Well, clearing from the ground up forces that inevitable outcome with cornered rats, and the protocols seems to have stretched stuff out to an uncomfortable forty minutes, with a mere two floors (versus ten - well, fifteen, cursory identification), as they met virtually no opposition. (Recall they trained for this with an architecturally accurate reconstruction).

Quickly securing the ground (and exit, because you may not be the superior force), then quickly seizing the top, clearing from top down drives them to your ground and a more manageable outcome in the process. Whomever would be the inferior force ( by whatever metric, numbers, weaponry, skills, etc ) at the top ( which does have its advantages, however fleeting ) can prolong the duration to the inevitable.

As it was, there was only one built-in inevitable outcome that passes a lot of the litmus tests.

Ed

"Added a senior congressional aide briefed on the rules of engagement: "He would have had to have been naked for them to allow him to surrender."" - LA Times

Not to mention, with a 100+ Ranger/Marine gunships escort, what about thermal imaging, a precise picture of what they were dealing with. What about controlled cook-off non-lethal concussion rounds, smoke, etc - The Seals would have been at less risk/exposure using that stuff, and the worst with bin Laden would be ruptured eardrums and maybe some blown out eyes ( and anybody else in the radiuses ). There were a lot of options.

Not to be critical of this competent brave act that accomplished its objectives, but I can't help but wonder about the options.

Sh!t rolls downhill, so the Seals were stuck, so those guys went above and beyond. I would have to believe directly from the administrative/counselors/whomever team/whatever, as you would have to assume this special sort of unit requires a clean chain of command, Commander in Chief to group commander, circumventing all the other crap, for the obvious, as well as stuff like on-demand procurement of A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G, supreme air traffic control, logistic stuff, in order to function as they need to function, unless you want missions like this to fail through gross incompetence.

Ed

That's the second time you've mentioned an escort -- I haven't seen or heard anything regarding something like that. Most I've heard is 2 primary helicopters and 2 backups. Is there a link or something that mentions escorts?

As for flash-bangs and other non-lethal options, I'm guessing that although "capture" was an option it was probably a distant second behind "don't [censored]-foot around with these guys" ...

That's assuming Osama's in fact dead, which Occam says is probably true but the Le Carré in me says he's the sixth hard drive undergoing "analysis" in a black site somewhere ...

Yeah.. they're probably asking him.."Why is all the porn on these drives only of blonde-blue eyed American women.. you frikkin hypocrite..."

slap! slap!..punch!!!

The bloodied prisoner then stares into the blond American interrogator's blue eyes and hisses…

"Because I hate you so !"

Yeah.. that makes a lot of sense.
I'm basing this off of the assertions that the terrorists that we trained right here in South Florida were at local strip bars the nights leading up to the attack... and also liked to visit Las Vegas.
Nothing like enjoying bit of the decadence before attempting to destroy it..eh?
So much for the Western values that they were dead set against.

KM you are a real LOSER! What if one of your family members died in the 9-11 tragedy or the other horrific events that happened that day would you than still have a pity about this vermin OBL who you called defenseless? Think before you say things that are plain dumb.

He is thinking.. about how to word things to incite people to argue and be upset. Nearly of his posts have this M.O.

Same thing... I'd want to know that he was responsible by those best able to judge. As a matter of fact depriving the victims' families of justice at a trial by such an act of summary execution as wicked as his alleged crimes is the worst thing about his murder.

km