drones reportedly as big as cars being…See More
yesterday
Sandy posted photos
Monday
tjdavis posted a video

Capitol Punishment - The Movie (Updated Trailer)

Order on DVD or Stream it Now: https://givemelibertynow.org/product/capitol-punishment/Told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, Capi...
Sunday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Sunday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Sunday
FREEDOMROX favorited Doc Vega's blog post Biggest Hoax and Hazard to Health in US History Busted Pt. 2
Saturday
FREEDOMROX posted a blog post
Saturday
Sandy posted videos
Saturday
Doc Vega replied to MAC's discussion Undertaker's Shocking Lockdown Discovery: John O'Looney
"The whole damn thing was a scam! "
Friday
Doc Vega favorited MAC's discussion Undertaker's Shocking Lockdown Discovery: John O'Looney
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

One Step Beyond Visits Friday the 13th in 2024

It seems that there are those who prefer to create their own insane reality! They've taken that One…See More
Friday

© 2024   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted