<p>I think that highest officials in the land, like the President and the VP, as well as military officers, are trained to avoid the temptation of sharing sensitive information with their spouses or family. Too much risk involved. Look what happened in this case; reportedly (I think Katie Couric reported it) a former government official “tweeted” a rumor Sunday afternoon about the White House approving the killing of Bin Laden. That’s risky conduct as far as I am concerned. What if his ‘speculation’ had spread prematurely to our enemies?</p>
<p>So why and how would a former government official be given this information?</p>
<p>
WashPost reported that it was tweeted by a [former</a> DoD staffer](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/first-bin-laden-reports-came-in-tweets-as-media-scrambled-for-confirmation/2011/05/02/AFWGRkaF_story.html]former”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/first-bin-laden-reports-came-in-tweets-as-media-scrambled-for-confirmation/2011/05/02/AFWGRkaF_story.html). Anyone with any kind of clearance knows that these kinds of leaks can cost them their clearance. They are required to avoid discussions of “classified information.” A lost clearance can cost a person a job and/or future opportunities. I doubt that the Pres & VP spouses knew about the operation: I don’t think they have the proper clearances.</p>
<p>With regard to who knew what, don’t forget the intelligence community. CIA & NSA were intimately involved in this operation.</p>
<p>Breaking news headline on Yahoo: WH will not release photos. I agree, there is no need. Just show me the DNA sequences. :)</p>
<p>I whole-heartedly agree with this decision. People who want to pretend Bin Laden is not dead would have disputed the legitimacy of the photos, and the rest of us (non-crazy) people do not want gruesome photos like that circulated for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>“Anyone with any kind of clearance knows that these kinds of leaks can cost them their clearance.”</p>
<p>Actually they are illegal, and can cost a lot more. They really ought to go after whomever leaked anything to reestablish a precedent.</p>
<p>, I don’t need to see the gruesome photos and I don’t need to know every single detail. Our military did exactly what they should have done.</p>
<p>Never really believed the whole Islamic Terror thing was about one man. I don’t think this changes things that much. Not an expert but sense it all goes so much deeper than just one bad guy and some Navy Seals taking him out.</p>
<p>As someone mentioned upthread, I believe the absence of 9/11 Osama videos this year will quiet the doubting Thomases.</p>
<p>sewhappy, you are right about terrorism being more than one bad guy.</p>
<p>But a successful terrorist movement is so much easier to achieve when the leader and organizer of the terrorist movement is 1) a billionaire, 2) charismatic, and 3) alive.</p>
<p>Is there any update on his money? Did he spend most of it? Who gets it? I’m envisioning a SNL sketch with the reading of the will.</p>
<p>^^ Funny - I was also wondering about the disposition of the 500 Euros sewn into his clothing. Maybe it should be split between the people who were on-site for the mission.</p>
<p>hayden - gotta agree with you. I don’t know if any of his followers have quite the wealth of resources ($$$) that bin Laden had. I don’t think bin Laden’s movement would have gotten to where it did without all his wealth. Not to say other movements or followers won’t attempt, but unless it has the endless financial resources that he did, I don’t think it can become as terrorizing.</p>
<p>cartera - did you submit that idea to the SNL writers?? I think it would be hilarious. Just imagine all of the past and current politicians and celebrities they could mock.</p>
<p>Since when Hell joined the EC?</p>
<p>I am baffled by the ever changing story from the government. I don’t think any of us will lose sleep over his death, but please have a coherent story about the circumstances of his death.</p>
<p>coolweather - that’s exactly what I was wondering ! Why euros in his clothes, rather than local currency? That was very peculiar. And why only 500? That wouldn’t buy much of a plane ticket. What was that for?</p>
<p>And as for the two phone numbers found sewn in his clothes along with the money, I’ll bet the CIA identified whose phones those were in oh, about 3 seconds. I wonder how many people we’ve thrown at the job of going through his hard drives to id people before they all scurry around like roaches when a light’s been turned on, frantically trying to get away fast. This whole thing is really facscinating - Tom Clancy, but real.</p>
<p>Actually, one of the other fascinating - in fact, shocking - things about this is that we’ve all managed 20 pages of posts while staying within the terms of service !! :)</p>
<p>So the morning news shows tell me Osama was on the order of Hitler . . . is that the view here? Stalin? How does one measure up these sort of horrific bad guys? </p>
<p>I had not thought that much on the importance of the vast wealth. That’s a tremendous point, and also makes the whole thing even more sad, if possible.</p>
<p>Yes, Hayden, it has been refreshing, hasn’t it! Very impressive. God bless, everyone.
Thanks all- have loved it!!!</p>