As for evidence being out there, all I can gather is what we have been told in the news and by governments. Hardly the most credible sources.

Based on that sentence alone, the two of us should probably not get into any long, drawn-out debate. I’m not trying to disrespect you, but I can already tell we won’t agree on anything and no amount of debate will change that. As I mentioned above, I’m not sure if you are trying to play devil’s advocate but to suggest that you don’t think there is enough evidence to prove bin Laden is responsible for numerous atrocities just blows my mind…I pray you are not that ignorant (or as many conspiracy types would say…”intelligent”).

You can argue this every which way, and I am not really the best person to be doing it either. He is now dead, but what he represented is still very much alive. I believe he should have gone to trial – just as Saddam Hussein did before him. You, and others don’t believe that and I can accept that.

Life will continue to go on…:)

As for those who would have wanted a trial, my only response can be: Are you seroius?! I’m not really that surprised to hear people saying that, but at the same time I have to wonder just what you have to be made of to suggest that. This isn’t someone who may or may not have killed someone at a convenient store during a robbery attempt and you take them to trial to see if the evidence points to them as the killer or not. This is someone who has been responsible for numerous atrocities against humanity (not just 9/11 remember). The evidence is out there and, unless you are one of those lunatics who believes in stuff like the moon landings being staged, you shouldn’t need the “justice” of a trial (which would be an absolute disaster I can assure you). He got what was coming to him, only about 15 or 20 years too late.

The reason is that there shouldn’t be one set of rules for one group of people and another set for a select few on some government wish list.

As for evidence being out there, all I can gather is what we have been told in the news and by governments. Hardly the most credible sources.

I do have a question for you; how many people do you need to kill before it is ok to be killed yourself? One? Ten? A Thousand?

Doh!

Good to see you back Steve!

So was I.

Three spool, I have the greatest respect for the views that you hold, and, as thankfully, we don’t live under an Al Qaeda sponsored dictatorship, you have the right to hold and express them. A pity that the ‘gentleman’ that you seem to think should benefit from the values that we hold dear, should have expended so much time and effort to destroy them. As a rule, I have no time for the US government, although I have nothing but admiration for the American people. But this time Washington got it right, and I salute them for it. This man was a monster, and had total contempt for the lives of innocent people, and worse, for his own fellow Muslims. If getting rid of him in this way entails a suspension of standards and beliefs that we hold dear, sometimes, for the common good, thats how it has to be, and I have no problem with that.

First, I have no beef with your views, nor am I trying to be deliberately obtuse.

I would be the first to admit that OBL was a truely evil person. I’d even predict that if he was caught and faced trial the eventual outcome would be much the same.

However, if we are going into these countries with the task of promoting democracy and other western values; we should be doing all we can not to incite any more hatred by celebrating killing one of their own. It is going to be very hard for change to happen for the better when it’s ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

I think that is all I have on the subject. 🙂

Edit: I do have something more on the subject:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13274176

Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was unarmed when he was killed by US troops on Sunday after resisting capture, the White House has said.

They did exactly that, after their ‘heroes’ killed a couple of thousand innocent people in New York.

So, are we as a society to lower our standards and beliefs and do what they do?

That’s a first, I was nodding in agreement as O’Leary was talking. He is absolutely right!

I was wondering when he mentioned adding a third runway at Heathrow; does Ryanair have goals of flying into Heathrow in the long term?

I dare say that very many of the relatives of the 9/11 ‘assassinations’ found the celebrations exhibited by extremists and their sympathisers in certain parts of the world, a little distasteful too. I know I did. As one of the world’s great religions, damned if I can remember which one, puts it ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ or something similar. As an atheist, I don’t think I would be qualified to argue with that. Whats done is done, and picking over the bones will not change anything, and nor thankfully, will it bring him back..

I don’t think you quite understood my post. There is no need to “celebrate” the death of OBL. Would you feel the same if one of al-Qaeda killed on our soldiers and were seen celebrating about the fact?

I would much rather he be caught alive and go through a proper trial for his crimes.

When will the cycle end? Do you think the supporters of OBL will want revenge for his death? Just as the west seemed to want revenge for 9/11?

Is it just me, but is the term “celebrate” every so slightly distasteful? I don’t find any celebration in the killing – or assassination depending on your viewpoint – of another person, regardless of how evil they are.

Also, sure he is worth more alive than dead, no?

What do I know, I must lead a sheltered life.