The Death of Bin Laden - join in the debate
Panorama tells the full story of how America tracked down and killed the world's most wanted man - .
From the small Pakistani town of Abbottabad to the streets of New York, we speak to eyewitnesses, victims of Al Qaeda's terror and military and intelligence insiders.
We explain why so many were kept in the dark about the operation and ask whether the Pakistanis were really unaware of Bin Laden's whereabouts.
As our soldiers take on the Taliban in Afghanistan and we remain alert to the potential of atrocities here at home, Panorama asks whether we can trust Pakistan to be our ally in the war against terrorism?
We welcome your comments on Panorama: the Death of Bin Laden. Please use this forum to give us your thoughts.
Comment number 1.
At 9th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:I am completely aghast to see how the mainstream media have completely suspended all faculty of critical thought.
People are turning away from the mainstream media in droves because of the complicity of unquestioning and uncritical journalists in perpetuating the lies and deceptions in the bin Laden death?
After releasing the footage showing bin Laden's 'home movies', the US government seems to know no bounds when it comes to stretching the credulity of the public. No full facial pictures despite the amount of footage allegedly recovered, and no pictures or footage of bin Laden after he was captured just prior to his killing, despite the fact that the Navy SEALS were wearing head cams and recorded everything.
Pictures showing bin Laden JUST BEFORE HE WAS KILLED would not be "too graphic" to be shown to the public, so why cant we see them if they supposedly exist?
What about an inquest into bin Laden's death? Everyone who dies a sudden and violent death is required to have an inquest under both Pakistani law and international law.
What about putting the man on trial instead of killing him, like they did with Saddam Hussein? This would have served to publicly humiliate him and would have given the victims' families justice and closure?
Bin Laden was buried at sea out of respect for his religion? Is the US military ordinarily this sympathetic towards people killed in combat? Is that even consistent? And why give bin Laden, one of the most despised men in the world, this special courtesy of a respectful burial? It insults the memories of all those who died in the towers and elswhere.
Why are mainstream journalists and the news media not asking critical questions? They must stop treating the public like we are stupid!
News coverage over the past week has shown how the mainstream media have completely capitulated to the the US propaganda machine.
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Comment number 2.
At 9th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:Bin Laden was captured in Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2001 following the 9/11 attack. Seeing that they (the Taliban), along with Saddam Hussein, are to be the target of the American propaganda war on terror, the Taliban offered peace negotiations with the US and to hand over bin Laden to a third party for trial. A trial would have undoubtedly proved bin Laden wasn't behind the 9/11 atrocity. Well, the Americans rejected the Taliban's peace offer, preferring the war option instead. The US had already amassed a large military presence on the Afghan borders by that time. The US had bin Laden in their grasp but were not interested in him. They needed to maintain the illusion that bin Laden was alive and in hiding, preferring to market him as an insidious threat to world peace.
There is no evidence al Qaeda was responsible for the September 11th attacks. NONE! Even though al Qaeda claim it was their victory, all they have done is allow themselves to be the target of American propaganda and usurp the atrocity for their own propaganda war. American actions catapulted al Qaeda on to the global stage, in which they were able to exploit media coverage to recruit militant sympathizers and thus exaggerate the threat of terrorism further. It worked. That's what America wanted - global fear and hysteria about terrorism.
The unquestioning mass media fall for the bin Laden death hook line and sinker. Bin Laden has been dead for years. According to the late Robin Cook in a Guardian article shortly before his untimely death, al Qaeda wasn't even a terror network but was merely the name of the CIA database containing all the names of the CIA-trained mujahideen, of which bin Laden was one. The war on terror has been engineered from start to finish to advance America towards global hegemony. The exercise has done nothing but increase American militarism ten-fold and provide very lucrative business for the arms industry. It has enabled governments all over the world to impose draconian laws restricting civil liberties in the name of 'security' - an effort which shows no sign of rescinding.
America had it's sights on Afghanistan long before 9/11. The country had major potential in the development of energy resources, presenting βgreen fieldβ investment opportunities in sectors like telecommunications, energy and oil/gas pipelines. These would provide extremely lucrative opportunities for American business; which is precisely what has happened over the course of the past ten years.
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Comment number 3.
At 9th May 2011, jackb1967 wrote:disgusted with the way the pakistanis dont think he was killed right beause he was unarmed how about the poor 3000 americans and there bothered about a muederes human rights the pakistanis knew he was there stop all the aid to them this goverment wont at least the americans got it right and they shouldnt have shown bin laden any respect when burial at sea i would have have just dumped his murdering ass....
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Comment number 4.
At 9th May 2011, Andrew-Brussels wrote:Congratulations to Jane Corbin for her work and analyze concerning the Panorama ed.broadcast ed this evening. Good work ! (again ! ) Andrew ,Brussels ,studio chief-operator
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Comment number 5.
At 10th May 2011, toprobroy wrote:Hi I'm sorry its not a comment about Bin Laden, but I had directed a number of MEP's to watch the original programme about Weee. Could we know when its next scheduled.
Thanks
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Comment number 6.
At 10th May 2011, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔPanorama wrote:Hello,
Many thanks for your posts on last evening's programme. Owing to events around the death of Osama Bin Laden, the originally billed programme for 9 May - Track My Trash - was delayed by one week and will now air next Monday, 16 May at 2030BST. Apologies for any confusion. Best, the Panorama Team
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Comment number 7.
At 11th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:Just to back up what I said on the 9th May: In October 2001 bin Laden had been captured by the Taliban but George Bush rejected offers of negotiations to turn him over. See link to news article below:
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Comment number 8.
At 11th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:Bin Laden should have been brought to trial. The judicial process would have tested existing evidence in a public hearing and we would have all seen for ourselves whether or not bin Laden really was responsible, and whether his culpability really stood up to scrutiny. A trial would have served to publicly humiliate him and would have given the victims' families justice and closure. Assassinating him based on the assumption that he was responsible for 9/11 and other terrorist acts, sets a very dangerous precedent.
Even though al Qaeda claim 9/11 as their victory, all they have done is allow themselves to be the target of American propaganda and usurp the atrocity for their own propaganda war. The weaker opponent will always accept the victories attributed to him by the stronger opponent. It suited bin Laden to claim the victory whether he was responsible for the atrocity or not, and the Bush administration was quite happy with their new arch enemy to further escalate the 'war on terror'. The actions of the Bush administration catapulted al Qaeda on to the global stage, in which they were able to exploit media coverage to recruit militant sympathizers
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Comment number 9.
At 11th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:The Bush administration exaggerated the threat bin Laden posed and elevated his status to make him appear more of a threat than he actually was! A trial would have tested existing evidence and opened the inquiry to deeper scrutiny, perhaps snuffing out the real culprits behind 9/11. That has not happened and probably never will. It reeks of the stench of a 'cover up', hence the shambolic killing and disposal of bin Laden to prevent trial and inquiry. Bin Laden remains an illusive and imaginary figure until the Obama administration shows us the real evidence.
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Comment number 10.
At 12th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:If you want to know how the 'war on terror' and 'bin Laden death' fables were engineered you need look no further than Psyops - the REAL war that is being spun for hearts and minds. It is through Psyops that lies become truths and the capacity for critical thought is subverted (see links below).
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Comment number 11.
At 12th May 2011, WiliamP wrote:Dr. Webster Tarpley, author, journalist, lecturer and critic of US foreign and domestic policy, breaks down on Press TV the greater implications of the bin Laden "death", including the threat of general world war.
I really hope the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ will give proper scrutiny in its reporting of the very disturbing situation being engineered by the United States towards a possible conflict with Pakistan and China. The US will be seeking a trigger, or false flag, to escalate a conflict and possibly bring about war! ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ: don't let your public down! We must be told the truth!
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Comment number 12.
At 20th Jun 2011, Dipu wrote:Dear Readers,
Whenever I read any comments, Features, news, such as "Bin Laden's Death" or 9/11. just one thing I can understad, why most of us always take a side even the media. Some stands for it, some stands against it. Nobody stands for Humanity. Let us focus to the fact. Why people tortured? How people are tortured? How a terrorist born? Lets stand for humaity. Why people will suffer? How long this will continue? When we will be able to treat each & every person as a guest of World. If you think this way you will be able to find much similarity between Osama & Obama.
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