Comment by Apple on May 2, 2011 at 4:11pm

I don't think there is anything to be learned about his behavior / beliefs by simply examining his dead brain.

Comment by Janet Richter on May 2, 2011 at 4:17pm

Before I get told that I am an idiot, I looked it up and with new technology DNA can confirm a person's ID in only a few hours.  It is just very expensive technology but I'm sure our government has access to it.  The DNA match came from his sister who died in the United States.  Debunking my own silliness. . .I feel much better now.

Comment by Sean Fraser on May 2, 2011 at 4:23pm

You also have to remember, in order for the police to get a DNA analysis, they usually have to have someone prepare a sample, send the sample to the lab, have the lab GET TO the sample, as this sample is not the only one they're dealing with, have the lab conclude their findings, then send them back to the police. This could essentially take weeks. On CNN last night, Wolf Blitzer mentioned that a plan for this type of event was made during the Bush administration, which included an autopsy and DNA test. I'm positive that the government had a coroner and DNA lab on retainer that was prepared to mobilize when this happened.

Comment by Lindsey on May 2, 2011 at 4:26pm

"Who wouldn't want to know if there was some sort of pathology behind this mad man's evil tendencies?"

There is: its called religious fundamentalism. It's a real doozy.

And I don't like the term "buried at sea". It sounds too honorable. I would prefer to hear it referred to as "tossed into the ocean like an unwanted sack of garbage". Let the real "burials at sea" be reserved for people who deserve ceremony and honoring.

Comment by Andrew Bergstrom on May 2, 2011 at 5:06pm

His body should have been desecrated with porcine remnants after being chopped to bits, than burned at sea! You don't honor your enemy! The only ones who would be affected by this action are those loyal to Osama, and they are still on the list. DNA tests have come a long way, and short-cuts can give results (according to an expert in the field) in only a few hours if you're only looking for a few ringers. Comprehensive tests may take awhile, but confirmation since Friday's assault could happen by Sunday night. Save your honor of Islamic traditions for the innocent, but that villain deserved to be desecrated...

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on May 2, 2011 at 6:23pm

It's all a lot to absorb rather quickly and that can often lead to incredulity that seeks incredible conclusions.  In reality, I wouldn't be surprised if Osama was sitting in an interrogation room right now.  I also wouldn't be surprised if they grabbed a few tissue samples for confirmation and dumped him in the ocean as fast as possible to avoid a legacy of rumours like those that surrounded the corpse of Hitler.  Stating that he was buried at sea following Islamic tradition is incredibly important to continued diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.  For my part, I'll let my thoughts digest for a while before I regurgitate my conclusions.

Comment by Daria Black on May 2, 2011 at 6:56pm

@Andrew

 

It's my understanding that they buried him like that not to honor Osama (which would be ridiculous) but to maintain relations with the Muslim community at large. Their religion requires burial within 24 hours. To not honor that would have been considered an affront. Crazy, I know but that's the world we live in unfortunately.

Comment by Andrew Bergstrom on May 2, 2011 at 7:05pm

I am not talking about dishonoring the Islamic tradition, I am talking about dishonoring the villain who didn't deserve an honorable funeral. It is important to make sure these enemies of the USA understand that we will treat them with the disdain they deserve. If the rest of the Islamic and Arabic nations claim that this is a slight against them then they are hypocrites. Live by the sword and die by the sword, but Osama started this war and brought it to our shore, and I see no reason to grant any quarter for such fanatical sycophants. Remember, in WWII the Japanese were ready to fight for 1000 years, and if we had not used Atomic weapons (with fair warning to evacuate those targeted cities) they would never have surrendered. It was a horrific weapon, and a third attack was planned on their most sacred city if they did not capitulate. The decision to use this force was not easy, and the circumstances were completely different that we have today, but each culture must be dealt in a unique way to quell their lust for vengeance. Decades ago US forces had to deal with some Muslim terrorists, and they finally chose to desecrate the bodies of their fallen foes publicly with a slaughtered pig. This was used to psychologically demoralize, not galvanize, the terrorists so they would know their future. The effect afterwards of this type of attack was quick with those who had hidden and taken arms against our forces fleeing the area, and the cell broke apart within a week without men to fight. You cannot deal nicely with fanatics, moral high roads will not save lives, but drag out a conflict like this...

Comment by Discern on May 2, 2011 at 11:59pm

I initially thought the burial story was too convenient and made it too easy for people to say he was never killed. But as I read more information, it does seem that they did indeed conduct a raid and killed Osama.

Comment by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on May 3, 2011 at 11:50am

Personally I hope they chucked him into the sea after stripping him naked and stuffing him in a potato sack. lol

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