They finally got him!

[minestrone]

I can usually entertain the odd conspiracy theory but I have no doubt he is dead and has been dumped out the back of a plane over water. Obama would look like a turkey if Osama turned up in a video next week.

I would suspect that he probably shot himself in the noggin before capture (from a book repository).

[jmo21]

The problem with conspiracy theories (and theorists) is that they don't need proof for their theories....which is exactly what they are accusing the americans of lacking.

Kind of like religion really.

Lot of tulipe.

[Old Greg]

I can usually entertain the odd conspiracy theory but I have no doubt he is dead and has been dumped out the back of a plane over water. Obama would look like a turkey if Osama turned up in a video next week.

I would suspect that he probably shot himself in the noggin before capture (from a book repository).

So they've go to you now, have they? How deep does this run?

[PAH]

/conspiracy mode on/ he’s not he’s been taken for “questioning” the buried at sea gig is to give fake comfort to his buddies who he is now telling the nice Yanks all about /conspiracy mode off/

I can believe that. Buys them time to question him for as long as they like.

Then they can ditch his body at sea, or more likely GWB wants it for his private trophy room.

[wobbegong]

/conspiracy mode on/ he’s not he’s been taken for “questioning” the buried at sea gig is to give fake comfort to his buddies who he is now telling the nice Yanks all about /conspiracy mode off/

No conspiracy Halo, I just can't understand why, bearing in mind the importance of the 'target' the US government wouldn't provide irrefutable proof that they got their man, when they have done so in the past for 'lesser' bad guys. Surely not providing evidence is far more damaging in the long run insofar as it leaves the possiblitiy of future audio tapes and blurred photos emerging purporting to be him.

[d000hg]

On a serious note, how can they be sure it is him, not someone who looks a bit similar?

[sasguru]

No conspiracy Halo, I just can't understand why, bearing in mind the importance of the 'target' the US government wouldn't provide irrefutable proof that they got their man, when they have done so in the past for 'lesser' bad guys. Surely not providing evidence is far more damaging in the long run insofar as it leaves the possiblitiy of future audio tapes and blurred photos emerging purporting to be him.

I think the Yanks have played it exactly right.
They probably figure that conspiracy theorists tend to be ineffective losers in general and what they think doesn't matter.
The people who matter i.e. top leadership of Al Qaeda and other groups WILL know that he's gone.
And the manner of his going will put the heebie-jeebies up them: no trial to put your point across, you don't get to be martyr, no, just a double tap and dumped unceremoniously out to sea for shark food. A dead nonentity. They wont't be able to stand that thought.

[Halo Jones]

I think the Yanks have played it exactly right.
They probably figure that conspiracy theorists tend to be ineffective losers in general and what they think doesn't matter.
The people who matter i.e. top leadership of Al Qaeda and other groups WILL know that he's gone.
And the manner of his going will put the heebie-jeebies up them: no trial to put your point across, you don't get to be martyr, no, just a double tap and dumped unceremoniously out to sea for shark food. A dead nonentity. They wont't be able to stand that thought.

Oh dear I am agreeing with Sas

[sasguru]

Oh dear I am agreeing with Sas

Most people usually do ...eventually.

[AtW]

you don't get to be martyr

Under their ideology he IS a martyr - died in a firefight too.