Why didnt Bin Laden stand trial?

[sweggeh]

Something I just started thinking about. Even though it is a pretty open and shut case, how come he didnt need to stand trial before being executed? Isn't it standard procedure?

I mean even Saddam Hussein with all the ****ed up stuff he did still had to stand trial before he could be officially proven guilty.

Maybe there is something I am missing. Was Bin Laden already pronounced guilty at an earlier trial he did not attend? Like in Afghanistan or something?

I dont know, someone enlighten me on this one.

[Velocirap31]

They weren't taking any chances. Plus, I believe he fired at the seal team before they reached him.

[UK2K]

Something I just started thinking about. Even though it is a pretty open and shut case, how come he didnt need to stand trial before being executed? Isn't it standard procedure?

I mean even Saddam Hussein with all the ****ed up stuff he did still had to stand trial before he could be officially proven guilty.

Maybe there is something I am missing. Was Bin Laden already pronounced guilty at an earlier trial he did not attend? Like in Afghanistan or something?

I dont know, someone enlighten me on this one.

He shot at the SEALS.

They shot back.

Their aim was better.

[IcanzIIravor]

He shot at the SEALS.

They shot back.

Their aim was better.

Pretty much this. Considering the small window they had any resistance required some amount of lethal force. OP should look up the interviews with OBL's wives and family.

[Richesly]

Hussein did not kill innocent american lives, any american lives lost were due to war casualties. He was a war leader and a tyrant, and to his defense, he may have actually delayed the forming of ISIS, which Hussein warned everyone about but everyone thought he was crazy.


Bin Laden literally planned the mass murder of 2,000~ people.

[sweggeh]

Thanks for the answers lads. I guess it clears it up. So it was confirmed their first intention was to take him back alive and to only execute if he fired?


Hussein did not kill innocent american lives, any american lives lost were due to war casualties. He was a war leader and a tyrant, and to his defense, he may have actually delayed the forming of ISIS, which Hussein warned everyone about but everyone thought he was crazy.


Bin Laden literally planned the mass murder of 2,000~ people.

This is not how the legal system works man. Whether you are accused of doing 30mph in a 25mph zone, or for killing a million people. Everyone gets to have their day in court, as per the law. Unless you violently resist capture, which I guess is usually when people end up getting killed before officially going to trial.

[Cactus-Sack]

"He shot first"

You really think they were gonna cuff him and bring him in for booking?


Han shot first, btw

[West-Side]

You shoot at Navy Seals, they will shoot back.

[UK2K]

Thanks for the answers lads. I guess it clears it up. So it was confirmed their first intention was to take him back alive and to only execute if he fired?



This is not how the legal system works man. Whether you are accused of doing 30mph in a 25mph zone, or for killing a million people. Everyone gets to have their day in court, as per the law. Unless you violently resist capture, which I guess is usually when people end up getting killed before officially going to trial.

Yes. If you read books on the incident, they killed several inside the building. Bin Laden opened fire on them from a bedroom. They didn't even know it was him until after he was dead.

[RidonKs]

if i remember correctly, it was because "trying him in central park means we might as well invite al qaeda to the barbecue" or something like that

remember the ground zero mosque? i missed witnessing that episode from an insidehoops perspective but sweet jesus that was crazy

the bin laden thing is tricky... though what certainly shouldn't have happened is accidental assassination or whatever the administration calls it when a single women tries to protest 20 armed soldiers and there is no way to restrain her so it kills her and her famous husband

[Richesly]

Thanks for the answers lads. I guess it clears it up. So it was confirmed their first intention was to take him back alive and to only execute if he fired?



This is not how the legal system works man. Whether you are accused of doing 30mph in a 25mph zone, or for killing a million people. Everyone gets to have their day in court, as per the law. Unless you violently resist capture, which I guess is usually when people end up getting killed before officially going to trial.

I believe international war results in using U.N legal system.

[KevinNYC]

There are several conflicting accounts of what happened. Even the week of the raid it came out that Bin Laden wasn't armed

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/04/opinion/bergen-seals-bin-laden-killing/

Given this account and the "Shooter's" account it seems likely that Bin Laden didn't fire at all.

There was firefight on the lower floors. But by the time they got to Bin Laden, some accounts say he had a gun within reach and others say guns were only found on that floor after a search.

The account above was given to contradict other public accounts and it says he was shot as soon as he poked his head out the door. That shot would have killed him, but they felt he was mortally wounded and shot him again in the chest.

Saddam killed many people but he was also found in a hole after getting a tip. When the raided Bin Laden's place. They didn't know what they find and and had a legitimate fear of suicide belts. So operational security would have been much much different.

[1987_Lakers]

He shot at the SEALS.

They shot back.

Their aim was better.

It's amazing how gullible people are, I'm not saying that Bin Laden didn't shoot first, but why would you believe anything the government tells you? This is the same government that staged the Gulf of Tonkin to go into Vietnam for Christ sakes.

[UK2K]

It's amazing how gullible people are, I'm not saying that Bin Laden didn't shoot first, but why would you believe anything the government tells you? This is the same government that staged the Gulf of Tonkin to go into Vietnam for Christ sakes.

I don't.

I believe the SEAL who took the shot though, since he was one of the ones who wrote the book.

[KevinNYC]

It's amazing how gullible people are, I'm not saying that Bin Laden didn't shoot first, but why would you believe anything the government tells you? This is the same government that staged the Gulf of Tonkin to go into Vietnam for Christ sakes.
The Gulf of Tonkin wasn't staged.

It may have been exploited, but it wasn't staged.

There was a torpedo attack on August 2nd that wasn't responded to and there was a reported attack on August 4th. There were conflicting reports on the 4th and a lot of doubt what exactly happened. The Captain of the ship believed at the time there was an initial ambush, and then a firefight and the the firefight might have been US shooting at nothing, but he didn't doubt the ambush. Here's how Wikipedia has it.

Second attack[edit]
On August 4, another DESOTO patrol off the North Vietnamese coast was launched by Maddox and the Turner Joy, in order to "show the flag" after the first incident. This time their orders indicated that the ships were to close to no less than 11 miles (18 km) from the coast of North Vietnam.[13] During an evening and early morning of rough weather and heavy seas, the destroyers received radar, sonar, and radio signals that they believed signaled another attack by the North Vietnamese navy. For some four hours the ships fired on radar targets and maneuvered vigorously amid electronic and visual reports of enemies. Despite the Navy's claim that two attacking torpedo boats had been sunk, there was no wreckage, bodies of dead North Vietnamese sailors, or other physical evidence present at the scene of the alleged engagement.[20]
At 01:27, Washington time, Herrick sent a cable in which he acknowledged that the second attack may not have happened and that there may actually have been no Vietnamese craft in the area: "Review of action makes many reported contacts and torpedoes fired appear doubtful. Freak weather effects on radar and overeager sonarmen may have accounted for many reports. No actual visual sightings by Maddox. Suggest complete evaluation before any further action taken".[21]
One hour later, Herrick sent another cable, stating, "Entire action leaves many doubts except for apparent ambush at beginning. Suggest thorough reconnaissance in daylight by aircraft."[22] In response to requests for confirmation, at around 16:00 Washington time, Herrick cabled, "Details of action present a confusing picture although certain that the original ambush was bona fide."[22]
At 18:00 Washington time (05:00 in the Gulf of Tonkin), Herrick cabled yet again, this time stating, "the first boat to close the Maddox probably launched a torpedo at the Maddox which was heard but not seen. All subsequent Maddox torpedo reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that sonarman was hearing the ship's own propeller beat" [sic].[22]
Within thirty minutes of the 4 August incident, President Johnson had decided on retaliatory attacks. That same day he used the "hot line" to Moscow, and assured the Soviets he had no intent in opening a broader war in Vietnam. Early on August 5, Johnson publicly ordered retaliatory measures stating, "The determination of all Americans to carry out our full commitment to the people and to the government of South Vietnam will be redoubled by this outrage." One hour and forty minutes after his speech, US aircraft reached North Vietnamese targets. On 5 August, at 10:40, these planes flying from US aircraft carriers, bombed four torpedo boat bases, and an oil-storage facility in Vinh.[23]

[Patrick Chewing]

Anybody who thinks Bin Laden should have been taken in alive is crazy. Imbecilic Muslims from around the world would have gone apeshit. Better to cut the head off the snake now and send a message to the whole world.

[RidonKs]

Anybody who thinks Bin Laden should have been taken in alive is crazy. Imbecilic Muslims from around the world would have gone apeshit. Better to cut the head off the snake now and send a message to the whole world.
you sound like if they had of cast john cena as president in the west wing

[Bandito]

He wasnt executed.

[sweggeh]

Anybody who thinks Bin Laden should have been taken in alive is crazy. Imbecilic Muslims from around the world would have gone apeshit. Better to cut the head off the snake now and send a message to the whole world.

Yh, they would have been extremely pissed off if he had to stand trial. But they would be completely cool with it if he was shot dead. Makes sense.

Maybe there is parts of truth in that theory but the way you phrase it is just like everything else about your waste of a life. Shit.

[Patrick Chewing]

Yh, they would have been extremely pissed off if he had to stand trial. But they would be completely cool with it if he was shot dead. Makes sense.

Maybe there is parts of truth in that theory but the way you phrase it is just like everything else about your waste of a life. Shit.


What are you babbling? Shows your lack of knowledge of the Muslim faith. Muslims welcome death. Muslims who kill themselves are considered martyrs. Better to kill Bin Laden at the hands of what they consider "infidels".

The only thing that would have been better than what happened is if it would have happened sooner. Bin Laden was becoming an after thought at that point.

[SCdac]

the US should be charged with war crimes, sanctioned, and forced to compensate Al Qaeda!

/sarcasm

[Derka]

Because f*ck that guy.

[Lensanity]

Sometimes you make exceptions to protocol. This was one of those times. They may say "he shot first" just to make it sound like they followed the rules but it's bullshit and there was no way they were going to drag him out of there alive.

[outbreak]

I don't think he shot first and technically what they did is probably wrong but it was the safest way to end the situation and you can't really fault them. Western countries like to have this high moral code but there's certain times where you have to break that code to do what is best for the country. It's like the fire bombing during ww2, America sold it to the public as "strategic bombing" knowing full well that bombing a city at night meant just randomly carpet bombing them in to dust at that time. It had to happen though because killing those civilians helps end the war quicker which helps save more of your troops lives. When the Germans do it it's "terror bombing", when the Allies do it it's "strategic bombing". What's best for the country isn't always the right choice morally.