AIBU to think that is was quite distateful

[ModreB]

For Obama and effectively the rest of the US Govt to watch live coverage of Bin Laden being shot dead?

At least Hilary Clinton looked pretty horrified here

They talked about televising it - I'm not sure I have the stomach for it.

Well presumably they do need to know exactly how it happened. No point in hiding their heads in the sand is there?

Sorry but it was a tactical assault they had to know step by step what was going on.

If you are going to order the death of someone then I think you should watch it. After all, it is your order so you should face it.

No, the videoing it I can understand, but watching the coverage live

Like a film or something.

If it is filmed, there can be less doubt about the truth.

I dont suppose anyone in the western world found it pleasant to watch people throw themselves from the Twin Towers.

Those in charge of running the actual military operation need to be watching.

For anyone else, it's not that different to a snuff movie IMHO.

No, not for the most evil wanted man on the planet who masterminded the twin towers, and has killed thousands of inocent people i would have paid good money to see that,

I really don't understand your point OP.

The president should be watching something like that live, he runs the country.

I think it was quite fitting actually that he died cowering behind his wife

If the photo is anything to go by I don't think Hillary enjoyed herself.

I don't think it was about enjoying themselves - agree that as he was the one who ordered this and is responsible for all the fall out then he should have watched it.

Watch it live, watch it later, what's the difference?

I appreciate it may appear distasteful in the extreme, but if one is about to go on live television to make an announcement some minutes later, I would much prefer someone to speak as a clear witness than to speak with only hearsay about what someone said had happened to them.

I think it far better that someone with such responsibility watch it themself, rather than just have a 'chief of staff' say 'the helicopters landed, there was a gun battle, and Bin Laden was shot....'

See it, be able to answer questions on it as if one was right there on the spot. (OK, it perhaps was not that type of situation when the reporting of the fact was first made, but be able to answer media hours and days later and be honestly able to say 'I watched as the gun battle started, and saw how Bin Laden was killed' than to waffle and be one or more 'steps' away from the truth, must be better than saying "I was told..." in the way Tony Blair was "told" of Weapons of Mass Destruction !).

I think it perhaps goes some way to showing the military that if they 'fuck up' while they are in action, there could be eyes from as high up as the President watching them do it. So atrocities and mindless killing should be a thing of the past if every individual knows s/he and his/her c/o will be answerable for any and every thing they do, and if they are in the wrong, there will be witnesses, thousands of miles away, and a recording made while they are in action.

Yes, unpleasant, but equally, made necessary, perhaps, by some of the worst events even in 'wartime' where civilians - local men, women and children - may have been killed for no reason but being in the wrong place at the wrong time, when some maverick 'kick their asses' thug happens to cross their path and has a gun, or knife, or some other method of killing / maiming / abusing them, and does.

I'm amazed at the number of people "celebrating" this event, do they think that's it the war on terror is all over now, phew we can go home.
I can't understand the mentality.

I'm amazed at the number of people "celebrating" this event, do they think that's it the war on terror is all over now, phew we can go home.
I can't understand the mentality.

Dont be so ridicilous, no-one is that naive. But to lots of people - particularly loved ones of victims of 9/11 and all the other terrorist attacks - the death of the man who ordered these atrocities is a vital symbolic event. And so it should be, I can understand it totally.

No Ishani no one thinks its over, in fact there will probably be repercussions, the mentality is, " yeehaa, the most evil wanted cowardly devil man on the planet who masterminded the twintowers and killed thousands of inoccent people is dead at last, whooopee.

"If you are going to order the death of someone then I think you should watch it. After all, it is your order so you should face it."

Good point Hecate.

Besides, while in general I find the idea of watching videos of people dying pretty horrific, Bin Laden is in a pretty small category of people who I think deserve to die.

YABU. It was right that the person/people ordering the kill saw exactly what happened, while it was happening, so that they had all the facts and less chance of being accused of a cover up.

However, I'm uneasy about the whole celebration of his death. He deserved to die (although a trial and being found guilty and punished that way would have been preferable) but the war on terror is far from over and Bin Laden is now a martyr to his cause.

I hope it has helped to bring closure to aleast some of the families of his victims. To have a loved one murdered and never stand a chance of getting proper justice for them must be soul destroying.

I think there are some realists around Ishani - such as Hillary Clinton, though I cannot quote her exact words. She said something along the lines of 'this does not stop terrorism' and I think anyone who assumes the death of this one man will stop all acts of terror is mistaken.

However, we can surely hope that with him out of the picture, it will have some effect and anyone planning to step into control or be a 'brains' behind further acts of violence will know that if they annoy the West, the West will seek them out, even if it takes years.

It has limited effect when someone effectively becomes a martyr for going up against the West and being killed in the end for it, but there may be sufficient wish for change, better education, better health and living conditions, an end to poverty, which might mean some people living in areas surrounded by fundamentalists will have alternative thoughts and not be driven into carrying out acts of suicide so maybe in a few generations there will be peace.

I have not followed the wishes/ intentions of the terrorists, but if it is to remove Westerners (aka infidels) by death, there's a long way to go. It does cause some concern that some of the different factions take their distrust and even hatred with them wherever they go, so the various believers could start 'civil war' between groups in whichever countries they end up.

While I'd like to be welcoming to all faiths (and those with none), I have to say that when nationals of some other country demand their legal decisions be made under different rules than those of the land they are in, it strikes me as being a step too far. I would like to be "inclusive" and while one can understand a wish (and rights) to adhere to various traditions, some seem to step over the mark, and prevent "inclusion" because of a barrier between such a group and the local [existing] society.

I'm not the sort to say "go home" because for many, Britain now is home, but I have to say that just as the USA may one day be dominated by Hispanic peoples, Europe seems set to be either a 'melting pot' (which has a lot of hot, fighting, bubbles causing trouble) or blends to where national differences are removed to a large extent and those of a Christian 'persuasion' (even if not regular church goers) may become the minority. Fortunately (for me) I will be dead and gone before things could reach that stage, but it does leave me wondering how the traditions and cultures of the "UK" (ie the four current national groups) will survive.

I think killing him was the worst thing they could have done.

bin laden the symbol will be far more powerful than bin laden the man ever was.

I think it is right that those in power, people with others lives in their hands should see the consequences of their decisions.

If Obama or Hilary were unable to watch, or chose not to then they should not be allowed to make these decisions. DH has killed, has watched the missiles he fired hit the targets he intended them to, knowing that people would die. He made his decision and watched the outcome. He would not be the man he is if he couldn't do that.

Obama looks confident, Clinton looks horrified. Maybe it's the first time she has had to face the consequences of her actions - if so, that is a good thing and will make her better informed.

jesus MN has changed

a few years ago virtually nobody would have been celebrating a summary execution, regardless of whose it was

I am against the death penalty personally, even if it is applied legally, which in this case it is not. The American government and military are no better than Hamas or Al Quaeda or the Taliban - in fact they are worse.

Its America what do you expect..everything is a drama...I fully expect a movie by the end of the year with Morgan Freeman playing the president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!