If the US bombed Bin Laden's house, the US would be blamed for killing women and children.

[Renew Deal]

It is said that there were three families living in that building including 22 children. At least two of those were Bin Ladens and one was killed (an older son). If the US bombed that building, lots of women and children would have been pulled out of the rubble. Bin Ladens corpse would have been pulled out too, though I doubt if the Pakistani's would have mentioned he was there. Obama's approval of the raid as the humanitarian thing to do. Besides proving that Bin Laden was dead, it prevented the deaths of 20 other people that were mostly kids. It also avoided a parade through the streets with Bin Ladens corpse.

But there is another issue. Why would Bin Laden and the other men keep their families in that building? Any building with Bin Laden in it is very likely to be bombed. Why would his wife be willing to put her kids in that danger? And why would the other mens wives go along with it? I find it very odd.

[dkf]

1. If we had captured him there would be accusations of kidnapping.

Without Pakistani cooperation, which looks more like a mirage every day, there probably wasn't anything "legal" that would satisfy the UN/by the books types.

[Renew Deal]

2. I disagree

"Capturing" a wanted criminal like Bin Laden isn't really kidnapping. Besides, who would complain? Pakistan? Hugo Chavez? doesn't matter.

[Old and In the Way]

3. I guess the only option would have been to ask Pakistan to allow

bin Laden to be extradited. Like that would have happened.

[Renew Deal]

4. That's the least combative option.

But I have a feeling that like asking the mob to hand over their boss.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Very true.

In addition according to the 60 minutes interview we did not know for certain whether Osama was there or not till the Navy Seals conducted the raid.

[HipChick]

6. I'm not going to assume the women had any choice in the matter..

[Renew Deal]

7. I am aware of that.

But comeon. If the wives didn't want to be there, I think they would be gone.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Bombing would have been the very last option.

We wanted the "wealth" of information on those hard drives.