US Government asking for DNA samples from Osama's family ... he might have been killed in strike!

MSNBC

[Bob Evans]

Just on MSNBC ...

The US Government is/has been asking Osama's family for DNA samples ... The feel he might have been killed during a missile strike!

Lets hope so! (:^>

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Please G-d, let this be so.

Amen.

[Catspaw]

If he's dead, it'll be the first truly happy day I've had since the morning of September 11, 2001.

[Bob Evans]

Amen!

[Cold Heat]

Old news, but I remain hopefull.

[cactmh]

good news, though I really wish he had to see American soldiers approaching before they beat the sh-t out of him and then shot his knee caps and then ....

[codebreaker]

This is a good sign, they already had some from his brother-this may be for an exact match.

[LN2Campy]

These the same family members our gov't helpfully whisked out of the country right after the attack??

Was that story debunked? I hope so, b/c it's awfully fishy if true.

[bloodmeridian]

he's climbing mt. everest

[1Old Pro]

Posted in breaking news already:

U.S. Gmvt Asks Bin Laden Family For DNA Samples. Is Osama Suspected To Be Dead-

It was pulled from the breaking news page as well.

[MeekOneGOP]

This is the second posting this morning on Breaking on this story, fyi.
bump!

[xzins]

Why would I publicly ask the family, making it known to CNN, rather than go privately to the family? It was our government who asked. That's clear in the following.

The article is not linked, but it says:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has formally approached the bin Laden family and asked them for DNA samples, officials said Wednesday. The United States wants to rule out definitively that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was not killed in a recent CIA missile strike in Zawar Kili in Afghanistan. The armed forces pathology lab is examining human remains from the strike. They are trying to determine the identities of people killed in the missile strike. One of the people killed in the strike has been described as tall, dressed in Arab white robes, and treated with deference by others, leading to speculation that it could have been bin Laden.

What can we learn from the decision to publicly ask instead of privately ask? Does it say anything about our suspicions?

If I DO THINK I'VE KILLED Osama, would I be more likely to ask publicly or privately?

If I think I've killed him, I'd definitely want it public. If I think I've not killed him, I'd definitely want it private. If I'm honestly uncertain, then there are propaganda purposes that could be served by either choice.

[TomGuy]

CNN and MSNBC both seem to be "breaking" this...but there were reports months ago that the CIA/FBI has sought (and had already received) DNA samples from Osama's mother and brother(s).

[Sidebar Moderator]

I'm going to move this one out of Breaking News as well.

It is not new news that DNA has been collected from Osama's family and as yet, there is no story about his potentially being killed.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Old news. Two of many stories, below.

Bin Laden DNA (I)

Bin Laden DNA (II)

[EternalHope]

What can we learn from the decision to publicly ask instead of privately ask?

That the family has already been asked privately, and did not cooperate.

Does it say anything about our suspicions?

Certainly. We think we may have gotten him.

Going public also puts pressure on him to do something that shows he is still alive. When he does, and he must if he is still alive, he will give us clues.

[1Old Pro]

I'm going to move this one out of Breaking News as well.

Good decision.

[Semper Paratus]

They may have a DNA read from a piece of carcass already and want a close relative sample to confirm.

[jlogajan]

The United States wants to rule out definitively that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was not killed in a recent CIA missile strike

That's probably all it means. You have to exclude as well as include.