Bin Laden's son to sue for death of Dad.

But it's not just between the US and Pakistan. If bin Laden was assassinated then the War on Terror, an issue of international urgency, loses some more of what little legitimacy it has left. Who the hell are we to decide who deserves to live or die without the rule of law behind us? It makes us no different from terrorists.

Not necessarily. We aren't talking about America breaking US laws or Pakistani laws but of them breaking International Law. It doesn't matter where it occurred, if America did break international law then they broke the law and should face the consequences.

Raghhhh! Bugger.

...on another note, Obama should never grow a beard.

True.

I did the same thing on twitter the other day, had to quickly delete the tweet before anyone noticed the mistake.

If he had stood up and surrendered, he would have been captured alive. But he had said publicly many times that he would never surrender and his enemies would have to kill him, so I suspect that he did not make any attempt to surrender before he was shot.

And while I wish no man dead, I can say without a moments hesitation that I shed no tears for him. I was living in Manhattan on 9/11 less than a mile from the towers, and I watched innocent people hold hands and jump from more than 800 feet up to their deaths, rather than having to endure being roasted alive. I'm certain that he not only shed no tears, but that he was happy it happened. He caused it to happen, and he DID wish them dead.

THAT is what makes us different than the terrorists.

The circumstances of his death are exactly what is at issue, here. We can't just happily assume that he fought back; there are good reasons to believe that he could have been taken alive with sufficient planning. Avoiding a court case is a strong incentive for the US government to have wanted him dead. Scrutiny is what is needed, and if the US government have nothing to hide they should fully endorse an inquiry.




Being able to kill one's enemies dispassionately is not a redeeming quality. The only thing that counts is that governments and organisations act morally; that is, act according to reasonable principles which have been agreed to by everyone. International laws are principles which have been commonly agreed upon by states and can be legitimately appealed to in situations such as this. Terrorists such as bin Laden have no concern to justify themselves to the global community; they dismiss common principles and demand absolution. We cannot properly challenge terrorists and rogue states except on the basis of principles which are commonly accepted; otherwise we are just on the other side of a symmetrical dispute.

When I posted this, it was based purely on empathy for the family.
But since then i've done some thinking and believe whole heartedly that they broke the law.

Wouldn't a police officer who shot an unarmed man in every day life be subject to an inquiry at the least?
Heck, i've seen officers charged and commited to time for less.
And isn't every man entitled to a trial?


Have you seen the reason listed on the FBI's site for Bin Laden's capture?
It seems no one felt it important enough to mention he was wanted in relation to 9/11.
Odd..

FBI Top Ten Wanted

I was just about to post that. I agree wholeheartedly.

Only you inserted the word American here, it wasn't in my post at all, and wasnt about that either. It would matter to me not at all if it were the same exact situation but to a different company other than America.

Methinks you are projecting.

The reason why I doubt this person's integrity is pretty straight forward. If Bin Laden was my father, his death might cause ambivalence, but his life would cause me enormous shame, loathing, contempt and disgust.

I sure as hell would not be looking to sue people for doing what is fair and reasonable - ie., kill a sociopath like Bin Laden.

That said, the USA made a mistake in killing him. They should have captured him, and placed him in isolation the rest of his life in a small room covered in pig skin, without his precious book, and streamed him live 24/7 on the internet for the entire world's viewing pleasure without his knowledge. Some people give up their humanity, and he is one of them.