"Official" Version of the Story Falling Apart

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Osama bin Laden 'was not armed and did not use wife as human shield'

Osama bin Laden did not use one of his four wives as a human shield in his dying moments, contrary to earlier reports, as White House officials began to "clarify" early accounts of Monday's commando raids by US special forces.

US officials had claimed that Osama Bin Laden had been "firing behind" his wife when he was shot through the eye by a US Navy Seal, painting a powerful image of the world's most wanted man cowering behind a defenceless woman.

In the original account of the firefight, John Brennan, a US counter-terrorism official briefing the media, said "There was family at that compound, and there was a female who was, in fact, in the line of fire that reportedly was used as a shield to shield Osama from the incoming fire".

However US officials have now conceded that Bin Laden was not armed during the assault, did not fire back and that his wife was only injured in the assault, most likely in the crossfire, according to unnamed officials quoted by the US website Politico.

"A different guy's wife was killed", said the website, quoting an unnamed official who had briefed US television media, with the official adding that Bin Laden's wife was "injured not killed", having been shot in the calf.

"Two women were shot here. It sounds like their fates were mixed up," said the US official. "This is hours old and the full facts are still being ascertained as those involved are debriefed." The website also quoted another official saying "I'm not aware of him [bin Laden] having a weapon."

The discrepancy between earlier accounts and the new version of events was put down to "confusion" by the White House, who said that the "fact pattern" on the assault was only now becoming clear as more of the participants were interviewed.

The contradictions came despite the fact that other reports suggesting that President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state and other senior officials had watched the assault on a live feed provided by a camera mounted on the commando's helmets.

The identity of the dead woman has not been made public. However, officials quoted by the Reuters news agency added that she had been in a different part of the compound from bin Laden when he was killed.

Twenty-three children and nine women were in the compound at the time of the assault and were turned over to Pakistani authorities, added the US official who requested anonymity to discuss an intelligence matter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8489658/Osama-bin-Laden-was-not-armed-and-did-not-use-wife-as-human-shield.html

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Excessive force ? Ok I could see if this was coming from MC or fishdude... I mean were talking about an animal.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Excessive force ? Ok I could see if this was coming from MC or fishdude... I mean were talking about an animal.

I am a firm believer in excessive force -- when you can get away with it.

[The Dude 206]

If he were a mere criminal, I would agree that it was excessive force.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Bin Laden's still dead in this version, so I'm satisfied.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

ok...I'm having California flashbacks of Rodney King.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bin Laden's still dead in this version, so I'm satisfied.

But we could have had the trial, and Charles! could be giving us updates from Leavenworth.

ok...I'm having California flashbacks of Rodney King.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[SMOKE 1,426]

Bin Laden's still dead in this version, so I'm satisfied.

+1 we still get the happy ending.

[The Dude 206]

+1 we still get the happy ending.

We still have 150K troops in two countries. I don't think anyone got a happy ending, not until we pull our troops out.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wonder why nobody has picked up on Obama's admission that OBL was, in fact, assassinated. On Sunday night, he said: "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body." So, Osama was killed not during the firefight, not as a result of the firefight but AFTER the firefight.

[SMOKE 1,426]

We still have 150K troops in two countries. I don't think anyone got a happy ending, not until we pull our troops out.

ok a happy ending to a chapter. as for the history book as a whole, it would be nice if obama kept his campaign promises wouldn't it?

[The Dude 206]

ok a happy ending to a chapter. as for the history book as a whole, it would be nice if obama kept his campaign promises wouldn't it?

Yes, yes it would be nice. It would be nicer if the neocons didn't drag us into two wars to begin with, but that's another story.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Yes, yes it would be nice. It would be nicer if the neocons didn't drag us into two wars to begin with, but that's another story.

idk but i think the democrats in congress voted & agreed to start those wars obama promised to end. you might check that one for me i'm not 100% sure.

[The Dude 206]

idk but i think the democrats in congress voted & agreed to start those wars obama promised to end. you might check that one for me i'm not 100% sure.

Like anyone in congress (besides Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich) had the balls to look anti-american and vote against a war with a perceived enemy. It was still the neocons who fabricated evidence to justify a war.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Like anyone in congress (besides Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich) had the balls to look anti-american and vote against a war with a perceived enemy. It was still the neocons who fabricated evidence to justify a war.

obama did. can you prove the US & UK intelligence communities are neocons? or are you just maliciously stating your opinion as fact?