to wonder with what authority USA killed Osama Bin Laden.

[Mamaz0n]

Since when has murder been justice?

Don't get me wrong, i think it is a good thing that he has died. I think that to imprison him would have caused massive uprising in violence and kidnaps etc.

But it bothers me that America has just decided that this man is guilty and therefore acted to murder him.

It is my (probably naive) understanding that you can't be extradited to a state that has the death penalty, so how exactly can Obama's order to kill Bin Laden be at all legal?

I have even just heard that the Pakistani government were not even aware that the USA were taking this action.

I am sorry but it sits very uncomfortably with me.

The US military has a long history of telling blatant lies bending the truth somewhat about what happens on their operations. Eg, the Jessica Lynch debacle.

From current news reports, Ozzy Bin Liner was invited to surrender but chose to shake off this mortal coil in a shoot out at the Pakistani equivalent of the OK Corral.

Presumably 'buried at sea' means unceremoniously dumped overboard - fed to the fishes wearing concrete boots?

Seems that Mr Bin Liner is currently plumbing new depths.

As far as I'm aware Pakistan subscribes to the death penalty so legality doesn't come into the equation - as per CIA Manual No.2001 para.9 clause 11.

All very odd but at least we've been spared a show trial at taxpayers' expense with the inevitable yuman rights brigade jumping on the bandwagon.

Well..one of my first thoughts when I heard the news was, that's Obama elected for a second term then. It must have been a consideration.

I have to say it makes me very uncomfortable too. I dislike the idea of 'celebrating' anyone's death no matter what they've done.

I get the fact that a trial may have been logistically difficult, and having him imprisoned somewhere would be a magnet for rescue attempts but I can't believe that an 'off camera' death and dumping his body at sea will do anything other than rally people to the idea that the US has him hidden somewhere (I can't deny a sneaky little doubt that the reports may be missing salient details)

I'm sure that deep in the heart of the Pentagon, some faceless man in a suit made the decision that this was the cleanest and most expedient way of resolving things but it still doesn't sit right with me.

I think the fact Osama Bin Laden was not an elected leader, as the previously mentioned Hussein and Milosovic were, was perhaps one reason the US were allowed and felt justified to kill him without trial?

More than a consideration :o
Snorbs & izzy I agree here.

i'm sure bin laden would have been equally as solicitous of all your human rights had you been at the end of his rifle. He'd have ordered your beheading most likely. Sometimes in war, the end justifies the means. Do you think world war two was fought and won using whiter than white tactics?

This happens all the time

Gadafi's son was killed over the weekend, wasn't he? Along with three children? I can't find the story as am building Lego castle, but I think that was buried amongst the Royal Wedding guff.

We don't seem to gave wars anymore, just constant 'conflicts'

Esme, this isn't the result of an engagement in a war. There is no war that US troops are engaged in within Pakistan's borders.

And, yes, I do expect governments to behave better than terrorists. That's one of the fundamental things that marks the difference between governments and terrorists - one (should) follow the rule of law, the other doesn't.

Its almost as if they needed to something to quell the recent story of the escaped Taliban prisoners..
Even the story NormanTebbit points out > Gadaffi's son "killed", initially reported as the children being his - the people killed could have easily been any member of the volunteer human shields.

The news are reporting that this is fishy and will fuel conspiracy theories: we need evidence that can in no way have been tampered with.

All this celebration, apart from anything else, seems incredibly short sighted.

Do they actually think Al Quaeda (sp) are going to just stop?

Interesting post from a FB friend, which rings true for me.

"today i heard obama and ca-moron claim that bin laden was responsible for the worst acts of terror ever perpetrated...this shows such disrespect for the victims in cambodia, rawnda,the hollocaust that it leaves me horrified"

I added 'not to mention the holocaust of the Native Americans'

And yes it is disturbing that US govt can just do what they like and get of anyone without due process.

I am not convinced that the govt of Pakistan was not aware of this. It is even possible that they were involved. We really hve no idea. Frankly I think this kind of thing goes on all the time, we are just not told about it.

cynical moi

The idea of celebrating any death makes me shudder too... I can see why people are happy with this outcome though after everything that happened. I don't like to be skeptical about things like this only because you can't really prove anything and could spend your whole life being paranoid about the governments of this world and what is/isn't true.

Saying that though I can't help but think about it all being a bit too convenient. With the western world being "a bit down" presently with the economy etc maybe they could do with a bit of "good news" iykwim? And I think obama will be winning lots of votes after this.

The buried at sea thing does also seem convenient but then it's reported that this is in line with Islamic tradition to be buried at sea within 24hrs. Maybe some photographic evidence will spring up sometime soon, not that I want to see pictures of a dead person! Sometimes I think it's better just to go along with it all rather than being skeptical - I guess that's just easier on the brain!

I have I images of people "whooping" and cheering about this all though (although I haven't watched the news yet so haven't seen that) and it does make me feel a bit uneasy.

Jesus.

Ths is pretty awful imo. And all that celebration! Jingoistic, short sighted and offensive.
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HOW can they believe that 9/11 was the worst act of terror perpetrated Just because it was at their door I suppose.

Well now isn't there going to be a lovely lot of reprisals now after all the jubilation on the streets.

I think it's foul. Summary execution.

There are photos on various news websites.

Let's look on the bright side, people. At last the RW's been knocked off the No,1 spot albeit the photos aren't as pretty.

Is it just me or does Ozzy seem to have been at the Grecian 2000 shortly before he was blindsided?

I'm saving my curiousity for the winner of the $25,000,000 reward for the capture 'Dead or Alive' of the FBI's recently departed No.1 Public Enemy - I so hope they didn't tick the 'no publicity' option..

Here are some facts about Osama bin Laden:

OBL formed Al-Qaeda in 1988, this organisation believed in a warped version of Jihad.
OBL was extremely wealthy his money directly funded jihadist/terrrorist operations that included:

• 1992 Hotel bombing in Aden, killed 2 people
• 1995 murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane
• 1993 WTC, New York
• Sent an emmisary to try and discourage peaceful resoluion to the troubles in Algeria between the government and Islamists. The Islamist waged war and lost but still more than 150,000 Algerians were killed in the conflict.

• Bin Laden funded the Luxor boombing in 1997

- Joint ops with the Taliban to kill 5,000 people in Hazaras - Various assasination plot including the plot on President Mubarak of Egypt - He set up training camps in Afghanistan for the Mujahideen 'warriors' - Links to the fighters the Bosnian conflict - Declared a fatwa against all Americans and their allies, that is they said a jihadist was completely justified to kill you and me and our children if they had a good opportunity - He and Al-Qaeda planned attacks targeting tourists in Syria and Jordan in 2000 but these were foiled. - 11 Sept attacks (he did claimed responsibility for heading these) Al-Qaeda believe it is ok to kill innocent people - because they will find reward in death. - Killing german tourists in early 1990's (indicted) - Killing US and Indians in Saudi Arabia (indicted) - Embassy bombing in Kenya (indicted) - Embassy bombing Tanzania (indicted)

These, above, are just what I know off the top of my head.

Is the world safer with him dead? Probably not.
Would I celebrate his death? No.
Would I feel sanctimonious and sit on my horse about Americans celebrating? No. I understand why there is jubilation.

The US were justified in their actions yesterday. That is just my personal opnion.

I'm hoping that someone who understands about politics and international law comes on.

Last thing I read stated that, at the level of international politics, essentially anarchy prevails, which means it is a balance of forces, thus America has right of force/power to act thus.

It must have been sanctioned legally - I'd like to know the ins and outs and technicalities of it.

Agree with Snorbs, NormanTebbit and Mamazon, really - it makes me a little squeamish, though I realise it is realpolitik, or whatever.

The celebrating in the streets, flagwaving, cheering and chanting puts me in mind of all the scenes we've seen from Iraq/Afghanistan/Libya, of crowds waving their own flags, burning the US/UK flags etc etc. You would be truly naive to think that now bin Laden is dead, Al Qaeda will doff their caps and say "sorry chaps, game's up". The reprisals will come, and will be horrific. This certainly isn't a time to celebrate like the scenes in Times Square and Washington.

Oh and bully for you Obama

Pakistan has been involved in a civil war against extremists who support Osama and al quaida. I'm sure they are very happy he is gone.