It's large, much larger, than any neighboring structure, and surrounded by a wall that is far higher (15ft+) than any nearby. Obviously , this gives a great deal of privacy, and affords some degree of protection. Yet the living quarters are elevated ABOVE the top of the wall, and Bin Laden lived on the TOP floor. It was thus far easier to observe inside the living quarters, and also a much easier target for small arms or small missiles.
The compound itself is a large, wedge shaped structure. The living quarters are located in the middle, and on either side are two empty dirt covered areas; one much larger than the other. Yet both of these appear to serve no useful purpose. They resemble the exercise yard in a prison.
The larger of the two, where the helicopter landed, has no visible structure inside. Indeed, it should have been obvious that it made it easier for a chopper to land INSIDE the perimeter walls during a raid. There was no attempt made to construct any type of obstacle in the middle of the largeer compound, which would have made it far more difficult, if not impossible for the copter to touch down.
Just a few random observations and questions. Hoping to elicit comments from other Freepers.
Yeah ... it tells me it wasn’t a mansion, no matter what the MSM said. In fact, I’ve lived in run down apartments nicer than that dump.
“Obama Compound” ???
Dunno about Obama’s compound, but Osama’s was a pig sty from what I saw...
I’ve observed a misspelled word in your title
that made me chuckle.
Gawd..my Freudain slip,,can you please change headline from Obama to Osama? Thanks
Was it the Osama mansion or pictures of the ‘guest house’ on the compound? We may never know which of the 72 Obama versions to believe.
In parts of the world outside the USA having a home with a strong and tall fence or wall around it is not at all unusual. Homes like this are common in Latin America and Asia.
Also, the use of the term ‘compound’ of recent years is used to dehumanize and inflame passions. Once the term is applied to a home of someone unpopular it seems that gives tacit permission to the government (whatever government) to kill the occupants or otherwise deprive them of their rights.
Then there’s also the fact that this was *not* a ‘compound’ and that’s because there was only one home on the property. An actual compound must have two or more homes on the same property - like the Kennedy’s do in Hyannisport.
Therefore, Osama had a fairly typical home except with an unusually high wall for the area.
Shouldn't be expecting any architectural awards for that effort.
The compound shape was happenstance. He was sued multiple times by the homeowner’s association for violation of their covenant and extending his structure beyond surveyed property lines. The final straw came when he neglected to call Miss Utility and cut the gas main for the development. The Paki EPA gave him up when he threatened the habitat of endangered burrowing mammals and decided to burn his own refuse.
Well actually since obama took over the WH it would seem appropriate to now refer to the WH as “obama’s compound”. Has a nice ring to it. Obama may even have grenades under his bed.
Hmmm... Very large compound... Old design but kept in good repair. Middle of a large city. Looks to me like he has considerable wealth behind him, probably acquired through taxation of a large population.
I’ve lived in China and SE Asia, and high-walled “compounds” are nothing new. People in places like Pakistan are used to not asking questions or having the rich/powerful be allowed to do things others can not. They don’t have “zoning laws” and they certainly don’t have open town-planning meetings as US towns do. The compound could have been a general’s son, a local landowner or politician protecting his wives or car collection.
Asking questions will just get the average man into trouble.
“Last night on FOX, they were talking about the wealth of intelligence obtained from the raid. ( And BTW, I wish they’d stop talking about it)”
My guess is they are trying to get the money-men to freeze and not transfer money to Al qaeda by talking about the ‘wealth of intelligence.’ Osama was the big fund raiser.
It was a jail.
It looks older than the 5 or 6 years OBL lived there so maybe the design was for someone else. I expect the neighbors would have noticed and complained about someone putting up 15 foot walls which wouldn’t be very good if it was a hideout. But then again, maybe everyone knew and didn’t care as long as the local chiefs got walking around money.
I think what you are getting at, was the place designed as a fortress to protect the occupants, or a prison to keep them in? Now that I think of it, it does more closely resemble a fairly nice prison.
There is a serious disconnect between the quality of the intel claimed to have been captured that describes Osama as continuing to be the brains of the Al Qaeda operation and the videos than depict a doddering old fool, confused and irrelevant.
