I'm taking bets on whether or not Osama Bin Laden will be taken alive.

[FlamingoBlue]

Whether to die a martyr or to live as a martyr, that is the question. If I was Bin Laden I would want a trial in the World Court. Just think of the circus. It would make the Chicago 7 trial look like nursery school.

On the other hand, after encouraging his followers that death in support of "the cause" will lead you to paradise, he may believe his own propoganda. Or he may not be given a choice if he is assasinated.

So, where are you putting your money; a trial or paradise and 70 virgins?? I'm giving even odds on all bets. I'm betting on paradise, the sooner the better.

Poor Osama. He's just a sad misunderstood millionaire- mysogonist-religious zealot- revolutionary-lunatic who likes to sleep in caves, with multiple wives and a bunch of guys with beards.I see him as nothing more than a stylized serial killer with a death wish, for himself and everyone else.

blue

 

[Cheyenne]

My vote is he will end up dead as a door nail.

 

[shadowsource]

Dead, like Hitler -

I am loathe to compare people to the rarely surpassed Hitler, but both are nihilist drama queens whose egos demand Apocalypse. I'll be surprised and delighted if they take him alive. A trial, with all of the bureaucratic case building, with some of his followers testifying against him, no longer blind, is just what he deserves. And I still think life imprisonment - especially for a bloody-minded bastard like him or that mullah locked up in upstate NY - is best. I always think that Rudolf Hess was more miserable watching from his prison cell in Spandau as the Jews recovered, watching Germany become democratic, watching NATO and the EU grow, was far more punished than the Nazis who were executed. I'd love to see bin Laden grow older and more desperate in a box, seeing how much he will have failed.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

Maybe he would like a cell next to.....

a soulmate. Someone like the ole Unabomber himself, Ted Kozinski. They could talk about their dead soulmate, the Oklahoma kid, Timmy McVeh.

I agree with you Shadow. I think that death is the only way out for the guy.
The sooner, the better.

blue

 

[Mr_Neb]

I hope that Bin Laden does what I wish every createn that takes hostages in a 7-11 or a McDonalds would.

I hope he takes a stand and want to shoot it out. End it with a snipers bullet. End of story.

(For those of you with non-obvious sensibilities, yes I want the 7-11, McDonalds, etc. commando to be taken out but without the loss of innocent bystanders or other "good guys.")

 

[MissTaken]

Whether to die a martyr or to live as a martyr, that is the question.

My concern is that we are assuming he will be "taken" at all. I am sorry to sound skeptical, but I have to wonder if he will be found in any event.

Of course, I fully expect that he will go find his 70 virgins and possibly at his own hand or the hand of one of his closest followers. He needs to die a martyr so that his followers will revere him and carry on with his "work." I dont' believe he will allow himself to lose face.

My goodness. Someone is in a negative space tonight!

 

[BlondGirl]

What if the US government offerred a nice reward, say, 1 million US dollars and instant citizenship to any person (and her family) who volunteers bin Laden's location that leads to apprehension of this "suspect"? Just like in the movie with Mel Gibson--what are the odds that every person bin Laden is exposed to is loyal to him?

 

[Dillinger]

This is a tough call. I really don't think he's going to manage to hide out forever - unless he just commits suicide and someone hides his body - but that seems quite unlikely.

I'd like to see him captured alive and, as mentioned above, to spend his life in prison watching the world move on past his madness. Let him see - hopefully - countries and religions come together and live together... that is my hope.

However, taking him alive is going to be pretty difficult - but I am afraid that if he is killed in the process that he will indeed become a "martyr" to those who idolize him and that would not be a good thing (to put it mildly). I would very much like to see him "brought to justice" and , hopefully, let the world see how disturbed he is.

 

[Aussie Worm]

Gotta find him first kiddies.

 

[morninggirl5]

What if the US government offerred a nice reward, say, 1 million US dollars and instant citizenship to any person (and her family) who volunteers bin Laden's location that leads to apprehension of this "suspect"? Just like in the movie with Mel Gibson--what are the odds that every person bin Laden is exposed to is loyal to him?

From the FBI website......


These Individuals are charged with bombing the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The U.S. Government is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest or prosecution of these individuals. Persons providing information are eligible for a reward of up to $5 million dollars, protection of their identity and possible relocation for themselves and their family.

Usama Bin Laden
Muhammad Atef
Saif Al-Adel
Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah
Ayman Al-Zawahiri
Anas Al-Libi
Ahmed Mohamed Hamed Ali
Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah
Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani
Khalfan Khamis Mohamed
Fazul Abdullah Mohammed
Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam
Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan



I don't think he'll be taken alive. Hard to convince the "troops" to die for the cause if he's in prison instead of fighting to the death as he asks them to do.

 

[Dillinger]

Bin Laden has been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list since 1999, and the U.S. State Department has offered a $5 million reward for his arrest.

http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/09/12/binladen.profile/

 

[miles]

Shoot him on sight.

He's the enemy and doesn't have to be brought to justice. We'll never know the circumstances under which he dies. I don't care how, just rid the planet of him.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Trial

The United States, or World Court, could not afford a trial, meaning if he was found guilty and executed... Boom!

 

[Chanson_bleu]

The only good Bin Laden is a DEAD Bin Laden

I have a very personal stake in Mr. Bin Laden's fate:

Earlier this year, I picked 10 celebrities who I think/hope will die in 2001 for a "Dead Pool" in which I participate. The younger the deceased, the more points you get (100-deceased's age=points). One of my picks was Bin Laden, long before the terrorists attacks.

I must admit, I'm feeling pretty smug about my pick these days.

I just hope his death is verifiable, unlike the thousands of WTC victims who have no remains left...