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Questions swirl around bin Laden's death
By Stephen Nohlgren, Times Staff Writer
Posted: May 02, 2011 03:04 PM
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Questions are swirling about Sunday's commando raid on a walled Pakistani compound and the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Here are some of the answers based on information from various news agencies, including the Associated Press, New York Times and Washington Post. Some of the reports quote unnamed U.S. officials.
How do we know the man killed was bin Laden?
U.S. authorities apparently have collected DNA from various bin Laden family members since the 9/11 attacks. That DNA yielded a match with "99.9 percent certainty,'' Administration officials said. Navy SEAL forces also used facial recognition technology. A woman in the compound also helped identify bin Laden.
Why haven't photographs been released?
U.S. officials haven't said explicitly, but Obama spokesman John Brennan said one concern is that doing so could jeopardize future intelligence operations. The Administration is still debating whether to release photos, Brennan said. Bin Laden was also shot in the head, which would make for grisly photos.
Why not capture him alive?
Bin Laden reportedly was killed during a full-fledged fire fight, where he and others shot at U.S. attackers. Three other men and one woman were also killed, including one of bin Laden's sons. Other people in the compound were turned over to Pakistani authorities.
Why was the body buried at sea?
Islamic tradition calls for burial within 24 hours. U.S. authorities reportedly did not want to create an accessible grave site that could be converted into a symbolic shrine for bin Laden supporters. The body was reportedly washed and wrapped in a sheet, according to Islamic tradition, put into a weighted bag and slid on a board into the North Arabian Sea from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Vinson.
How did U.S. officials know that bin Laden was inside the compound?
It's not clear that they knew for sure. High-level terrorists interrogated after 9/11 had identified a trusted bin Laden courier. By August, U.S. officials had tracked the courier to the compound. After mid-February, President Obama held five National Security Council meetings devoted to figuring out whether bin Laden was in the compound and how to get him out. On Friday, Obama gave the go-ahead to attack.
Where did the attack originate?
Blackhawk helicopters ferried about two dozen Navy Seals from Afghanistan. They dropped into the compound via ropes, killed bin Laden and returned to Afghanistan in about 40 minutes. Bin Laden's body ended up on the aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea, which is at least 800 miles from Abbottabad.
Did the Pakistani government approve the attack?
President Obama said he informed the Pakistani president after the raid, which indicates that the U.S. kept Pakistan in the dark about specific details. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound in which he was hiding," but Abbottabad, only about 75 miles from the capital of Islamabad, was crawling with Pakistani military and the walled compound, built six years ago, is more than three times larger than nearby houses and has no phone service or Internet access. White House spokesman John Brennan said Monday it's inconceivable that bin Laden didn't have some support in Pakistan.
What now for al-Qaida?
Al-Qaida is a loose network of terrorists with branches in several countries. U.S. officials have identified Ayman al-Zawahiri, a 59-year-old Egyptian eye doctor, as bin Laden's second in command. He is presumed to be hiding in Pakistan and recently made video statements welcoming the fall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and called for Arab armies to intervene in the conflict in Libya. According to the Associated Press, one senior U.S. official said Monday that al-Zawahiri is far less charismatic than bin Laden and "not as well respected within the organization."
Will anyone receive the $25 million reward that the U.S. offered for information leading to Osama's capture?
No word of that yet.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/militar...-death/1167313
Posted: May 02, 2011 03:04 PM
x
Questions are swirling about Sunday's commando raid on a walled Pakistani compound and the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Here are some of the answers based on information from various news agencies, including the Associated Press, New York Times and Washington Post. Some of the reports quote unnamed U.S. officials.
How do we know the man killed was bin Laden?
U.S. authorities apparently have collected DNA from various bin Laden family members since the 9/11 attacks. That DNA yielded a match with "99.9 percent certainty,'' Administration officials said. Navy SEAL forces also used facial recognition technology. A woman in the compound also helped identify bin Laden.
Why haven't photographs been released?
U.S. officials haven't said explicitly, but Obama spokesman John Brennan said one concern is that doing so could jeopardize future intelligence operations. The Administration is still debating whether to release photos, Brennan said. Bin Laden was also shot in the head, which would make for grisly photos.
Why not capture him alive?
Bin Laden reportedly was killed during a full-fledged fire fight, where he and others shot at U.S. attackers. Three other men and one woman were also killed, including one of bin Laden's sons. Other people in the compound were turned over to Pakistani authorities.
Why was the body buried at sea?
Islamic tradition calls for burial within 24 hours. U.S. authorities reportedly did not want to create an accessible grave site that could be converted into a symbolic shrine for bin Laden supporters. The body was reportedly washed and wrapped in a sheet, according to Islamic tradition, put into a weighted bag and slid on a board into the North Arabian Sea from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Vinson.
How did U.S. officials know that bin Laden was inside the compound?
It's not clear that they knew for sure. High-level terrorists interrogated after 9/11 had identified a trusted bin Laden courier. By August, U.S. officials had tracked the courier to the compound. After mid-February, President Obama held five National Security Council meetings devoted to figuring out whether bin Laden was in the compound and how to get him out. On Friday, Obama gave the go-ahead to attack.
Where did the attack originate?
Blackhawk helicopters ferried about two dozen Navy Seals from Afghanistan. They dropped into the compound via ropes, killed bin Laden and returned to Afghanistan in about 40 minutes. Bin Laden's body ended up on the aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea, which is at least 800 miles from Abbottabad.
Did the Pakistani government approve the attack?
President Obama said he informed the Pakistani president after the raid, which indicates that the U.S. kept Pakistan in the dark about specific details. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound in which he was hiding," but Abbottabad, only about 75 miles from the capital of Islamabad, was crawling with Pakistani military and the walled compound, built six years ago, is more than three times larger than nearby houses and has no phone service or Internet access. White House spokesman John Brennan said Monday it's inconceivable that bin Laden didn't have some support in Pakistan.
What now for al-Qaida?
Al-Qaida is a loose network of terrorists with branches in several countries. U.S. officials have identified Ayman al-Zawahiri, a 59-year-old Egyptian eye doctor, as bin Laden's second in command. He is presumed to be hiding in Pakistan and recently made video statements welcoming the fall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and called for Arab armies to intervene in the conflict in Libya. According to the Associated Press, one senior U.S. official said Monday that al-Zawahiri is far less charismatic than bin Laden and "not as well respected within the organization."
Will anyone receive the $25 million reward that the U.S. offered for information leading to Osama's capture?
No word of that yet.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/militar...-death/1167313
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