As I have stated previously, I have no problem with OBL being killed in the fog of war. If the situation was unsure or the troops felt threatened, by all means, shoot first and ask questions later. I was not referring to that scenario.
But that was not necessarily the case, here. In fact, there is a good deal of evidence that all gunfire had ceased a half hour before OBL was found.
We will never know the circumstances, nor should we. The fact that OBL wound up dead on the floor does not add any information one way or the other, because that was a forgone conclusion, if it was, in fact, a “Kill Mission”.
So do you understand how all your points about the phases of the moon and Von Clauswitz (sp?) are beside the point?
So what conditions would you define as "unsure"..to put it lightly..or a "threatening" situation. Define for us please what consititutes a threat large enough for you to shoot?
Is there any doubt this waould be a "Kill Mission"? and that is really the problem you have with this I believe...and it wouldn't matter to you if one gunfire fight or many...or for that matter none at all...your reasoning is to have given Ben Laden the benifit of the doubt and give him opportunity to surrender. A risk you would likely assume would be appropriate for him... Regardless of screaming woman and children, and our troops ability to have saved them and get them out of the line of fire....regardless of seeing guns armed and ready within hand reach of Ben-Laden...regardless of so much evidence of the environment. Again ...you are unaware of war and the missions our men go on...especially when it comes to special forces.
You completely fail to see the cirsumstances and situation surrounding the mission...no matter how much you explain you understand that...you do not.