<p>They had DNA already with which to make a match? A relative?</p>
<p>I find it astounding that this was carried out by only two helicopters of SEALS, with no American casualties. And they all escaped in one helicopter, along with Osama’s body. I wonder how many there were? </p>
<p>Aren’t the members of these elite units anonymous? I doubt that there will be any public ceremonies. But I’m sure they feel a great deal of satisfaction in having carried out such a flawless operation, and they certainly are aware of the nation’s gratitude.</p>
<p>I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be Obama at the correspondents’ dinner. He could not have known that this would turn out so well - it could just have easily been a disaster. Does anyone remember the Carter administration’s attempt to rescue the hostages?</p>
<p>I don’t feel like celebrating - I just feel sick inside as thoughts of all the deaths and suffering from terrorism and the wars against it are brought up. I agree with others that this will have little effect. And my son is flying to Europe tomorrow so I am unhappy and anxious about the timing. But I’m glad Osama is dead.</p>
<p>This sounds really gruesome, but last night I heard it was the brain of his sister. Could that really be the case?</p>
<p>And I can’t help wondering whether this is the reason that the royal newlyweds have put off their honeymoon.</p>
<p>Dionysus, If muslims die at sea they may be buried at sea. He might not have died at sea, but it was where he was taken in their hasty retreat and that’s the best they could do. I agree with the no shrine idea, but there is also the possibility that he is still breathing, will never see the light of day again and will be subject to much worse than a waterboarding, which is all fine with me. The human shield defense and he resisted story all falls in to protect the troops an their actions and the story that is laid out.<br>
If he was in fact buried at sea from a USS then it would have been handled appropriately by our Navy and most likely according to the savages religion. To be mean spirited as you suggested they would have burned his corpse. That is forbidden.</p>
<p>Wow. This thread is 10 pages long and Obama made his speech last night? </p>
<p>Osama’s death is symbolic, but just that. Now we can focus less on individuals and more on the problem.</p>
<p>His sister died of cancer, in Boston… they reportedly had saved and safeguarded her brain tissue for this express purpose.</p>
<p>I’m just curious, MaryOC - did the family give permission for this tissue to be saved for this purpose? Or did the Federal government step in and take custody of the remains?</p>
<p>Im having a hard time believing that they buried him at sea.
I would think they keep him around for awhile as proof.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading about the fortification and security at the compound. I am amazed that this attempt was so successful. </p>
<p>I’m wondering how sure they were that Osama was there. Lots of potential for disaster - what if they’d been wrong about who was occupying the compound?</p>
<p>@ NYMomof2:</p>
<p>It says here, the tissue was “taken”
<a href=“http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/27739824/detail.html[/url]”>http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/27739824/detail.html</a></p>
<p>milkandsurgar,
“keeping” him around for a while – you mean his body? If so that would go very much against the grain of Islamic tradition which mandates burial within 24 hours. I doubt the Obama administration or anyone else would want to add fuel to the fire of extremists’ anger by blatantly disrespecting their burial traditions.</p>
<p>They reportedly had intelligence from a Guantamo Bay detainee for about 10? months, that Bin Laden had been hold up there, rather than underground. I heard they built a replica of the compound and rehearsed the mission for months …with 30-40 of the oldest and most experienced Navy Seals.</p>
<p>All too often the US intelligence community and armed forces are criticized, and seldom do we as a nation express our appreciation.</p>
<p>This is a time to say THANK YOU for a job well done.</p>
<p>Yet they were still hit by the unexpected - I read that the helicopter that went down did so because of the lack of moving air within the compound’s high walls. Fortunately only one of them was affected and they were able to get away in the other.</p>
<p>I also read that there were people with rock-launched grenades on the compound roof, shooting at the helicopters, and that they had to worry about being hit by Pakistani forces as they flew out after the attack. I’m sure the ones who went in did not expect to get out alive. I do feel happy about that.</p>
<p>I’ve realized the source of the malaise I’ve felt since learning of the successful raid - it’s put me back into the numb state I was in on 9/11.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more, TutuTaxi.</p>
<p>MaryOC, from the detainee they were aware that Osama was not in some Afghanistan mountain cave and that he had this special courier. I don’t think they knew for 10 months exactly where he was hiding in Pakistan.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Actually, the tip about the Bin Laden lieutenant came from a detainee interrogation back in 2005. It took them until 2007 to track him down. They’ve been paying close attention to his comings and goings ever since. This is a trail they’ve been working for a long time.</p>
<p>I cannot quite believe it. But I celebrate it. </p>
<p>It’s taking forever to get on base today because of the raised security levels. What a strange day, I truly thought I would not see it.</p>
<p>I crossed details from a couple stories…sorry! The Guantamano detainee was referenced in one article, and this one, from Brian Ross @ abc, referenced knowing they suspected his most recent whereabouts since last August. The dust will eventually settle on all of this…</p>
<p>[Osama</a> Bin Laden Killed By Navy Seals in Firefight - ABC News](<a href=“Osama Bin Laden Killed By Navy SEALs in Firefight - ABC News”>Osama Bin Laden Killed By Navy SEALs in Firefight - ABC News)</p>